Surfing

Newquay is well known for it’s glorious beaches and invitingly clear Atlantic waters but there is one other thing it is truly famous for worldwide - and that’s the surfing. Many of the towns surf competitions are world ranking and some of the best surfers in the world can be seen in competition here.

It is said that the first Newquay surfer used a reshaped old wardrobe door, it's a nice story but has never really been proven. More likely bodyboarding as a board you can stand on needs some skill to create. What is known is that home made balsa wood longboards were being used in the 1930's. With a large surface area and buoyancy, enough to carry a persons weight stood up, surfing as we know it was born. It was the fiberglass and foam mass produced surfboards that truly popularised the sport. By the 1960’s, much has it had in the US, Australia & South Africa, the sport caught on in the UK and paricularly Newquay. The surf is always weather and tide dependent but there is one spectacular wave, the Cribbar, that challenges the best of surfers and really has to been seen to be believed for the UK coast.

Surfing is a great sport to try and we have many long standing surf tuition companies that can get you from your first time ever on a surf board to riding the waves. Lessons are normally half or full day with board and wetsuit usually included in the price. Many companies can also offer packages that also include accommodation and extended tuition times. If you want to just try out surfing on your own then there are plenty of surf shops you can hire surfboards, bodyboards and wetsuits from. We would recommend using lifeguarded beaches (May to Sept and usually until 6pm) and always take notice of flags defining the best surfing area or any other notices.

 Please see below a list of recommended surf schools in Newquay and the surrounding areas