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Join us surfing at Newquay’s Great Western beach or world famous Fistral. We’ve been delivering surf lessons in Cornwall for over 20 years, we’re the longest running surf school in Newquay.
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The Best Newquay Surfing School
Newquay Activity Centre is Newquay’s longest running surf school, located right in the heart of the action, and perfectly positioned for accessing Great Western & Fistral Beach.
Newquay Surf Lessons
We have surf lessons to suit all abilities, ages and group size. Whether you’re a total beginner wanting to go surfing in Newquay for the very first time, or you want to fine tune your skills and progress on to green waves, we’re the perfect surf school for you!
Learn to surf Cornwall
Rest assured there is nothing to be nervous about, our lessons are zero pressure and super fun! We’ve been teaching surfing in Newquay, Cornwall’s most iconic surf town, for over 20 years and love what we do. We know the beaches like the back of our hand and will adapt the lesson to match your ability.
Choose your surf lesson
We have both individual and group lessons available, so you can choose whether you’d prefer to learn 1:1 with an instructor, or alongside your friends and fellow students. Regardless of the lesson type, we’ll have you up on your feet and riding waves in no time.
Your surfing lessons in Newquay include:
Perfect location for Surfing Lessons in Newquay
Newquay Activity Centre is ideally situated to access some of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches. We run the majority of our lessons at Newquay’s extremely user friendly and safe Great Western Beach. The waves are consistent and ideal for learning, so we are privileged to experience 350+ days of surfing in Newquay each year. If we want to look for different conditions or surf at another stage in the tide then we are just a few minutes walk from the international surfing mecca that is Fistral beach.
Surf School Newquay
Newquay Activity Centre is purpose built and has toilets, heated changing rooms, lockers for valuables, hot showers and storage space for your personal items. We are just a few moments from the centre of town and its abundance of great coffee joints, eateries and surf shops. We’ll supply you with a discount card after your lesson which will give you some great discounts at local businesses around town.
Qualified and experienced Instructors
We pride ourselves on having the very best surf instructors at Newquay Activity Centre. Our surf lessons are run by Surfing England ISA level 1 qualified coaches and experienced surf lifeguards. Our surf coaches come from all walks of life and are a 50-50 mix of male and female instructors, the thing they all have in common is that surfing in Newquay is their number 1 passion.
Our coaches are knowledgeable and experienced, fun and friendly, and dedicated to giving you the best experience of Newquay surfing. We take our surf coaching seriously; we are not a ‘surf shepherding’ outfit, we see your surf lesson as the exciting first step of a lifelong journey. Our aim is to help you develop the foundation skills to blossom into a capable, independant surfer. It really can be a life changing journey, so warning, you might get hooked!
Newquay Activity Centre is headed up by former British Team Coach, Rob Barber, and our lead surf coach is English surfing champion, Alan Stokes; both chaps are specialists at taking elite surfers to the next level, and are available for focused tuition upon request.
The Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy
Newquay Activity Centre is the home of the Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy, and the best surf coaches in the business are trained in-house. We cherry pick the most engaging and passionate coaches that come through our academy, ensuring that Newquay Activity Centre is always flying the flag and leading the industry in regards to quality coaching.
Top of the range Equipment
To enjoy your time in the ocean and progress as much as possible during your lesson, it’s important to be kitted out with the right equipment. That’s where we come in…
Beginner Surfboards
To learn to surf, you must have the right equipment. This will make a big difference to your enjoyment and success when surfing in Newquay. A common mistake is trying to learn to surf on a board that’s not suitable for your level, height, weight or type of wave. Yes, the board might look cool under your arm, but it’s frustrating when you’re unable to ‘catch a wave’ or ‘pop up to your feet’. At Newquay Activity Centre we don’t just give you any old surfboard to ride; we choose one that is most suitable for you. So the first step is to determine what size board fits your height, size and surfing experience level.
For our beginner lessons we are committed to using Alder and Softech boards for our new surfers. Though more expensive to other beginner boards, they offer unrivalled stability and buoyancy. Super stable boards, though not the coolest in the quiver, are much easier to paddle, will get you into waves quicker, and are made of soft foam for safety. When you’re learning it’s all about wave count, and these foamies are the ideal boards to get you up and riding and progressing up the ranks. What’s more, at the end of each season we are able to re-skin the boards, and so we’re not sending old boards to landfill.
Improver Surfboards
If you’re looking to take a step up, we offer three stages of progression surfboards which you can experiment with. The best board is the one you’re having the most fun on!
Children’s Surfboards
Newquay Activity Centre is the only surf school in the area to offer an exclusive range of children’s surfboards. Please ask us for details.
Wetsuits
Our guests are provided with top of the range, well fitting and flexible wetsuits that are appropriate to the season. Being warm and comfortable in the water is super important as it enables you to fully concentrate on learning and having fun for the duration of your surf lesson.
Surfboard Hire Newquay
If you’d like to bolt on additional surfboard hire to your lesson then we are delighted to offer you a discounted rate. You can either stay in the water after your lesson or return to the centre for lunch before heading out to surf your socks off all afternoon. If you’d like to hire equipment after your lesson to surf at Fistral Beach, Towan or Great Western, then please select the surf lesson with bolt on Newquay surf hire option.
Our glowing credentials
Newquay Activity Centre have been delivering surf lessons in Cornwall for over 20 years, and we’re proud to be the longest running provider of surfing lessons in Newquay. We’re proud of our number 1 ranking on trip advisor and we are two time winners of the Cornish Tourism awards and gold winners of the South West Tourism Awards.
We are proud to have been recognised and sponsored by Rip Curl; they are a leader in surfing equipment, apparel and wetsuits, and have recognised Newquay Activity Centre as a centre of excellence in the Cornwall surf school scene.
We also coach the Army and the Navy surf teams. This means we regularly organise military adventure training packages that meet their high standards. Their core values of teamwork, developing leadership and other personal qualities is necessary to withstand the rigours of operational service.
About Newquay Surfing
With seven beaches on our doorstep, Newquay has earned the title of Surf City for good reason. It would be sacrilege to visit the birthplace of this iconic sport without considering taking surfing lessons in Newquay. With our top of the range equipment, industry leading credentials, enthusiastic and experienced surf coaches, and access to Cornwall’s most famous surfing beaches, we will have you up and riding in your first session.
Newquay Activity Centre is just a short walk from both Fistral and Great Western Beaches. We benefit from good surfing conditions everyday, regardless of most wind and weather conditions.
Surfing Lessons in Newquay
If you are completely new to surfing, why not check out our beginner surf lesson. Or if you’d like multiple lessons, give us a call and we can create your very own bespoke package. We have daily newquay surfing lessons, suited to all abilities and tailored towards all ages.
So what are you waiting for? Get in touch, book your newquay surfing lessons and start catching waves.
Newquay Activity Centre is open 7 days a week all year round. You can book online or call us on 01637 877722.
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