· By Adam Daly
Which Surf Lesson Is Right for You?
Blue Surf School's Beginner, Improver, Kids, Private and Family Watergate Bay Surf Lessons Explained
At Blue Surf School, based just outside of Newquay, we give you pleny of choice when it comes to surf lesson.
This is great when you know what you're looking for BUT it can also lead to a little confusion! It's just like trying to find a movie to stick on, only to be paralysed by the endless choices in front of you.
The "best" surf lesson for you it depends on a number of factors including your age, experience, confidence in the water, and who you’re looking to surf with.
Beginner surf lesson: If you’ve never surfed before, are a causal surfer, or want to stay with the white water waves - go with our beginner surf lesson.
Improver surf lesson: If you can already stand up consistently but want to progress (and don't mind being in deep water).
Kids surf lessons: Similar to our beginner surf lessons but tailored for younger surfers aged 8-13 who want to surf with kids their own age.
Private surf lessons and family surf lessons: Offer a more personalised, bespoke, premium experience.
Need more information before you make you decision? Read on below where we break each lesson down in more detail.
Quick Comparison: Surf Lesson Types at Blue Surf School in Watergate Bay
| Lesson Type | Best For | Experience Level | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner Group | First-time or casual surfers | None required | Learn the surf and safety basics, 6:1 ratio |
| Improver Group | Some experience | Standing 8/10 times in white water waves | Progress beyond white water, 5:1 ratio |
| Kids Group | Children aged 8-13 | First-time or casual surfers | Fun, safe, age-specific coaching, 5:1 ratio |
| Private | Individuals, couples, or groups | Any | Fastest progression, bespoke lesson plan |
| Family | Families wanting their own instructor | Any | Private instructor and younger children can join |
What is a Beginner Surf Lesson?
Our beginner surf lesson is designed for first-timers, casual surfers, someone looking for a refresher after a while out. or those who have never had proper coaching.
Key Features:
- Duration: 2 hours
- Class Size: Max 6 People (25% smaller than most surf schools)
- Minimum Age: 8 years old+
- Included: wetsuit and surfboard
- Price: £40 per person (the most affordable in Watergate Bay, Newquay)
- Multi-Lesson and Group Discounts: Yes
- Plus exclusive discounts at other local businesses
You’ll learn about:
- Ocean awareness and safety
- How to handle your board and move through white water waves
- Identifying what waves you should catch
- How to paddle and get to your feet
- How to safely dismount
At Watergate Bay, most beginners are surprised at how quickly they can progress in our small group lessons. In fact, most people we teach manage to stand up at least once in their first lesson.
👉 If you’ve never surfed before or have had some time away, this is always a great place to start.
👉 Top tip: Most people like to book three or more group lessons to make sure they feel ready to start surfing independently
What is an Improver Surf Lesson?
Our improver lessons are for people who have surfed a few times before, are standing 8/10 times on white water waves, and are ready to start learning skills surf as turning and surfing on small unbroken waves. Just remember you must be able to confidently handle
Key Features:
- Duration: 2 hours
- Class Size: Max 5 People (32.5% smaller than most surf schools)
- Minimum Age: 11 years old+
- Included: wetsuit and surfboard
- Price: £50 per person
- Multi-Lesson and Group Discounts: Yes
You’ll learn about:
- How to control your board independently in deep water
- How to navigate white water waves to get out back
- Improving/correcting your pop-up and paddle technique
- How to start to turn and control your board on the wave
- How to dismount safely at the end of a wave
They’re ideal if:
- You’ve had a few lessons before
- You can stand up consistently
- You’re bored of the same beginner lesson and feel like you're ready for the next step
- You feel comfortable on your board independently in deep water
👉 Improver lessons focus on teaching your the more nuanced skills/knowledge required to progress your surfing.
A lot of surfers get stuck doing the same thing in the white water and never make this transition. That’s exactly what our improver surf lesson is designed to fix. At Blue Surf School we always recommend having a few beginner surf lessons, then hire our equipment and practice by yourself, before coming back to us when you feel like you're ready to learn more.
What is a Kids Surf Lesson?
Our kids surf lessons are specifically designed to make learning safe, fun, silly, and engaging for younger surfers who'd prefer to be with kids their own age. It's great for first-timers, casual surfers, or kids looking for a refresher after a while out.
Key Features:
- Duration: 2 hours
- Class Size: Max 5 Kids (32.5% smaller than most surf schools)
- Minimum Age: 8 years old+
- Included: wetsuit and surfboard
- Price: £40 per person (the most affordable in Watergate Bay, Newquay)
- Multi-Lesson and Group Discounts: Yes
- Plus exclusive discounts at other local businesses
You’ll learn about:
- Ocean awareness and safety
- How to handle their board and move through white water waves
- Identifying what waves they should catch
- How to paddle and get to their feet
- How to safely dismount
This often ends up being the part of a kid's holiday they most talk about. We find that most families like to book their kids onto multiple lessons to help the build confidence and make new holiday friends across the week.
👉 Introducing your children to surfing at a young age helps them become comfortable in the ocean, builds confidence, and they often pick up skills at a faster rate than adults.
👉 Top tip: Most people like to book three or more group lessons for their children to make sure they feel comfortable in the ocean and remember what they've learnt
What is a Private Surf Lesson?
Our private surf lessons offer you the fastest way to improve your surfing in Newquay and open to anyone or any surfing level. They’re perfect if you want a one-on-one sesson, if you're slightly nervous and need more support, need a bespoke lesson to work on a particular skill, or have a family member aged between 5-7 years old lookin to join a session.
Key Features:
- Duration: 2 hours
- Class Size: whatever you want it to be
- Minimum Age: 5 years old+
- Included: wetsuit and surfboard
- Price: 1 Person - £100 | 6 People - £210 (the most affordable in Watergate Bay, Newquay)
- Plus exclusive discounts at other local businesses
With a private lesson, everything in the session is tailored to your pace, your goals, and your current ability.
👉 Many people looking to learn to surf in Newquay choose our private surf lessons because they want to progress quickly, work on a specific skill, or are looking for a little more support from their instructor.
What is a Family Surf Lesson?
Our family surf lessons are all about giving families the perfect surf lesson and creating life-long memories while we do it. They're ideal if your group has mixed surfing abilities, parents who want to surf with their kids with a private instructor, or if there is one child aged between 5-7 looking to join in.
Key Features:
- Duration: 2 hours
- Class Size: whatever you want it to be
- Minimum Age: 5 years old+
- Included: wetsuit and surfboard
- Price: 2 People - £100 | 6 People - £210 (the most affordable in Watergate Bay, Newquay)
- Plus exclusive discounts at other local businesses
As with a private surf lesson, everything in the family surf lesson is tailored to your group's needs and goals.
👉 There's nothing we love more than a family surf lesson. Watching the family come together, learn a new skill, and laugh at the inevitable wipeouts never gets old.
Which Surf Lesson Should You Choose?
If you’re unsure, here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide what surf lesson in Watergate Bay you should choose:
- Never surfed before or want to stay in the white water waves? → Beginner lesson
- Can stand up but want to learn turning or small unbroken waves? → Improver lesson
- Booking for children who want to lean with others their own age? → Kids lesson
- Want fast results or more support? → Private lesson
- Surfing as a family or have a child between 5-7 years old? → Family lesson
Most Common Mistakes When Choosing a Surf Lesson?
1. Booking a beginner lesson when you’re ready for improver
Group surf lessons can sometimes feel repetative, going over the same basic introduction multiple times. If you feel ready to take your surfing to the next level then give our improver surf lesson a go.
2. Overestimating your ability
We all want quick results when it comes to learning a new skill and surfing is no different. It can sometimes lead to you putting yourself in dangerous situatuons you may not be ready for - especially in the ocean. Focus on building your surfing slowly and always look at a refresher lesson in a beginner class if you've been away for a while.
3. Not considering private lessons
Sometimes people think that having a private surf lesson would be overkill and it isn't something they need. Some people get more out of their one two-hour private surf lesson than they do from three group lessons - they're that effective! Don't discount it straight away if you want to get a headstart on your surfing journey.
4. Splitting the family up into different surf lessons
We honestly can't stress how much kids LOVE to surf with their parents. There's something about the kids seeing parents learn a new skill at the same time - it gives them the encouragement they need to push themselves to get better during the class. Plus... who wouldn't want to see their nearest and dearest nose dive!
FAQs About Surf Lessons in Watergate Bay, Newquay
Can complete beginners join any surf lesson?
Beginners should consider all of Blue Surf School's lessons EXCEPT our improver surf lesson. Our beginner, kids, private and family lessons allow people with zero surfing experience to learn to surf.
How do I know if I’m ready for improver lessons?
Our key markers for if you're ready for an improver lesson are simple. Can you stand in 8/10 waves in the white water? Are you comfortable with the idea of being on your own independently in deep water? Do you feel you want to progress to this next level? There's no shame being a white water warrior for the rest of your surfing life if you enjoy it!
Are private surf lessons worth it?
Private surf lessons are expensive when compared to our group lessons, but are they worth it? Absolutely yes. We've seen people struggle in a group environment only to see it all click together when they switched over to a private session due to the constant feedback and support they received.
Can families learn to surf together?
Absolutely. Families can look to surf together in a beginner surf lesson or a family surf lesson. What you choose will depend on your budget, surfing levels, and whether you mind surfing with other people.
What age can kids start surfing?
Kids can join our group lessons from 8 years old, and private or family surf lessons from 5 years old. Even if you don't think they're ready for surfing at that age, you can do things like hiring a bodyboard to help introduce them to the ocean. Remember, we keep our kids surf lesson groups to a maximum of 5 student per instructor (32.5% less than most surf schools) to ensure they stay safe and confident - even in rough condition.
How many lessons does it take to improve?
Most people see noticeable progress within 2–3 lessons, especially with the right coaching and kinder conditions. What we would say though is that there are so many variables that contribute to the quality of your surf session. Everytime you go out to surf you're surfing slightly different waves, which means even if you feel like you've had a bad session, you've probably made the kinds of improvements you don't notice right away.
Ready to Book the Right Surf Lesson For You?
At Blue Surf School our five lesson options allow complete beginners to intermediate surfers to improve their surfing at the beautiful Watergate Bay.
Whether you're visiting Newquay for a holiday or live locally, choosing the right lesson for you is the first step to making your time with us an unforgettable experience.
See below for more information on each of our lessons and to book online. Remember to book with as much notice as possible to avoid missing out on your preferred lessons, date, and time.
Beginner Group Surf Lesson: Click here!
Improver Group Surf Lesson: Click here!
Kids Group Surf Lesson: Click here!
Family Surf Lesson: Click here!
Private Surf Lesson: Click here!