New! Free photography with all activities!
*(Subject to conditions)
New! Free photography with all activities!
*(Subject to conditions)
WHAT IS HAND PLANING?
Riding a wave using just your body and a 30cm handboard is an art in itself. It’s also regarded as the original and most pure form of wave riding. This ancient au naturel style of catching waves (which even predates surfing!) is thought to have stemmed from early Polynesians emulating the graciousness of wave-riding dolphins.
Popular throughout the 60s and 70s, bodysurfing was deemed “a lost art” in the early 90s, and abandoned by the surfing industry as it offered very little to marketers. However, the 2000s has seen a renaissance for hand planing following surfing’s neo-retro movement and renewed interest in alternative surf crafts. It really is just you, the surfer, and the wave. There are no logos or sponsorship deals – people bodysurf for the sheer love of it!
WHY HAND PLANING?
On the one hand (no pun intended!) hand planing in Cornwall is accessible to all and offers immediate results. It’s easy to master the basics and we guarantee you’ll be riding your first wave within the first ten minutes of trying. To begin, you’ll learn how to use swim fins efficiently, catching white wash in the shallows as you practice. Next, it’s onto the unbroken (or green) waves. What’s more, bodysurfing in Cornwall is safe. There’s no wayward 8ft surfboard tied to the end of your leg and you require no previous surfing or ocean experience to give it a go.
On the other hand, for experienced wave riders, hand planing in Cornwall is an additional string to their bow in the pursuit of becoming a true waterman. World body surfing champion Mike Stewart describes handplaning as, “the best interaction between man and nature that exists.” It offers a completely different wave riding experience and forces a new raw perspective. You can feel the wave from within your soul whilst achieving a greater sense of speed and control.
It’s also a great way to mix up your wave riding – especially if you’ve lost your surfing mojo or when the waves are not suited for surfing but ideal for the handplane (shore breaking waves in particular).
WHY NEWQUAY ACTIVITY CENTRE?
For your handplane lesson in Cornwall, we provide you with first-rate equipment including handplane, swim fins, rash vest and a top of the range Rip Curl wetsuit. We have heated changing rooms to get kitted up in, as well as separate male & female toilets. We also have storage space for your clothes and bags before you make your way down to either Fistral or Towan beach. We will assess the conditions on the day and choose the best beach to match the group’s ability.
OUR EXPERTISE
Back in 1995, bodyboarding was the fastest growing watersport in the world. Yet there was no official pathway to learn how to do it. Born out of necessity, we developed the world’s first bodyboarding lessons, which followed with us writing the world’s first bodyboard instructor training course for the International Surfing Association and Surfing Australia. Our Director Rob Barber has been British Bodyboarding Champion multiple times and even European Champion! He’s surfed and competed all over the world.
Nearly 30 years later we have delivered over 200,000 coastal activities from our base in Newquay. We have the biggest bodyboard instruction channel on YouTube and we have diversified to offer bodyboard coaching weekends around the UK and bodyboard coaching holidays around the world. Recently we have created the first bodyboard specific rescue protocols in order to keep our guests safe.
OUR VISITOR EXPERIENCES
We take huge pride in providing the best bodyboarding lessons in the business and offering an amazing experience for our guests. Don’t just take our word for it though, our reviews back this up! We have over 3000 5 star Tripadvisor reviews and some amazing Google reviews…
We’re number one rated for Outdoor Activities in Newquay for a reason!
OUR TRAINING
We are licensed by AALA (Adventure Activities Licensing Authority) and are a recognised Training centre for SLSGB (Surf Life Saving Great Britain), the only one in Newquay.
qualified Beach Lifeguards. More recently,
Our team of Bodyboard instructors are qualified to the following standards:
You can learn more about our instructors qualifications and what they mean on our blog.
WHY CHOOSE US
We are 3 x Cornwall Tourism Awards Winner and 1 x South West Tourism Awards Winner
As well as the general public we have also delivered activities for a number of special clients including:
We are the number 1 choice for all local schools including:
Our safety record is unblemished, as we work alongside the RNLI to ensure conditions and activities are appropriate for our activities. We also hold an Adventurous Activities Licensing Authority Licence (AALA) which ensures our standards are maintained at all times and checked by external bodies, we hold extensive public indemnity insurance with up to £10,000,000 cover, so you know you’re in safe hands, whatever outdoor activity you decide to do with us.
If you don’t see availability for the date you would like then please contact us using our Online Chat or by calling 01637 877722
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