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Beginner Surfer ProgrammeNewquay

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

Join us for a women-only weekend surf camp on the stunning shores of Newquay, Cornwall. Over two nights you’ll receive expert coaching from all-star ISA qualified instructors at some of the best surf breaks in the UK.

Why choose a surf camp in Newquay?

Newquay has a laid-back surfer vibe and a friendly community. It’s full of independent shops and cute cafes, plus with three beaches right in the town centre you’ll never be short of perfect waves. Grab an artisan coffee, watch surfers hitting the waves, or stock up on your surf essentials.

What to expect...

With Women + Waves everything is organised for you; two days of ocean surfing, with expert instructors who are also qualified lifeguards and an amazing group of likeminded women. These weekends are fully insured and have received over 350 5-star reviews from customers so you can be sure of being in safe hands.

Who’s this course for?

This girls-only surf trip is suitable for beginner surfers who have never surfed before or are still in the white-water. We provide as much support as you need to overcome any barriers. Women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are welcome, 90% of participants arrive solo and over 40% are over forty; so there’s nothing to stop you becoming the surfer you always dreamed of.

What level am I?

Why choose us?

Unlike other surf camps, this trip will be tailored to suit your needs and abilities. Your team of all female, local instructors will deliver coaching in a no pressure, supportive environment so you have fun and build confidence while learning.

When to come?

All year round! Lucky for us, Cornwall benefits from the warmest air and sea temperatures in the UK. The north coast of Cornwall is exposed to consistent Atlantic swell year-round, which means our waves are better than anywhere else in the country.

Quick facts

Water Temp

10 - 18°C

Climate

10 - 32°C

Wave Types

Beaches

Language

English

What people say

"I've been trying to surf for years now, and felt stuck as many of us holiday surfers do. But I went on a W+W weekend and I can't believe how far I've come after just one weekend surrounded by such a supportive, fun and kind group of women. "

Alexia

"Had an amazing weekend on the Beginner's course in Newquay! Such a lovely group of girls and instructors. Bex is such a great instructor who is so encouraging and helpful. The photo and video analysis was so helpful to be able to make improvements on your surfing, big thank you to Sarah for the fantastic photos! Can't recommend Women and Waves enough if you want a relaxed, encouraging and good vibes weekend with like-minded women."

Genevieve

"Had the most incredible time at the Women and Waves beginner surf weekend in October! Bex was an incredible teacher (every single member of the team was so friendly and knowledgeable too) and so supportive. I've had a number of surf lessons in the last few years but this was the first time I felt I 'got it' in theory and in practice too - and I was standing on the board and surfing by the second day!! Video analysis was a hugely helpful extra, and I loved having so many videos and photos to keep. Highly, highly recommend it if you really want to get a better understanding of surfing and progress in a short amount of time!! Already looking to when I can book the next trip with them... 😁😁"

Lisa

"Absolutely fantastic organisation. I went on a beginner course and I've already felt confident enough to head out on my own several times since. My instructor was fab, offering advice throughout to help me visibly progress over the course of two days. I will be back!"

Talwyn

"Had the best weekend on the Women and Waves beginner course! Couldn’t recommend them highly enough. The whole crew made everyone so comfortable; we had so much fun and actually managed to learn how to surf along the way! Massive thanks to Bex, Daisy and Ciara who got my surfing way further than I would have thought possible in one weekend - I had barely surfed before but they got us all catching waves and standing by the end. Even if we hadn’t managed to learn, we would have had such a great time regardless. Thanks again guys - see you next time for the progressor course!"

Roisin

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 - Morning

When it comes to surfing, early starts are the winner! 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.

Time to jump in the water! You’ll get changed into your wetsuit in our changing room and walk down to the beach together with your 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.

Day One - Afternoon

When the surf sessions are finished, you’ll get changed, grab some snacks and meet 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. This will give you goals to work towards for your next session. It’s also a great time to ask your instructor any burning questions you may have.

You will then have a few hours of free time to explore Newquay and relax. Then we all meet up for an optional evening meal and drinks to chat about the day and get to know each other better.

Day Two

On the second day it’s time to put into practice all of your learnings from day #1. Expect to see some big changes in your surfing and loads more fun.

You also have the option for an introduction to surf skating lesson. It’s super fun and a great way to learn another new skill which will really help with your future surfing as well as being great fun. It’s totally safe and we deliver it in doors in our training hall. See the surf skate section below for more information.

What’s included

 

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

  • Pre-surf session yoga routine video to prepare your mind and body for each epic session.
  • Bespoke fitness and stretch routine video for pre-course preparation.
  • Discounted accommodation in your all-female apartments (subject to availability).
  • Three surf sessions covering all the basics to get you started, each 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 that will enhance your ocean awareness and confidence in the water. It’s a good forum for you to ask any further questions
  • Board and wetsuit hire for the duration of the programme
  • Surf Progression log book to record conditions, set your goals and plot your learning journey.
  • Professional photo and footage package of your surfing to take home with you and see where you can improve (and to show friends and family + share to social media!)
  • Individual goal setting with expert instructors. You’ll identify the barriers holding you back, help you break them down and progress your surfing to the next level.
  • Changing facilities and warm showers.
  • Discount card for apres-surf food and drink plus 15% discount at the Rip Curl shop.
  • An invite to our evening meal to enjoy delicious food with wonderful new friends! (optional, food not included in weekend price). 
  • An optional two-hour Intro to Surf Skate lesson (£45pp).
  • Good times and chill vibes with like-minded women!
  • Post course, stretch out routine supplied on video to help your muscles to repair after 6 hours of surfing.
  • Pro-rider video tutorial from one of the worlds BEST female surfers, with bespoke tips to your ability level!

The Newquay Beginner Surfer Programme is all about you, so 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 this Newquay Beginner Surfer Programme is perfectly designed to help you on that journey.

Your expert team will assess conditions in the evening for the day ahead, to ensure you get the best available ocean conditions. Your team is 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 your tuition is tailored to suit your ability perfectly. Your sessions are zero pressure, lots of fun and your 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

 

Every waking minute of the Newquay Beginner Surfer Programme will revolve around you and your fellow guests; ensuring everyone has a great time, 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 have footage of yourself analysed is the quickest way to learn, as it increases your self awareness, quickly spot errors and helps you visualise what to do to take your performance to the next level. You’ll have access to all of your photographs and videos after the weekend via the easy to use online gallery platform that will be shared with you.

£50 – 2 hours long, including all equipment.

 

Why not join an optional Surf Skate Workshop?

 

No matter your surfing experience level, surf skating is an invaluable tool to develop the dynamic body movements you require during surfing. It helps you improve your balance, generate speed and navigate through turns. It’s also amazing fun and we guarantee that you’ll get the feel for it after just one lesson.

 

While maximising safety, your instructors will deliver a series of drills that enable you to practise toe and heel control, opening your shoulders and using your arms to draw clean lines through your turns. These lessons will increase your time spent on a board simulating these manoeuvres. Which in turn, will increase your balance, strengthen your muscle memory and increase your rate of progression on a surfboard.

 

It’s great fun and super safe! Many previous guests have used this session as a springboard to start surf skating themselves and practice in their own time.

 

You’ll even receive a discount of 10% at Flavour Skate shop in Newquay should you want to buy one yourself.

 

The session includes all safety equipment, surf skate and is delivered inside a training hall. You’ll be videoed in action so that you can analyse your technique and the improvements will come super-fast. Surf skating offers a repeatable way of replicating surfing’s movements and the balancing requirements super effectively. It’s a real game changer and great fun! 

 

There are limited places to surf skate on each weekend, to book, just add to your booking when selecting your weekend during the checkout process. 

 

Newquay has some great cafes and restaurants serving fresh, locally sourced food. From just-caught fish and hearty burgers, to wood-fired pizzas and vegan curries, there’s something to satisfy every appetite. All dietary requirements are catered for.

A highlight of the weekend is your social dinner on Saturday night, to the hottest place in town, where the locals go. After a day in the sea, it’ll be a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded women and share stories from the waves with your surf buddies.  The local beach side restaurant offers a chilled evenings of scrummy food and drink. It’s entirely optional but it’s a great opportunity to let your hair down and relax after a day of adventure. All dietary requirements are catered for. We recommended budgeting around £10-£20 for this. 

 

Depending on the tides and schedule you may go for a pre surf Sunday morning coffee. There is no better way to soak up the Newquay vibe than with a coffee in hand chatting with your fellow surf gals. We give you a discount card to our fave spot. 

  

Please bring a packed lunch with you or some money to buy something after our Saturday surf. Lunch times are flexible around the tides, and best to always have some fruit or snacks in your bag to feast on when you get out of the water.

 

Remember to bring a reusable water bottle each day and you will have regular opportunities to refill when you need to.

 

You’ll receive a discount card for Rip Curl and local bars, coffee shops and eateries. 

Travel

Newquay is a 15-minute drive from the A30, which links to the M5.

The camp is based near Towan Beach. You’ll receive detailed information before your arrival, including parking instructions and maps.

The railway station is in the town centre. If you’re travelling by train, we may be able to pick you up from the station (time dependent). Get in touch for more details.

The centre is a 20-minute drive from Newquay airport. You can fly into Newquay from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Flights are available from key European cities. Once you’ve landed there are buses or taxis available into Newquay town centre.

Take a closer look

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Dates and prices

Date
1st - 2nd February 2025
From £279
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Date
1st - 2nd March 2025
From £279
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Date
24th - 25th May 2025
From £279
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Date
14th - 15th June 2025
From £279
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Date
26th - 27th July 2025
From £279
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Date
25th - 26th October 2025
From £279
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Date
22nd - 23rd November 2025
From £279
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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.

Newquay has many great places to stay to suit all types of budgets. Take a look here at some recommendations. Alternately AirBnb and Booking.com also have some great options.

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 Newquay. Please contact us if you need a hand organising accommodation. Book early to avoid disappointment and get the best prices.

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. We’ll send you a brief predicted forecast in the pre-weekend pack on the Wednesday before the weekend. We choose Newquay due to the huge variety of beaches. 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.

Yes, we can store your bag and other belongings at our centre.

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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