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JOIN US FOR A WEEK BODYBOARDING IN CORNWALL
The ultimate UK bodyboarding trip, the Cornwall Retreat guarantees you a mobile week of hunting perfect waves on both Cornish coasts. You’ll not only get to surf the best waves of the day but over the course of the week you’ll get a real feel for this beautiful and culturally rich county, not to mention the long-lasting friendships you’ll make along the way!
Newquay, the surf capital of the UK is our hub, but we’ll also be taking you around the county and off the beaten track to places that only a few know about. We’ll find those gorgeous hidden gems littered along both of Cornwall’s intricate coastlines, making sure you bodyboard the best waves at the most beautiful spots, staying as crowd-free as possible. If you can’t make the full week, sign up for as many days as you like.
If you’re looking to explore and surf Cornwall but don’t have the time to plan nor the crew to get a trip going, as well as getting first rate coaching to improve your bodyboarding, then this is the retreat for you! Because this is where we’re from – as locals we understand the best tide-and-wind combination at every top beach, reef, wedge and secret spot.
Our aim is to improve your skills, maximise your fun and enjoy the best of beautiful Kernow’s incredible coastline.
£1149 per person
Can’t make it for a whole week, why not join us for a day!
£119 per person per day
Newquay (7 nights)
We have two luxury apartments that we use for our Cornwall Retreats. They are both conveniently located within Newquay and have sea views. You can walk to the beach from either, making free surf bodyboard sessions a breeze, or if you prefer to relax a little after your coaching there are numerous bars, restaurants and cafes handily located nearby.
Throughout the week we will deliver several bodyboarding related workshops that are optional to attend.
We spend a lot of time bodyboarding, but when it is finished for the day, people’s time is then their own to explore Newquay, its cafes, restaurants, surf shops and 7 beaches. We can direct you to the areas of local interest.
The evenings are for kicking back, enjoying a group meal with the crew on the retreat, grabbing a drink at the Fistral Beach Bar and watching the sun go down. Newquay is a great place for a walk through town in the evening and there are lots of great spots to eat, drink and people watch.
Cornwall is of course the undisputed surf capital of the UK, and on the Cornwall Retreat you’ll experience the best of its amazing variety of spots – think golden beaches, beautiful waves and epic sunsets.
As well as experiencing the best Newquay can offer, we’ll also be taking you around the county and off the beaten track to places that only a few know about.
We’ll find those gorgeous hidden gems littered along both of Cornwall’s intricate coastlines, making sure you bodyboard the best waves at the most beautiful spots and staying as crowd-free as possible.
Because this is where we’re from – as locals we understand the best tide-and-wind combination at every top beach, reef, wedge and secret spot. Over the years we’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to.
Our aim is to improve your skills, maximise your fun and enjoy the best of beautiful ‘Kernow’s’ incredible coastline.
PERRANPORTH
A gorgeous stretch of golden sands in the heart of Cornwall’s north coast, Perranporth picks up loads of swell and has multiple peaks, so we can pick our own empty wedges to enjoy.
Offshore on a SE wind like many of Cornwall’s north coast beaches, it’s a great place to pick an empty peak and stroke into some nice long walls.
PORTHTOWAN
One of the premier beach breaks on the north coast, Porthtowan works throughout the tides, with a powerful low tide sandbar giving peeling tubes left and right. Located in a stunning stretch of coast famed for its tin mining, Porthtowan is a popular spot but has ample room on the pushing tide to bag some excellent waves to remember.
TOLCARNE WEDGE
One of the best wedges in the UK, Tolcarne is located in the middle of Newquay and stands up as a classic A-frame left which refracts off the cliff and fires riders down the line into advancing sections.
A hugely fun ride from mid to high tide, it’s the premier place on the north coast to launch big manoeuvres and see dramatic improvements in your air game.
TOWAN BEACH
The most sheltered of Newquay’s town beaches, Towan is the perfect spot when the unprotected west-facing beaches are big and blown out, still providing clean conditions.
The harbour at Towan provides fairly consistent lefts, and is best at mid tide on the push. A great place to head on a SW wind when everywhere else is too big.
FISTRAL BEACH
The jewel in the crown of Cornwall’s surf scene, Fistral is a high-quality beachbreak providing excellent waves on an offshore SE wind.
It works on all stages of the tide and offers multiple peaks. There’s a reason it’s the UK’s most famous surf beach!
SPOT W
A hidden spot capable of giving some excellent left-handers, Spot W is tucked away and enjoys a decent swell and a S/SW wind.
GREAT WESTERN BEACH
The central beach of Newquay’s arsenal, located between Tolcarne and the more protected Towan, Great Western works best on a similar swell, and can give consistent, clean conditions on a SW wind, working both lefts and rights.
A great option when the bigger, more exposed beaches like Fistral are sizeable and suffering in cross/onshore winds.
PORTHMEOR
Facing straight north, St Ives’ Porthmeor Beach enjoys slightly more protection from south westerly winds, and can deliver some amazing waves, peeling left and right in front of its golden sands.
GWITHIAN / GODREVY
The famous 3-mile-long stretch of stunning beach curves around St Ives Bay on the north coast and gives plenty of room for beginner and intermediate riders to see huge gains in their riding.
Picks up a large amount of swell and can get extremely good with 150m+ long rides. A superb spot to watch the sun dip over the dunes after a fun evening session.
PRAA SANDS
The best beach break on the south coast, Praa Sands produces punchy top-to-bottom waves on a mid-high tide. Praa gives you good chances to tuck into some quality tubes and is offshore if the winds switch N/NE.
PORTHLEVEN
The ‘Main break’ is one of the best reef breaks in the UK. Porthleven is a top spot for those riders with more experience, who’d like to drop into some heavier waves.
The second reef, which is super popular with bodyboarders – offers smaller but bowlier waves in front of the famous harbour wall – Porthleven is revered and rightly so.
SENNEN / GWENVOR
Picking up the faintest ripple of swell in the North Atlantic, Britain’s most westerly mainland spots can get extremely good on a NE/E/SE wind and boast some of the clearest air and water you’ll find anywhere.
Our Retreat takes place in Newquay, and we have two apartments that are available for the duration of the Retreat.
SUNSET VIEWS APARTMENT, PENTIRE, NEWQUAY
Our first apartment overlooks Pentire Headland and benefits from lots of natural light in a spacious living area. This two-bedroom property is perfectly located close to Fistral Beach and Newquay Town Centre; ideal for a post-lesson surf or a bite to eat in the evening. Both the Gannel Estuary and Crantock Beach are within a five-minute walk too, with the coastal path or main road being accessible from the apartment.
Our luxury apartment is located on the third floor with both elevator and staircase access. There is also a spacious, open-plan kitchen diner to enjoy home-made meals after a hard day of training. There is a juliet balcony in the kitchen that enjoys morning sunshine for alfresco breakfasts too. The dining room houses a large dinner table which is a great space for working or eating while enjoying ocean views out across Fistral Beach.
In the large lounge you will find a sofa-bed, flat-screen TV, plenty of space and a private south-facing balcony. This means you will benefit from sunshine all day alongside excellent opportunities to check the surf and catch some epic sunsets.
Each of the two bedrooms have a set of twin beds, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside table and reading light. One has an en-suite with two hand basins, a bath, shower and toilet. There is also a separate bathroom and WC. Both bedrooms have stunning sea views for that ultimate hint of luxury.
NEWQUAY BAY APARTMENT, NEWQUAY
Our second choice of accommodation is our Newquay Bay Apartment, a place where you really couldn’t get any closer to the action if you tried. This apartment is ideally located just minutes from the centre of Newquay town. With plenty of surf shops, coffee shops, independent retailers and gourmet restaurants close by, you’ll definitely get that laid-back surf vibe during your stay!
Newquay Bay Apartment is a modern, quiet, two-bedroom property that benefits from brand new fixtures and fittings due to a complete refurbishment in 2021. There is a new and modern kitchen as well as a brand new bathroom. The apartment is just a two-minute walk to Newquay Harbour where you will find one of our favourite wild swimming spots and idyllic ocean views. In the opposite direction, but just as close, you’ll find Newquay Town Centre with an abundance of coffee shops, restaurants and surf shops.
Inside the property there is a large and spacious living room/diner, comprising a sofa bed and a brand new 52” TV. There is also a sizable dining table that lends itself nicely to group meals. Alternatively, it can double up as a large work or study space to go over your course notes in the evening.
The two bedrooms are both twin rooms with zip-link beds; these can be connected together if you’re after a private double room or you’re staying with a partner. Both rooms have wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables and reading lights.
The living room space benefits from four large windows that face out across Towan, Great Western and beyond – all the way to Watergate Bay on a clear day! There is also a large south-facing courtyard to the rear of the property, perfect for catching some rays or hanging wetsuits out to dry.
As Newquay natives, we of course know all of the best places to eat in town – guaranteeing you fresh and healthy food at great rates.
Newquay is rapidly expanding its culinary offering and has some of the best bars, restaurants and eateries in the county with amazing surf vibes to match.
During the week, we will enjoy some post-surf evening meals together. These are entirely optional but are a great chance to get to know each other better. We’ll pick our fave tried and tested coastal restaurants. One of the evenings we will also enjoy a VIP experience in our favourite beach bar with dinner and drinks.
When we’re on our daily surfaris we’ll be popping into a number of Cornwall’s beachside cafes to refuel between sessions, as well as grabbing a coffee and planning our next destination on the mission.
Within hours you’ll feel like a local, always keeping a couple of quid in your change pocket as an emergency pasty fund! We will send you further details about these meals in the pre-trip email. You will be presented with a discount card for some of Newquay’s finest bars and eateries!
We have four levels of bodyboarding progression. Using our exclusive Tree of Bodyboarding Knowledge we plot your progress through each stage using land, water and video analysis. We allow you to unlock areas of our coaching portal to supplement your learning with online training aids. These include pre and post weekend video’s and tutorials.
Our coaching team comprises multiple time national champions, Damian Prisk and Rob Barber who have developed a unique coaching system. The instruction on the Cornwall Retreat is delivered by Chris Burton who has years of bodyboarding history to draw upon and has been trained by Rob and Damian. The photography and video analysis is also delivered by Chris who is highly trained to capture all of your rides and deliver high standard land and water footage.
We will email you an information pack with directions on the Wednesday before the retreat is due to start.
There are good air links into Newquay Airport (NQY), you can find the full flight list here.
Newquay also has centrally located train and bus stations if you are travelling by public transport.
DAY TO DAY TRAVEL
We will meet up early every morning for a coffee and a quick plan of the day’s activities. We will either walk to the best surf spots in the area or we’ll hit the road on a surfari depending on the conditions!
We offer limited transport to all the surf spots on the retreat but if you’d like to drive yourself, that’s totally fine. If you don’t mind giving some other guests a lift – we organise car shares to minimise our footprint, both to the environment and in the often fairly small coastal car parks!
If you do volunteer for this, we will of course split any fuel or car parking costs between the passengers in each vehicle. It would be great if you could please bring a pound or two in change to cover this when car sharing.
WHERE WILL WE GO?
If Newquay’s pumping, we’ll have a short stroll to the action. If the wind is looking like the south coast is the go, we’ll load up our vehicles and head straight to the best spots down there instead. This will also give the more advanced riders in the group the opportunity to experience some of the heavier breaks.
In the unlikely event there’s a lull on the charts, we know all of the best spots in the county that hoover up the swell. This means we can maximise the waves available to still see progression in your riding.
Alternatively, if it’s completely flat (which is almost unheard of!) we will take the opportunity to explore other activities on the Cornish coast. We can offer exciting activities such as coasteering, super stand up paddleboarding and kayaking to name just a few.
As well as coaching, we’re also keen to develop your learning and understanding of the sport in general. This is why we offer a separate Q&A session answering all things bodyboarding. This will include: equipment, travel, safety, surf prediction, understanding pressure charts, bodyboarding flexibility and fitness. Learning is tailored to each ability group and no question is too big or small.
Cornwall – also known as ‘Kernow’ in its mother tongue – is a wild, rugged county located in the far south-western tip of England.
Apart from its world-class beaches, excellent variety of waves and high swell consistency, it boasts a unique culture, incredibly clean air and benefits from some of the best sun sets in the UK – it’s no wonder poets, authors and artists have been coming here for centuries!
Head back in land from Cornwall’s beautiful beaches, bays and coves and you’ll find wilderness moorland, granite-topped hills, ancient stone structures and ubiquitous tin-mine pump houses, unmistakable silhouettes of its famous mining history.
Today, Cornwall’s main industry is tourism, and there are a million and one things to do in Newquay alone. For instance, why not experience the thrill of coasteering, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding with our sister company, Newquay Activity Centre.
It’s a fun way to make the most of a lazy afternoon or to get through the mid-tide crisis. As retreat guests you’ll have a discount, so let us know if you plan to widen your adrenaline-seeking buzz in advance so we can get you on a session.
FOOD, DRINKS & SHOPPING
£12 – £15 for optional evening meals through the week + any drinks
Any spending money for surf shops whilst in Cornwall
Morning coffee and cafe breakfasts/lunches if you wish to join (equally, you can bring a packed lunch, no problem)
EQUIPMENT HIRE
If you decide not to bring your own kit (or you don’t own it) to hire equipment for the week the prices are as follows;
Swim fins – £40 for 7 days
Board – £85 for 7 days
Wetsuit – £70 for 7 days
More equipment and hire periods are available, just add to checkout when you book your trip.
TRANSPORT
We tend to carpool during the retreat. If you are sharing a ride with somebody on the retreat it’s expected that you will contribute a few pounds towards fuel or car parks.
Cornwall’s air and sea climate is the warmest in the UK. Thanks to both the jet stream in the atmosphere and the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean, Cornwall is blessed with a comparatively mild climate and temperate seas year-round.
With a long, intricate and varied coastline developing its own microclimate from one beach to the next, you’re in the most likely spot in the UK to be soaking up the rays as much as the waves, and you’ll always find somewhere offshore!
Our Cornwall Retreat is prime-time deliverance – low crowds, the warmest sea temperatures of the year and the most consistent opportunity for swell. It’s also normally a banker for good weather, so long-period barrels and barbecues; what could be better!
At the time of booking, you will receive an email listing all the kit you need for your bodyboard retreat in Cornwall.
Hire equipment is available, just add to checkout when you book your trip.
We Offer 3 Easy Ways To Pay!
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a trip confirmation email with all details on.
Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with a host of new bodyboarding buddies.
Due to this trip being in high demand and having limited spaces, we can only hold your space for up to 24 hours without payment.
Single day options are available, just select a day that when you book
This is an additional add on. We will visit The Wave in Bristol on one day during the week, probably the Thursday as this offers the best selection of waves. You will need to book your own tickets, but this will be discussed with you after you book.
Group booking discounts are available, please contact us for more information.
ASAP! These Retreats fill up quickly and, with limited spaces available, sell out fast. We operate on a first come first serve basis. If you want to secure your place on the weekend, it is advised that you pay as soon as you can.
If you are based outside of the UK and would like to book or chat through the weekend details, we can be contacted through our online chat.
You’ll be asked to fill in an enrolment form as part of the booking process. You’ll signify which level of bodyboarder you are. You’ll then be coached with other riders of a similar ability level. Our focus is to keep all bodyboarders on the Retreat together as much as possible for social times, but the coach separately in the water if required.
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 also adjust the format of the event. For example, choosing to run more sessions one day than the next if that’s when the waves are at their best.
Please visit our T&Cs for more information.
With decades of experience and knowledge within our team, we pick the best dates when 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-week pack on the Wednesday before the week.
We chose 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 on having you in the right place for the best waves for your ability each week.
We do not offer a discount for bringing your own equipment.
Yes! This is a scenario that we are very familiar with. You can join the bodyboard week with us while the rest of your family enjoy Newquay. Please see our “Accommodation” section for recommendations. Book early to avoid disappointment and get the best prices.
You will be sent your pre-arrival information email on the Wednesday before the week. We will also send you the Saturday morning meeting time and location in the same email.
Yes, absolutely. We offer a bonus bodyboard session on Friday. Just message through our online chat to let us know that you are interested in attending this. We can deliver extra bodyboarding lessons at any time just let us know when you would like one.
Yes! There are wild camping spots in the area if you are lucky enough to find that perfect spot.
We choose our favourite coastal restaurants because of the range of great menu options that it has available. All dietary requirements are catered for.
We finish on Friday after the coaching is complete. The time will depend on the swell and tide by early afternoon is our planned finish time. 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 organised so that you finish in time to get away.
Yes, we can store your bag and other belongings at the event.
We have a full range of hire equipment that we can present to you. We can also recommend the most suitable board for you to progress on. A big benefit of our Retreat’s is trying different kit that we recommend. If you have reservations about your kit please let us know in advance and we can help you out.
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 holiday. If you are 60 or over we’d love to chat with you about the trip before you book. Please contact us via our online chat.
Please refer to the “What to budget for?” section.
