WOMENS BODYBOARD RETREAT – CORNWALL

The Bodyboard Coaching Week week is for all water loving women. Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking that it’s only for experienced bodyboarders with established skills; this isn’t the case at all.  Please take a look under the videos tab and you can see exactly what to expect and who comes along.

Zero previous experience in bodyboarding is required to enjoy this week; all you need to bring is your swimsuit, a sense of adventure and a passion for learning new skills. What better way to begin your bodyboarding journey, than with a deep dive right to the heart of this highly accessible and hugely enjoyable sport. After you’ve spent a whole week riding the best waves in Cornwall under the tutelage of our expert coaches, and made a firm circle of amazing gal pals in the process, you’ll be a fully anointed bodyboarder, and be raring to plan your next surf adventure.

If you’re lucky enough to have already discovered bodyboarding and want to progress your skills, then the Bodyboard Coaching Week is just what you need to help take your riding to the next level. If you’re an experienced rider who wants to finesse specific techniques, you’ll gain a lot from a week of focused instruction and video analysis. Our instructors have devoted their lives to the Cornish waves, so there’s not much they don’t know, and they’ll be excited to share their knowledge with you.

Maybe you already surf regularly (on a surfboard) but would like to increase your water confidence, surf outback, catch bigger waves. The bodyboard is the tool for the job and the skills that you learn on this course will benefit both your surfing and bodyboarding progression. All of the Women and Waves coaching time surf and bodyboard for this exact reason and we want to share it with you!

Every waking minute of the Bodyboard Coaching Week will revolve around you, and your fellow guests. Ensuring everyone had a progression pathway mapped out, and is getting personalised coaching and focused video analysis to help them reach their goals. Sprinkle in lots of fun, friendship and female support along the way, and you have a recipe for one of the best weeks of your life.

We guarantee you’ll get at least five days of epic ocean sessions throughout the week. We keep our plans flexible so that we can seize the best surf opportunities as the week unfolds, and surf more when the waves are dreamy, and slightly less when they’re not. When you’re not in the water you can choose to take it easy, enjoy a beach walk, chill in a cafe, take a morning dip or partake in any of the other ocean activities that we have available at our centre, including stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, surfing and coasteering (please note that there is an additional charge for these activities).

PRE TRIP

• Bespoke Bodyboard-Holiday preparation fitness video.
• Bespoke Bodyboard-Holiday preparation Yoga video geared toward bodyboarding flexibility and

ACCOMMODATION

• 7 nights of accommodation included – see more in our Accommodation tab.

FOOD

• Our spacious apartments have wonderful self catering facilities, so whether it’s a pre-surf breakfast or a hearty evening feast you’re cooking up, you have everything you need.
• There are lots of restaurants and cafes in Newquay if you want to eat out, there are a range of budgets to suit, but most main meals will fall in to the £12-15 range
• Newquay has several large supermarkets within walking distance of the apartments
• Depending on the tides and our plan for the day, we will often meet for a morning coffee in one of the lovely local coffee shops before the day begins.
• Bodyboarding can be physically demanding and it’s important to keep yourself fueled up, so we ask you to bring a packed lunch or snacks with you. We recommend fruit, nuts and other fibre-filled snacks to keep you energised for your ocean sessions.

COACHING

• At least 5 days of professional bodyboard coaching delivered by our local instructor team.
• Small group sizes mean you’ll get personalised coaching and feedback.
• Our expert team will assess conditions and locations every evening for the day ahead, to ensure you get the chance to surf the best available waves. We are experienced at forecasting and have knowledge of how this translates to the conditions on the beach, so we may change the session times or locations throughout the week, to ensure you get access to the best available waves that Cornwall has to offer each day.
• We personalise our tuition to ensure that whatever your ability level, you’ll have a clear path of progression throughout the week.
• Your instructors will give on-land and in-water demonstrations, and break skills and sequences down, move-by-move, to help you finesse the delicate details of the sport.
• Your coaches will also at times surf alongside you to build your confidence, help you with wave selection, and give you pointers in the moment.

SURF THEORY WORKSHOPS

• We’ll build up your water confidence and ocean safety over the week, with daily surf theory sessions.
• You’ll come away well informed on surf forecasting, hiring or purchasing the right equipment, understanding safety measures, surf etiquette, wave selection and bodyboarding specific fitness.
• Women + Waves yoga-inspired stretch sessions

PHOTO & VIDEO ANALYSIS

• Everyday your bodyboarding sessions will be filmed, by a photographer on the beach or a member of the team in-water with the Go-Pro, and occasionally by both!
• These photos and videos will be used for your personalised video analysis feedback sessions to fast-track progression. The opportunity to analyse footage of yourself is one of the most useful ways to learn, as it increases your self awareness, and helps you visualise your own performance.
• You’ll have access to all of these photographs and videos after the week ends via our easy to use online gallery.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Even though your schedule will be action packed with bodyboarding activities, there will still be free time for you to enjoy the wealth of other activities Newquay and Cornwall has to offer, such as:

• SUPing down the Gannel river estuary
• Snorkelling in crystal clear waters
• Wild swimming
• Coasteering
• Stomping a section of the stunning South West Coast Path
• Relaxing in a spa
• Catching live music
• Retail therapy through Newquays surf stores

Please note that there is an additional charge for some of these activities.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

The ocean is your playground and the world is your oyster. With this new found confidence in the waves, bodyboarding can literally take you around the globe. We’ve got year round waves in Cornwall, with July benefiting from warm weather and consistent waves, we also run coaching trips to Devon and Wales, so there is a lot to be experienced right here in the UK. However if you fancy spreading your wings, then why not consider Barbados, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Bali, Morocco, Portugal or Sumatra? We run bodyboarding adventures to all of these incredible places every year, so Cornwall could just be the first of many adventures.

DAY 1

Arrival day. The course starts at 4pm with arrivals to the apartments and settling in. At 6pm, we’ll enjoy a VIP sunset dinner at The Fistral Beach Bar.

DAY 2

A guided morning dip with a focus on building confidence in the ocean.

Bodyboard lesson 1

Surf theory – Ocean Safety

Afternoon photo/video analysis

Evening chill

DAY 3

Bodyboard lesson 2

Surf theory – Surf Ettiqutte

Afternoon photo/video analysis

Evening chill with a surf-inspired stretch session.

DAY 4

Bodyboard lesson 3

Surf Theory -Reading Waves + Forecasting

Afternoon photo/video analysis

Evening chill and a group meal at our favourite local hot spots

DAY 5

Bodyboard lesson 4

Surf Theory – Equipment knowledge

Afternoon photo/video analysis

Retail tour around town with our local discount cards

Evening chill and surf-inspired stretch session

DAY 6

Guided morning dip

Bodyboard lesson 5

Surf Theory – Bodyboarding Q&A, where to go from here.

Afternoon photo/video analysis

Evening chill + pack. Followed by goodbye drinks + dinner.

DAY 7

Camp ends

Departure from apartment by 11am

We guarantee you’ll get at least five days of epic ocean sessions throughout the week. We keep our plans flexible so that we can seize the best surf opportunities as the week unfolds, and surf more when the waves are dreamy, and slightly less when they’re not. When you’re not in the water you can choose to take it easy, enjoy a beach walk, chill in a cafe, take a morning dip or partake in any of the other ocean activities that we have available at our centre, including stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, surfing and coasteering (please note that there is an additional charge for these activities).

We have two beautiful appointed, modern and spacious apartments that we provide for the women on our bodyboarding and surf coaching weeks. Our apartments are like a home away from home, so what better place to stay than with your tribe of fellow salt water lovers? We’ll let you know which apartment you’ve been allocated a few days before the course, when we send you the final details.

Sunset View Apartment on Pentire Headland

Location:

• 5 minute walk from South Fistral Beach
• 5 minute walk from the glorious Gannel Estuary
• Close to Crantock Beach, which can be easily accessed on foot at low tide

Our first apartment overlooks Pentire Headland and benefits from plenty of natural light. This three-bedroom property is in one of the most peaceful spots in Newquay, just minutes from both Fistral and Crantock Beach. It’s also really close to the Gannel Estuary which is a stunning paddle boarding or swimming spot, and one of Newquays hidden gems.

Even though it’s surrounded by nature, Sunset View Apartment is still close enough to Newquay Town Centre for a bite to eat in the evening, or a spot of retail therapy. It’s the best of both worlds.

Sunset View Apartment is all about the stunning ocean views. It has a spacious, open-plan kitchen diner with a juliet balcony that enjoys morning sunshine. It’s a great kitchen to cook in, and if you want to knock up a post-surf feast you can enjoy it around the large communal dining table.  The lounge comprises a sofa-bed, flat-screen TV and south-facing balcony. Both bedrooms have a set of twin beds, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside table and reading lights. One has an en-suite with a bath, shower and toilet. There is also a separate bathroom and WC. Both bedrooms have stunning sea views.

Newquay Bay Apartment on Fore Street

Location:

• 2 minute walk from Towan Beach & Newquay Harbour
• 5 minute walk from Great Western Beach
• Located right above Newquay Activity Centre for maximum convenience

The second is our Newquay Bay Apartment. This apartment is located above the Newquay Activity Centre HQ. It is a modern, quiet, two-bedroom property that was completely refurbished in 2021. There’s a lovely kitchen as well as a new bathroom with an enormous shower. The apartment is a short walk from Newquay Harbour where you’ll find one of our favourite wild swimming spots. Just a few steps in any direction, you’ll find an abundance of coffee shops, restaurants and surf shops – you’re right in the heart of it all.

The property comprises a spacious living room/diner complete with sofa bed and new 52” TV. There is a sizable dining table perfect for studying or hosting meals. The bedrooms are both twin rooms with zip-link beds; easily connectable for private or couple rooms. Both rooms have wardrobes, drawers, bedsides and reading lights. The living room benefits from large windows with excellent sea views. There is also a large courtyard, perfect for catching rays or drying wetsuits.

Our coaching is first rate, and our video analysis is too; putting you in the best possible environment to get ahead, and fast-track your learning and development. We personalise our tuition to ensure that whatever your ability level, you’ll have a clear path of progression throughout the week.

Your instructors will give on-land and in-water demonstrations, and break skills and sequences down, move-by-move, to help you finesse the delicate details of the sport.

Your coaches will also at times surf alongside you to build your confidence, help you with wave selection, and give you pointers in the moment.  We have the UK’s most qualified male and female instructor team in the business!

We’ll build up your water confidence and ocean safety over the week, with daily surf theory classroom lessons. You’ll come away well informed on surf forecasting, hiring or purchasing the right equipment, understanding safety measures, surf etiquette, wave selection and bodyboarding specific fitness.