Croyde Surf Lessons

You should always take a half day surf lesson or a full day surfing lesson at a Surfing England Surf School. If you can find an England Surfing Centre Of Excellence, like Surfing Croyde Bay, then you’ll be sure to be taught by expert coaches on quality equipment, with the latest teaching methods.

Ideally, the surf school you choose for your lesson should have ISA Level 2 coaches. Most good surf schools have a Level 2 coach. If you are looking for a great experience, then check out the leadership of the school running the surf lessons. At surfing Croyde Bay our coaching is led by Damon Beveridge, Junior Head Coach to the National Surfing Team GB.

You should also pick a surf school which is near to the sea on a surf break that regularly breaks. There’s no point booking a surf lesson if it’s flat. Otherwise, you’ll probably end up stand up paddleboarding instead. Croyde Bay is ideal, the beach break wave is powerful enough to get you on your feet, and it breaks for at least 95% of the year.

All you need to bring to wear is swimwear to put under your wetsuit and a towel for changing. You will be fitted out with a warm wetsuit when you visit for your surf lesson. 

Your surf instructor will assist you in finding the right fit from the multitude of modern and snug wetsuits we have on offer. If you require, boots, gloves or a hood these are all available, again in multiple sizes. We stock male and female fitting wetsuits as well as junior specific wetsuits. 

Yes! All you need to bring is some swimwear, energy, enthusiasm and a sense of excitement. If you bring a positive attitude to your surf lesson, you’ll get the most from experience. 

Your surfboard, wetsuit, leash, boots, hood and gloves if you want them are all included in the cost of your surf lesson. Everything you need to go surfing is included in your lesson price.

If you have any worries or fears, please explain them to your surf instructor who will help calm you. All of our surf instructors are fully qualified lifeguards, and they will be keeping a very close eye on you in the water.

One of the most overlooked features of a surf lesson is the maximum size of the group. At Surfing Croyde Bay, we believe in providing the best surf lessons, so our groups are the smallest. Your group will never exceed six people per surf instructor.

Smaller groups allow the instructor to give you more time and attention, as a result with Surfing Croyde Bay surf lessons you will progress faster, and any issues with your technique will quickly be ironed out.

You can book a surf lesson for children as young as five years old. If you are booking a surf lesson for children under the age of 10, all we ask is that you book a private surf lesson or private group for your family. 

Depending on your child, if you book a public lesson, it may be useful for you to watch the lesson with the instructor. If you book a private group, you will be in the water with your child. You won’t need to accompany them at all times (unless they are under 8 years old) as your surf instructor will be there to help. You will have plenty of time to surf too! 

Learning to surf can be completed in as short a time as one lesson. Standing on a surfboard and riding a white water wave is eminently possible after your first lesson. Of course, this does depend on your aptitude and natural ability but standing on a surfboard after your first surf lesson is entirely feasible. 

Picking the right surf school will have a massive bearing on your initiation and progression with surfing. It may even be the difference between loving surfing as a new sport and hating it. So pick the surf school you take your surf lessons with carefully.

Look for the following factors:

• Is the surf school Surfing England accredited?
• Is the surf school run by an inspirational leader – such as Damon Beveridge National Junior Coach Surfing Team GB
• Will you be given your own surfboard to learn to surf with?
• Is the surf lesson run by an ISA Level 1 or Level 2 surf coach?
• Will you be warm, you need a modern wetsuit that fits you. So does your surf school have a wide variety of sizes and lots of stock?
• Are there heated changing facilities and warm showers to use after your lesson?
• Does your surf lesson take place on Softech surfboards? These boards are far and away the best to develop your surfing skills on.
• Check Trip Advisor and Google reviews and only take a surf lesson where other students have had a great time.

Yes! Any decent surf school will be able to organise a family surf lesson format so that your whole family can get to experience surfing together. It’s a great way to enjoy some family time together while getting exercise and learning a new skill. Surfing is good for the body and mind and an excellent family activity to share too. It’s also a perfect activity for a rainy day as surfing isn’t affected by wet weather.

At Surfing Croyde Bay we organise family surfing lessons for children aged five and over. Your family surf lesson format is a private group, and you will have a surf instructor dedicated to you. You’re in safe hands as your family surf instructor is also a qualified beach lifeguard.   

Your surf lesson will take 2.5 hours, and you will get a minimum of 1.5 hours of water time. You will initially change into your wetsuit, and collect your surfboard at the beach. You will then get a safety briefing as well as some direction and focus points for your surf lesson. During the surf lesson, you will get 1:1 personalised feedback, designed to help you progress and correct any faults. Once your experience is over, you will drop your board off at the beach, get changed and enjoy a hot shower at the surf school. 

Yes, of course. Just ask your surf instructor on arrival, and you will be able to store personal belongings safely at the surf school. 

Yes, Surfing Croyde Bay is the only surf school in Croyde with hot showers. We also provide heated changing rooms and secure personal possession storage.