Spring is nearly behind us and we are surely heading into another, ahem, Barbeque summer at the surf school. Just writing it has almost certainly put a jinx on it but ho, we are tremendously happy here whatever the weather. The surf has been cracking for the last couple of weeks so lets hope this good run will continue. Not that we have been surfing anywhere near as much as usual - our time has … [Read more...]
Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding Lessons Now Available
We have offered SUP hire for a number of years but now we are pleased to say that we will be offering SUP lessons through the surf academy this summer. The sport is super popular in flat water and on the South coast but we reckon that Gwithian is a perfect venue for trying SUP on the North coast. Gwithian's slow moving waves are ideal for giving SUP a go and if the surf is too big here it’s easy … [Read more...]
We’re Open!
There have been a lot of paint brushes and rollers slain this week but we are delighted to announce that we are open once more and ready for what promises to be our most exciting season yet. Surf Academy Manager Ian (Gab to you and I) has been working his fingers to the bone this week so that when we throw open the doors tomorrow we will prepared for anything. So what's new this year? … [Read more...]
Train to be a Surf Instructor
So what will you be doing to earn enough money for a surf trip away this winter? What if I said you could earn your money right on the beach while getting a tan and talking about surfing all day? Becoming a surf instructor is relatively straight forward for someone who is motivated, has a decent standard of surfing ability and good at communicating. It's also one of the most enjoyable jobs … [Read more...]
Surf Clinic
At the surf academy we often get asked for surf coaching for intermediate surfers - the type of surfer who has progressed from the whitewater and wants to add some style or power to their turns, get more waves and just get more out of their surfing in general. … [Read more...]
The 5 Things That Every Beginner Surfer Should Know
Sometimes it seems that there are literally thousands of seemingly innocuous faux pas that could damn your fledgling surfing career and condemn yourself to a life of having sand kicked in your face by some chiselled, granite-jawed cad of a surfer. Trust me though, while some line-ups are friendlier than others, just like in other walks of life most surfers are happy to offer advice and are … [Read more...]
Winter Surfing Starts Now
But I thought it began ages ago! Well, yes and no. While the waves and weather have been absolutely bonkers for the last month the water has still been relatively mild so I never really feel that winter truly begins until January. Certainly the hard months are coming up and the sea is at it's coldest in March so the easy part of the winter surfing season is drawing to a close. Just because … [Read more...]
Surfing Gift Vouchers | Perfect for Christmas
If you are looking for a great gift idea for a Christmas present then a Surfing Gift Voucher definitely fits the bill. The gift vouchers are available in multiples of £5 or, if you prefer, you can specify which type of surfing course you would like the voucher to be redeemed against. Postage is free as and we can have the gift vouchers with you in matter of days. Alternatively, if it's a … [Read more...]
Half Term Opening Times
November is creeping into view and with that comes the end of our summer surfing season at the surf school. After which we dust ourselves down and start planning for next year while trying to fit in a few sneaky surfs at Gwithian and St Ives Bay. We will of be open right through the half term and, as ever, the Junior surf Club will be continuing through the winter. During half term we will be … [Read more...]
Weekend Surf Warrior
As we move into winter, unless you are lucky, you will be spending less time in the water. The clocks change, the sea gets cold and the motivation to get in the sea every day can dwindle. So how do you make sure that you are stlll 'surf fit' when you do get in the water again? … [Read more...]
The Best Way to Learn to Surf
This is pretty much the best use for a SUP and a roll of duct tape that I've seen. … [Read more...]
Thanks!
Summer is drawing to a close so it seems like a good time to offer our thanks to all of you who have been surfing with us this year. It's been a bit of a wild ride this year. The early part of the season was super cold then the heat wave killed off all the surf in June but from then on it was one of the best summers that I can remember. We have had very little rain, most days have been sunny … [Read more...]
Surf Lesson Photography
We are pleased to announce that we have added another great service for our customers. We have joined forces with a talented young surfing photographer who will be taking photographs of our surfing lessons (with customers permission of course) so that they have an amazing souvenir of their time surfing with us in Cornwall. … [Read more...]
How Young is Too Young?
A question that we get asked at our surf school every day is 'how old do you have to be to have a surfing lesson?' The stock answer is always over 8 years of age if they are unaccompanied but we will take children aged six years and above if they have a parent or guardian come in the water with them or if they are in a One to One surfing lesson. Any younger children, while they will almost … [Read more...]
World Bellyboarding Championships
The 'Belly' is back for the 11th year running and is being held at Chapel Porth on Sunday 8th of September. If you've never been along to it before then this year there is no excuse. It's a fun day in a beautiful Cornish cove and you might even get crowned World Champion at the end. … [Read more...]
The Gathering
At Gwithian Academy of Surfing we are an A.S.I Accredited Surf School. For us the A.S.I has been the way to go - they are really well organised, have amazing back-up in terms of resources and their lesson plans, indeed their whole approach to teaching surfing, is spot on. … [Read more...]
Surf Academy Membership
We have always endeavored to give our customers great value for money with our surfing lessons and surf hire. We pride ourselves on employing the best coaches, using the best practices and the best equipment to make sure that our customers have a fantastic time when they come to us. But one mustn't rest on one laurels! Times are hard in the country at the moment and value for money is as … [Read more...]
Torq Surfboards
The Torg range of surfboards has just arrived in store and they are looking mighty fine. The range includes surfboards from super responsive fish shortboards right up to 9ft longboards. There are also some smooth funboards and mini-mals for the beginner and intermediate surfers and all of them benefit from Torq's strong but lightweight epoxy construction. We started using them as part of our … [Read more...]
Big Moustache, Big Hair, Big Air
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vE5crNEgCGk Jordy Smith breaking Brazilian hearts in Rio. … [Read more...]
Rio Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V1FGx9EckSY The conditons finally improve in Rio. If you want to see some high performance surfing in tricky surf then stay tuned today. The comp has to finish today and the quarter finals are heading in at 11am GMT (ish). … [Read more...]
Rio Sshmio
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzvpgf_teahupoo-tahiti-surf_sport If the prospect of watching the world best surfers struggling to break trim in 2 second wave-period windswell at the Rio Pro isn't quite as exciting as you'd hoped then stare slack-jawed in amazement at this raw footage from Teahuppo, Tahiti filmed a couple of days ago. … [Read more...]
Rio Pro is ON!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3yV4EWe-xR4 After what seams like an age the Rio Pro is finally heading in for their second round heats. The surf ain't pretty but it's probably better than we will see at Gwithian today. Whack the kettle on and put your feet up. You've earnt it. … [Read more...]
The Next Wave – ASI Level 1 Surf Instructors
Another group of ASI surf instructors has been released into the waves and unsuspecting public after they successfully passed last weekends Level 1 Surf Coach Award. Adam Bayfield, Sam Benstead, David Oyler and Giacommo Tilli were ably guided by Ian Gabbitas, our resident ASI Level 3 Surf Coach and Trainer, and all achieved their Level 1 coaching certificate. Now all they have to do is complete … [Read more...]
We’re Open!
Easter is here, spring has sprung and the waves are pumping so it's time to get down to the beach and burn off some of that chocolate that you were gorging on yesterday. The surf school is officially open for the season and we'll be here everyday from 10am to 6pm from now until November. … [Read more...]
Surf School App
Gwithian Academy of Surfing is delighted to announce that we now have an app that will work on all smart phones and tablets. On the app you will find handy hints such as what happens during and after a surfing lesson, directions and a surf forecast. You can download it by clicking here on your device. … [Read more...]
Perfect surf for Junior Surf Club. Again.
For the last couple of years we have been running our Junior Surf Club right through the winter and I have been amazed by how lucky we have been with the surf. I would have expected to have to cancel or postpone at least a quarter of the surfing lessons that are done outside of the summer season but I couldn't have been more wrong. Looking back through the diary it seems that we only … [Read more...]
One week to go
Not long till summer officially starts at Cornwall's favourite surf school but the weather is not so summery at the moment! I got a train journey down from London yesterday - I was up seeing a mate who used to work at the surf school about a decade ago - and there was a blizzard at Newbury. This is clearly not on. … [Read more...]
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2013 – Final Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gv-li07AT6w So Slater did it again then. In doing so he left my Fantasy Surfer Team in total disarray. Next time I pick a team I'm going with my head and not my heart! Congratulations to Kelly though - 41, 1st in the world ratings and his first win of the season. Who'd bet against him getting his 12th world title now? … [Read more...]
New Redback Softboards have just arrived
It's been an incredibly busy couple of days at the surf school. We have just taken delivery of this years surf-hire fleet from Redback. We trialled one of their softboards last summer and were so impressed we bought a further 60 for this season. Most soft surfboards will either surf well or be very hard-wearing but it's nigh on impossible for a surf school teaching softboard to be both. Or so … [Read more...]
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2013
http://youtu.be/99LOjlLmwVQ It's been a pretty good start I reckon though my Fantasy Surfer Team has taken a bit of a beating already! More tonight I hope. … [Read more...]
Quik Pro
The Quiksilver Pro is just about to get under way in Australia. Things are exciting enough in the world of pro surfing but if you want it a little bit spicier then why not pick a Fantasy Surfer team and join the Gwithian Academy of Surfing Clubhouse. Can you beat the coaches at their own game? My money's on Dane Reynolds. … [Read more...]
Next Winter!
I know, it's absurd to be talking about next winter when this one is far from over but the Gul rep came in this morning with some mighty fine looking wetsuits for next winters range. The one that really caught my eye was the Gul Junior ABS wetsuit. The suit is fully glued and blindstitched so it has totally waterproof seams, extra stretchy neoprene and a shoulder entry system. This is a really … [Read more...]
Dane Reynolds, Weird Looking Surfboards and Mexico
http://youtu.be/lyLdSATfbpw Dane rips, we all know that, but check out the board he's ripping on in this video. I doubt this board would be surf-able for any surfer who wasn't in the Top 32 (and a few of them might have trouble!) but he makes it look easy. … [Read more...]
New Blog
These are exciting times at Gwithian Academy of Surfing. The summer is just around the corner, Spring is here (I think) and all our thoughts are turning to getting everything ready for the summer. … [Read more...]
Snow
The surf has taken a bit of a turn for the worse since we began 2013. There has been plenty on swell but not a lot of quality. You may have read that 100 ft high waves have been ridden in Portugal. Mainland Europe has had an epic winter of surf so although we are missing out at least someone is getting plenty of surf. As well as great surf they are also enjoying some good snow in the Alps so it … [Read more...]
That’s More Like It
At last! A week of sunshine and surf arrived to perfectly coincide with the end of term. We haven't had a week like it for a good couple of months but it was welcomed by loads of happy surfers and beach-goers. It's certainly given everyone a lift after some fairly ropey weather in June and it looks like it's set to continue for a little while yet.If you are thinking of coming down for some … [Read more...]
Surf Experience
It's 'activities week' at the local schools which means that the beaches are packed with hundreds of frothing teenagers and the lucky 'work experience' kids who realised that a week with a surf school means at least 4 hours in the water a day talking about surfing.When I was their age I was sweeping the local surfboard factory and making flagons of tea for the shaper but I still managed a cheeky … [Read more...]
Volunteerism
Every now and then we take a booking that we know is going to be interesting and even more rewarding than usual. Over the next few weeks we will be working with some autistic youngsters and helping them into their first few waves as part of the Wave Project. This group was set up in 2010 to help disadvantaged young adults and children experience the joy of surfing and is going from strength to … [Read more...]
Post Easter Blues
Easter has been and gone so we now get a chance to clear the decks and get ready for the season to hit. The May Day bank holiday is only two weeks away and that usually marks the beginning of what will hopefully be a season rich with good waves and barmy weather.Fingers crossed.Junior Surf Club has been a big hit this year so we have added a mid week session for those who can't make the Saturday … [Read more...]
….and so it begins.
The summer starts here! The surf school is awake after its winter hibernation and we are open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm. The beginning of the season is always a bit of a shock to the system but its great to be out of 'admin mode' and back in the surf coach mindset.Meanwhile all of our summer stock has arrived in the shop in the last week so we are getting to grips with all the new … [Read more...]
