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Beginner Surfer Programme Croyde

Some day programme / From £0000 Book now
Overview Accomodation ItineraryWhat’s includedTravelDates & prices

Build strong foundations for your surfing journey and learn to surf with like-minded women in one of the UK’s best surf locations, benefitting from the knowledge of our all-female coaching team!

Why choose to go surfing in Croyde

With fun waves at all stages of the tide, it’s easy to see why this golden beach is the jewel in North Devon’s crown. It’s one of the best surf beaches in the UK – and our base for the weekend. Being located in the southwest, Devon boasts warm summers, mild winters and excellent swell exposure.

What to expect

This is a weekend packed full of surfing! You’re guaranteed to see instant improvements from our daily surf sessions along with feeling more confident in the water with an improved ocean awareness and surfing mindset. You’ll walk away with actionable tips to work on in your next surf session, heaps more knowledge about surf theory, equipment, safety and technique.

Who’s this course for?

If you’re new to surfing or you’re still winging it in the whitewash, this immersive two-day surf programme is for you! Start your surfing journey in a supportive, no-pressure, female-friendly environment. We welcome women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. What level am i?

What level am I?

Why choose us?

We use expert instruction and confidence-building methods to equip you with the foundation skills and get you surfing. Join our tribe and forge connections with like-minded women, you’ll make friendships that will last long after the weekend comes to an end.

When to come?

All year round! Lucky for us, Devon benefits from some of the warmest air and sea temperatures in the UK. The North Coast of Devon is exposed to consistent Atlantic swell year-round, which means the waves are some of the best in the country.

Quick facts

Water Temp

10 - 18°C

Climate

6 - 32°C

Wave Types

Beaches

Language

English

What people say

"Have been wanting to learn to surf for so long but it had always been super intimidating. I bit the bullet and headed to one of the Croyde weekends solo, I was really nervous but had the most amazing time! Freddie was a brilliant coach; open, warm, funny, so encouraging and made us all feel completely at ease. Most of us had joined solo and it was epic to spend the weekend with a group of likeminded and inspiring women. Already booked my next weekend!"

Camilla

"I’ve just returned from an amazing weekend away to Croyde with the W+W crew. So much fun! The instructors were really knowledgeable, patient and just so helpful, you can tell they love their jobs! Where we were based for a meeting, analysis, hire kit and changing overlooks Croyde Bay and is such a great spot and cafe! 10 stars to the changing room and hot showers! AND a big thank you for refreshments on the beach, and carrying our water bottles, this makes such a difference! I’ll be back!!"

Liz

"Had an amazing weekend on the Beginners surf course in Croyde. From the pre-weekend information, the warm welcome and expert coaching to the post-weekend follow-up emails. Our coach immediately put everyone at ease with her warmth and humour and paid attention to everyone on the course, giving tips and encouragement as well as taking us through the theory. It was great to see how invested the whole W+W team were in ensuring that we all had a fantastic experience. Thank you!"

Mischka

Itinerary

Please note, sometimes we need to be flexible as some activities will be weather and condition dependent – but don’t worry, we’ll always do our very best to ensure you get the very best out of the trip! All our surf days and suggested activities are completely optional – you can enjoy as much or as little as you desire. This is not a boot camp!

Day One

When it comes to surfing, we’re all for early starts! You’ll arrive in the morning around 7:30/8:30 am to meet the coaching team, get to know your new surfing buddies, set goals for the weekend and assess the surf conditions of the day. We will email you all the timings on the run up to the weekend.

Time to jump in the water! We’ll get changed into our wetsuits and walk down to the beach together with our surfboards. After a fun warm up, and a beach safety and theory session, you’ll have a long extended surf session. It’s essentially two surf sessions rolled into one, with a snack break on the beach to rest and refuel between sessions.

When the surf sessions are finished, you’ll get changed, grab some snacks and join us for a video analysis and surf theory session. This is where you’ll be able to see what you actually look like when you’re surfing! Your instructor will give you personalised feedback and breakdowns for each of your waves caught on camera to give you something to work on next time you’re in the water. It’s also a great time to ask your instructor any questions you have.

You will then have a few hours of free time to explore Croyde and relax before an optional group dinner.

Day Two

On the second day we’ll have a similar routine, but will be finished around lunchtime.

What’s included

The Croyde Beginner Surfer Programme offers extended surf sessions for maximum time in the water. We’ll cover all the basics to get you started, give you demonstrations on the sand, plenty of in-water feedback and we’ll take a mid-surf snack break to keep your energy high.

  • Three surf sessions covering all the basics to get you started with in-water feedback and a mid-surf snack break.
  • In-depth video analysis of part of your surf sessions with demonstrations and move-by-move breakdowns to help you progress onto the next stage of your surfing journey.
  • Surf theory discussions to enhance your ocean awareness and confidence in the water and ask any further questions.
  • Pre-surf routines to get you into the right mindset, working on confidence-building, decision-making, staying focused and not holding back.
  • Bespoke fitness and stretch routine video for pre course preparation.
  • Post course, stretch out routine supplied on video to help your muscles to repair after 6 hours of surfing.
  • Pre surf session, dynamic warm up routine video to prepare your mind and body for each epic session.
  • Board and wetsuit hire for the duration of the programme.
  • Professional photos and footage of your surfing to see where you can improve (and to show friends and family your new surfing skills!)
  • Surf Progression Booklet to continue your surfing education and log your journey.
  • Individual goal setting with expert instructors who will break down your progression. barriers and take your surfing to the next level
  • Pro rider video tutorial from one of the worlds BEST female surfers, with bespoke tips to your ability level!
  • Optional breakfast and evening meal reservations to enjoy good food with new friends!
  • Good times and chill vibes with like-minded women!

The Croyde Beginner Surfer Programme is all about you, we want you to enjoy it, and get everything out of it that you hope to. We’ll have a chat at the start of the weekend about what your motivations are for coming, work with you individually to set personalised goals, and give you encouragement and feedback on every wave and wipeout! If your goal is simply to have fun, don’t worry, we can go easy on the coaching elements. However, if you want to maximise your progression and learn new skills, then our Croyde Beginner Surfer Programme is perfectly designed to help you on that journey.

Our expert team will assess conditions in the evening for the day ahead, to ensure you get the best available ocean conditions. We are experienced at forecasting and have knowledge of how this translates to the conditions on the beach.

 

Whatever your ability and experience in the surf, we’ve got you covered as our tuition is tailored to suit your ability perfectly. Our sessions are zero pressure, lots of fun and our female instructors are all qualified lifeguards and are fully insured, so you’ll be in safe hands! 

 

This two-day surf programme gives you the perfect introduction to surfing in a safe and supportive environment. With practical instruction in the water and in-depth surf theory sessions back at our base, your surfing skills will skyrocket by the end of the programme! Here’s what you can expect to learn:

 

Practical / In the water

  • Basic ocean safety and identifying rip currents
  • Getting to know the parts of a surfboard
  • Bodysurfing to build confidence
  • Handling and controlling the board
  • Riding whitewater waves lying on the board
  • Catching broken waves
  • Getting to your feet (and staying up!)
  • Working on your pop up and take off
  • Body positioning on the board
  • Stalling and accelerating
  • Basic paddling techniques

 

Theory

  • How waves are formed
  • Choosing which beaches are safe to surf and avoiding rips
  • Different kinds of surf breaks (beach, point, reef)
  • Different types of surfing (longboarding vs shortboard)
  • Buying your first board and wetsuit
  • Surf fitness tips to help with your pop up

 

Plus video analysis of your surfing with move-by-move breakdowns and personalised feedback.

Every waking minute of the Croyde Beginner Surfer Programme will revolve around you, and your fellow guests; ensuring everyone has a great time, and is getting personalised coaching 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 weekends of your life.

 

Both days your surf sessions will be filmed, by a photographer on the beach and a member of the team in-water with the Go-Pro! These photos and videos will be used for detailed 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 weekend via our easy to use online platform.

On Saturday, we head to Blue Groove for dinner. The menu features plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options – tuck in to everything from homemade curries to fresh mussels. If you want the night to continue, join us as we drop in to some local bars, like The Thatch and Billy Budds.

The weekend ends after lunch on Sunday. Feel free to hit the road straight away, or stay for a lunch over looking the surf at Baggys Surf Lodge. It’s a great way to restore your energy after an action-packed surfing weekend.

 

Travel

Croyde is located about an hour from the M5 on the A361, just west of Barnstaple. This makes it more accessible than Cornwall for those coming from the North, Wales, the Midlands and east of the UK.

The nearest station is Barnstaple. From there you’ll need a taxi to Croyde – it’s about 25 minutes away.

The nearest airport is Exeter. It’s an hour and a half’s drive from Croyde.

Take a closer look

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Dates and prices

Date
26th - 27th April 2025
Price£349
Book now

FAQs

This course is for new and beginner surfers who have either never surfed before or have had a couple of lessons and need guidance on how to progress. It’s all about going back to basics to build a strong foundation for you to progress your surfing. You don’t need any experience or knowledge of surfing to come on this programme, you just need to know how to swim and be comfortable going in the water.

Click here for recommendations to suit every budget on places to stay in Croyde and surrounding areas.

You should budget £15-£20  for the Saturday evening meal.

  • If you’d like to join our event please click our ‘Book Now’ button and complete our quick and easy online payment system or please give us a call +44 (0) 1637 226017
  • Select the equipment you will need at the time of booking if you need any.
  • Enter your credit or debit card details into our secure system to make payment. Or we can take your payment over the phone.
  • Once paid you’ll be sent an email confirmation and an online enrolment form to complete.
  • Prior to the weekend, we’ll send you your pre-trip information pack.

Due to this weekend being in high demand, we have very limited availability. However, we can hold your space for 24 hours without payment.

Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with friends for life.

If you book in a group of 5, the fifth person will be free.

Yes! This is a scenario that we are very familiar with. Why not make a family break of the weekend? You can join the surf weekend with us while the rest of your family enjoy North Devon.

You will be sent your pre-arrival information prior to the weekend. We will send you the Saturday morning meeting time and location in your pre-weekend information pack.

We choose our fave restaurant because of the range of great menu options that it has available. All dietary requirements are catered for.

We finish around mid-afternoon on Sunday. If you need to leave earlier then please let us know at the time of booking and we can make sure that your group sessions are timed so that you finish in time to get away.

Equipment hire is included in the package. We do not offer a discount for bringing your own equipment.

Yes, we have a full range of hire equipment that we can present to you and recommend the most suitable board for you to progress on.

We choose the time of year and location for our events based on local knowledge and historical swell data. In the event of flat waves or stormy conditions, we will offer alternative activities to help you get the most out of the ocean conditions. This may include stand up paddleboarding, coasteering, kayaking or other coastal activities.

We may adjust the format of the weekend. For example, choosing to run all of the sessions on Sunday if that’s when the waves are at their best.

Please view our T&Cs for more information.

With decades of experience and knowledge within our team, we pick the best dates that the surf conditions are most consistent and will be most suitable for the group. The beautiful long sandy beaches offer peaks for all abilities, the skill is to know which is best on the tide and wind conditions that are on offer. That’s where our local guides are worth their weight in gold. We pride ourselves in having you in the right place for the best waves for your ability each weekend.

Before booking please take a look at our surfing levels.  You will not be able to switch levels as this course is suited to your ability. If you have any questions or are worried about which ability you will be, drop us an email at info@womenandwavessociety.com or call us on 01637 226017

If you are under 18 we will need to chat to you on the phone and you will need to be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian throughout the weekend (they don’t have to participate). If you are 65 or over we’d love to chat to you about the weekend before you book. Please email us to arrange a time and we’ll contact you. Or you can call us on +44 (0) 1637 226017.

There is a pay and display car park a short walk from our meeting point. We will supply further details and costs in the pre weekend information pack.

If you’re based outside the UK and want to chat through the weekend details, you can contact us via our online chat.

If your circumstances change and you can’t join the trip, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.

Cancellation terms:

We hold part or full costs, depending on when you cancel:

  • If you cancel 12 weeks or more before the trip we retain 50% of the total cost
  • If you cancel with less than 12 weeks before the trip then its 100% of the total cost

Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.

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