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Progressor Surfer Programme Newquay

Some day programme / From £0000 Book now

Make progress on your surfing journey and become an intermediate surfer. Improve your surfing ability on a weekend alongside like-minded women in the UK’s surf capital, benefitting from the knowledge of our all-female coaching team!

Why choose to go surfing in Newquay?

Our cool little surf town in Newquay, Cornwall has a laid-back vibe and friendly community. It’s full of independent shops and cute cafes, with three beaches right in the town centre. Grab an artisan coffee and watch surfers wander down the streets to the waves, or stock up on your surf essentials.

What to expect

This is an intensive weekend tailored to levelling up your surfing! You will learn how to confidently paddle out back and catch green waves by developing your paddle and pop-up technique. You’ll increase your ocean awareness and discover how to make the most of your time in the water by catching the right waves.

Who’s this course for?

If you’re consistently standing up and catching broken waves, maybe paddling outback on small days, but aren’t feeling confident, then this weekend is for you! It will give you the tools to take the next step in your surf journey in a supportive environment. What level am i?

What level am I?

Why choose us?

We use expert instruction and confidence-building methods to help you progress your surfing to the next level. You’ll walk away with more power in your paddle and a kick-ass pre-surf mindset as well as a whole new gang of surfing pals!

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

6 - 32°C

Wave Types

Beaches

Language

English

What people say

"I had an amazing time! I even came away with a new surf skill - I learnt to turn! Such a professional, pressure-free and safe surfing environment. Had the best experience ever. Can't wait to practice all I have learnt so I can come back and learn more. Definitely recommend to everyone!"

"Just completed the progressors weekend in Newquay and it was the best! Maya was such a good instructor with the best energy, and all the other gals pushing us into waves and hyping us up are so lovely! Had the best surf conditions, and was surrounded by supportive women.. honestly, what could be better?!"

"Great weekend spent with a fab bunch of like-minded women on the progressor weekend in Newquay. I was a bit nervous to return to the water, as I’ve been frustrated by a lack of progress with my surfing - but their encouragement meant I was able to get out there again and begin building back my confidence and progress with existing and new skills. I also did the surf skate session… I’d never even stood on a skateboard before! I didn’t expect anything but a couple of hard falls… but by the end of the 2 hours I was achieving slow and steady S turns by myself! Thanks so much Maya for your help, support and tuition - absolutely LOVED the session."

"Just finished up a January weekend trip in Newquay and I had the best time! Big thanks to Maya for her thoughtful feedback and encouragement. Her coaching was precise and focused on teaching techniques for improving my timing catching waves and turning. I’ve got a great list of things to work on for my next surf and the confidence to move up to the intermediate group next trip I go on!"

"I've been trying to learn to surf for years and have taken lessons with a variety of different surf schools, but Women + Waves has hands down been the best experience I've had! The team members were so dedicated to making sure you came away with more confidence and a positive experience. They help you set goals and meet them, and have an amazing time in the process! The all-women environment is extremely supportive, and I left with not only a new set of skills in the water but new surfing friends!"

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 analysis for each of your waves caught on camera to give you something to work on during your next water session. 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 Newquay and relax before an optional group dinner.

Day Two

On the second day we’ll have a similar routine in the morning and will be finished around lunchtime.

We also have an optional two-hour introduction session to surf skating for those who wish to join, it’s super fun and a great way to learn another new skill. We reflect on the things that you need to work on from your surfing video analysis session and how that can be helped through surf skating. See our surf skate section below for more information.

What’s included

The Newquay Progressor Surfer Programme offers extended surf sessions for maximum time in the water. You’ll learn the skills to progress your surfing to an intermediate level and make the most of your time in the water by being assisted to catch the right waves. We’ll 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 refreshing the basics and building up intermediate skills with in-water feedback and a mid-surf snack break.
  • In-depth video analysis 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!).
  • An optional two-hour Intro to Surf Skate lesson (£50pp).
  • 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 world’s BEST female surfers, with bespoke tips to your ability level!
  • Discount card for apres-surf food and drink plus 15% discount at the Rip Curl shop.
  • Optional evening meal reservations to enjoy good food with new friends!
  • Discounted hotel accommodation in Newquay
  • Good times and chill vibes with like-minded women!

The Newquay Progressor 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! We’ll be on hand the whole weekend to maximise your progression, teach you new skills and make sure you’re having fun! Our Newquay Progressor Surfer Programme is perfectly designed to help you take the next step on your surfing journey.

 

Our expert team assess ocean conditions the evening before, for the day ahead. This ensures you get the top ocean conditions available. We are highly experienced at forecasting and our knowledge of how this translates to the surfing conditions on the beach, gives you the best chance of catching the best waves.

 

The Progressor Programme is tailored to those seeking to step up their surfing game. If you’ve reached a plateau with surfing in the white water and are ready to move forward but aren’t sure how, we can help. Our sessions are zero pressure, but we’ll be there alongside you helping you paddle out back if that’s your goal. Giving you the confidence you need to take your place in the line up, all the while having loads of fun! Our female instructors are all qualified lifeguards and are fully insured, so you’ll be in safe hands! 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

  • Ocean safety and identifying rip currents
  • Perfecting body position on the board
  • How to confidently paddle out back
  • Fine-tune your paddle techniques
  • Perfect your pop-up
  • How to catch green waves
  • Wave selection and choosing the best waves for your ability 
  • How to deal with steep take-offs
  • The skills required to make a drop
  • Where to sit in the lineup and why 
  • Which wave to pick from a set
  • How to handle crowded days on the line up 

 

Theory

  • How waves are formed
  • Choosing which beaches are safe to surf
  • Different kinds of surf breaks (beach, point, reef)
  • Different types of surfing (longboarding vs shortboard)
  • How to read surf forecasts
  • Learn about winds, tides, swell direction and how it will affect your surfing session
  • Dealing with changing ocean conditions and successfully managing rips
  • How to gain speed and read sections of a wave to lengthen your rides
  • Buying your first board and wetsuit
  • Types of surfboard
  • 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 Newquay Progressor 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, and you have a recipe for a weekend which will long stay in the memory and have lasting, positive effects on your surfing journey.

On 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.

£50 – 2 hours long, including all equipment.

Why not join our 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 everyone will get the feel for it after just one lesson.

While maximising safety, our 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 of our previous guests have used this session as a springboard to start surf skating themselves and practice in their own time.

We’ve even organised 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 our training hall. You’ll be videoed in action so that we can analyse your technique and you’ll be able to see your dramatic improvements immediately. Surf skating is the single most effective way to improve your surfing, other than actual surfing!

We have limited numbers on each weekend, so please book ahead. To book, just add Surf Skate Workshop onto your booking when selecting your weekend dates.

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 and all dietary requirements can be catered for.

A highlight of the weekend is our social dinner on Saturday night, to our favourite coastal restaurant. 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. We work with our favourite local beach side restaurants to create a chilled evening that takes in 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 recommend budgeting around £10-£20 for this as it is not included in the weekend costs. 

During the weekend, depending on the tides and schedule we may go for a coffee or relax in one of Newquay’s many cafes. There is no better way to soak up the Newquay vibe than with a coffee in hand, chatting with your fellow surf gals.

Please bring a packed lunch with you or some money to buy something after our Saturday surf. We will keep lunch times flexible around the tides, and it’s good to always have some fruit or snacks in your bag to feast on when you get out of the water. 

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

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

 

Travel

Newquay is a 15-minute drive from the A30, which links to the M5. Our main centre is based on Fore Street, near Towan Beach. We’ll send you detailed information before your arrival, including parking instructions and maps. Both our accommodation options are within walking distance to Fistral Beach and Newquay Bay, the town centre and many local supermarkets.

Newquay Railway Station is located in the town centre, a short walk from the beaches, harbour centre and accommodation. 

 

Newquay town centre is a 20-minute drive from Newquay Airport. Flights arrive in Newquay Airport from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow plus multiple European cities.

Take a closer look

Dates and prices

Date
1st - 2nd February 2025
From £289
Date
1st - 2nd March 2025
From £289
Date
12th - 13th April 2025
From £289
Date
24th - 25th May 2025
From £289
Date
14th - 15th June 2025
From £289
Date
26th - 27th July 2025
From £289
Date
20th - 21st September 2025
From £289
Date
25th - 26th October 2025
From £289
Date
22nd - 23rd November 2025
From £289

FAQs

This course is for you if you can consistently catch broken waves and are now looking to progress to the next level – paddling outback and catching unbroken waves. It’s all about improving your confidence in and out of the water through ocean awareness, wave selection and paddle and pop up techniques. You need to be comfortable with going beyond the whitewater and out of your depth to the lineup.

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.