There’s a good reason why Woolacombe is popular with beginner and advanced surfers alike. Thanks to its reef break, it produces some incredible waves and can be surfed on in all tides. If you’re new to surfing or you’re hoping to learn from experienced instructors, take a look at five of the best schools offering surf lessons Woolacombe-wide below.
Nick Thorne Surfing Coaching is based in Putsborough and Woolacombe in North Devon. It offers Level 4 Master Surf Coach sessions for all levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced surf development. The centre encourages anyone interested in the sport to get involved, from ages 8 to 80!
While surfing is their speciality, the centre also offers a range of amazing lessons in stand up paddleboarding, coasteering, junior lifeguard training and lifeguard training.
All the surfing instructors at Nick Thorne are there to provide support and help new surfers to ride their very first wave. Nick Thorne’s standard lessons are two hours long. A half-day entails one two-hour lesson while a full-day is two two-hour sessions. The centre also offers sessions for individuals, groups and schools, and they cater to corporate events as well.
For one two-hour session, it’s £28 off-peak and £30 during peak times. Alternatively, you can buy several sessions at once. For instance, it’s £125 off-peak for five lessons or £136 at peak times.
Woolacombe Surf Centre is based in the village of Woolacombe in North Devon. Specialising in surf lessons, the centre is accredited as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ by Surfing England. In addition to surf lessons, instructors offer coasteering, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
All of their surf sessions are 2-hours long and are suitable for first-timers or seasoned pros alike. As well as one-to-one and weekend lessons, week-long and half- or full-day sessions are available too.
Slightly more expensive than Nick Thorne Surfing Coaching, a half-day session costs £32, while a full-day is £62. The more sessions you buy, the more money you save: expect to pay £90 for a weekend course and £135 for a week. One-to-one sessions cost £100, but you can expect personalised feedback and assistance from your coach both in the water and on the beach.
Hunter Surf School is also located in Woolacombe in North Devon, offering surfing lessons as well as coasteering and kayak hire.
Their surf lessons are run by Surfing GB qualified coaches, focusing on the fundamentals of surfing while showing you how to stay safe in the water. The school is located right on the beach, with full access to changing facilities, showers and lockers.
Lessons and courses are available for all ages and abilities, but children under the age of eight can only take part in family or private sessions.
If you’re new to surfing, you can try one of Hunter Surf Schools’ taster sessions for £38 (two hours). Alternatively, a two-hour taster session for two people is £50, which might prove better value for money.
Similar to Nick Thorne and Woolacombe Surf Centre, discounts are available when you book more than one lesson. For example, a weekly course will set you back £140, while four sessions cost £118.
Located in Woolacombe Bay, The Bay Surf Shop is one of the largest surf shops in the area, specialising in quality boards, wetsuits and accessories. While it is possible to hire surfboards for a day, The Bay Surf Shop doesn’t offer personalised lessons, so if this is what you’re looking for, this isn’t the best option for you.
Board hire starts at £8 for four hours and costs £12 for a full day. If you wish to hire a board for 3 days or more, you’ll pay £10 per day.
Offering professional surf coaching, coasteering and stand-up paddleboarding, Surfing Croyde Bay a Croyde surf school was established in 2003 and is located in Croyde Bay in North Devon. Providing the smallest ratio of surfing coaches to students at any Surfing England Centre Of Excellence, the school’s instructors are able to customise sessions for any level, whether you are beginner, intermediate or advanced.
As well as private lessons, group sessions are also available. Running a well-respected Surf Development UK surfing programme, Surfing Croyde Bay has produced several Team GB surfers and ensures all lessons are professional, high-quality and, most important of all, fun.
One noticeable benefit of booking surf lessons with Surfing Croyde Bay is that all sessions are 2 hours and 30 minutes long. To get started, one session will cost you £35. Like the surf schools listed above, booking multiple lessons will see you benefit from a discount. For example, 5 x 2.5-hour sessions will cost £130.
If you’re looking for the best surf lessons, Woolacombe will not disappoint. Book yours today and you’ll be riding the incredible waves in Woolacombe Bay in no time at all.
Surfing Croyde Bay, Baggy Lodge, Moor Lane, Croyde, EX33 1PA
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