There’s a reason that Newquay is known as the surf capital of the UK. In part due to the relaxed and easy-going lifestyle, but mostly because of the epic beaches and the consistent Atlantic swell that the town benefits from year-round. 

Most of our beaches work best with varying conditions. This means that no matter the tide, wind or swell direction, you’re always likely to find something worth heading out for. All of our instructors have excellent local knowledge so you needn’t worry about missing out. We’ll visit the best-known breaks, our secret surf spots and also explore a little further off the beaten track. You’ll spend your days at the beach learning new skills, then invariably spend your time off their enjoying the prime bodyboarding conditions!

TOWAN BEACH 

This sheltered, sandy bay is the perfect spot when the west-facing beaches are big and blown out. It’s the most friendly break for beginners, and you’ll almost always find a fun, clean wave here. 

FISTRAL 

Backed by rugged cliffs and sand dunes, Fistral Beach is the jewel in the crown of Cornwall’s surf scene. It delivers waves on every stage of the tide and serves up dreamy conditions on an offshore southeasterly wind. You can almost always find a suitable peak for your ability. 

GREAT WESTERN BEACH 

Wedged between Towan and Tolcarne, this is one of Newquay’s central beaches. It offers consistent and clean conditions in a southwesterly wind. There are plenty of lefts and rights for everyone. 

THE GANNEL ESTUARY 

The Gannel is Newquay’s relaxed river alternative to the buzz of the beaches. Turquoise waters sashay their way past golden sand banks, local wildlife and vibrant green hills. Once a prominent passage for schooners and barges, the estuary holds a whole host of historic tales and secrets just waiting to be explored.  

THE ‘GAZZLE’ 

Gazzle is the Cornish word for armpit. Affectionately used to refer to a 2 km-stretch of Atlantic coastline, this area of protected coves, cliffs and caves is a fantastic place for kayaking, coasteering and paddleboarding. The Gazzle has proved to be a firm favourite for customers and instructors alike. 

Other great spots nearby include Crantock, Perranporth and Watergate Bay. There are plenty more that offer uncrowded perfection on their day – you just need to know where to look. That’s where we come in.

To supplement the Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course, we have a couple of bodyboarder-friendly in-house accommodation options available to add on as extra. We have two apartments, both within walking distance to the beach and both stylishly fitted out with all modern luxuries.   

Please note: The cost of accommodation is not included in the course price. Accommodation costs are due 8 weeks prior to the course start date. Please see the video tab for a virtual tour of our apartments.

This is for a shared twin same-sex room. Apartment allocation is made by us and determined by the dynamic of the students on the course. We will confirm with you which apartment you will be staying in a week prior to the course start date. Both are great, so don’t stress! Full payment for accommodation is due 8 weeks prior to the course start date.

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 bodyboard 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, The Harbour, Newquay 

The 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 directly above the Newquay Activity Centre HQ, making it the perfect choice for those who like to snooze that alarm clock every once in a while!

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 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. During the course we may transform the living room into a lush workspace to deliver some relaxed lessons in a chilled atmosphere. 

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.

There is also the advantage that we will hold a number of classroom sessions in the large lounge in the apartment as it is a great spot for group discussions, training etc. We also base some of the coaching weekends which you will have the opportunity to work as a shadow instructor on, at the apartment. We will explain to you, during your induction how we manage this to ensure that it doesn’t impact on your living environment.

Each day of your course will be broken up with a midday lunch break. This could be at home, in town, in the centre or on the move – we like to keep the adventure alive! Please bring your own lunch and snacks to refuel your body between sessions. The course is physically demanding so energy-rich foods and healthy snacks are recommended. Please also bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. We highly advocate the use of reusable bottles to limit plastic waste and to reduce our carbon footprint as a company. 

Newquay town has a vast selection of excellent shops and cafes so if you forget to bring some lunch, you won’t go hungry! As a member of our course you will also benefit from discounts at local cafes and coffee shops – we will supply you with a discount card on arrival.

If you are booking accommodation through us and staying in either of our apartments, you will have full access to a modern working kitchen. This will give you the opportunity to self-cater and help keep your costs down throughout the course. We take great pride in organising tasty and fun social group meals; perfect for making new friends if you’re joining the course alone.

2022 Course days run Monday – Friday: 9am – 4pm 

Your course days will be split between outdoor practical learning and indoor theory work.

Have you previously joined us on a Bodyboard Holiday only to return to work with the post-trip blues? Are your hours in the office spent reminiscing about crystal-clear barrels and good times on the beach? Perhaps you found yourself wondering how our Bodyboard Holiday team got so lucky with their jobs? With our Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course, you can now too be part of this laid-back lifestyle career.

Ordinarily it would take years to gain the qualifications and skills on offer. Enrolling in our instructor academy gives you the chance to kickstart your dream life on the beach as soon as possible!

To organise and book these qualifications yourself would take an immense amount of time and effort; you simply couldn’t do these qualifications back-to-back. Training options can be limited, out of season, and restricted with the demand in trade. You may get two or three per year, at most, if you timed things right. 

Here at Bodyboard Holidays we have condensed all of your training into just a few short months. This means you can be qualified and ready to enter the world of outdoor instructing as soon as you finish the course. When you undergo outdoor instructor qualifications, there are necessary shadowing hours as part of your training. These can be quite hard to come by so we have fast-tracked this process for our students within the course. All of these hours can be completed during the three months or fairly soon after completion. 

Our NEW Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course in Newquay will harness you with all the training, skills and assessments you need to get qualified. What’s more, you’ll get real on-the-job experience through the aforementioned shadowing hours when you’re experienced enough to do so. You’ll also get a guaranteed interview for a lead instructor position after the course at either Bodyboard Holidays, Newquay Activity Centre of Women + Waves.  

You’ll develop your skills and get trained in:   

• Bodyboarding
• Surfing
• Coasteering 
• Beach Lifeguarding 
• Stand Up Paddleboarding 
• Kayaking 
• Bodysurfing/Hand planing
• Bushcraft 
• Team Building 
• First Aid 

And more…

Pre-requisites 

You don’t need any previous qualifications to enroll in this programme. Neither do you need to be proficient in the course activities; we have excellent instructors who can teach you from the ground up. 

However, this course does require competent swimming skills and a good level of fitness.  

The course includes training and assessment modules alongside optional shadowing hours, helping you gain instructing experience in a variety of areas. You’ll get the chance to find direct employment and further training opportunities depending on your interests and abilities. If you can tick all of the following requirements, then you’re in a great position to start: 

• 18+ years old 
• Competent swimmer (to attain Surf Coach Safety + Rescue or Lifeguard Award) 
• Enthusiastic to learn 
• Good level of fitness 

After the course  

After successful completion of the instructor course, you’ll have the opportunity to become a member of our friendly team or you may go on to work with other providers and expand your experience and training. 

Surf New Zealand  

For those who want to use this course as an opportunity to travel, we have some excellent partnerships that will allow you to do just that. Our Kiwi equivalents are based just above Auckland on New Zealand’s North Island. Our deep connection to the ocean isn’t bound by borders and we’ve reached out to our Kiwi friends to implement an instructor exchange programme.

Once you’re fully qualified and competent in all aspects of the course, you could be given the opportunity to fly out to NZ and work for a season as a surf instructor. As well as being a paid opportunity for work, this is a chance to visit new places, meet new people and experience new cultures. 

You’re guaranteed to make new friends, create awesome memories and maybe even open your horizons with regards to your career plans. Travel is food for the soul; this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around every day!

Fund your training with local work 

We can appreciate that enrolling on our Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course can be a big investment – both in terms of time and money. That’s why we’ve partnered up with local businesses to help provide work for those that need it. 

Our local partners can offer a mixture of working hours so you can generate a steady income whilst training with us in Newquay. We don’t want anyone to miss out on this life-changing experience due to financial restrictions, and we hope that our route into local work can be a helping hand for anybody doubting their potential to enrol.

BY CAR 

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

The course is based at Newquay Activity Centre on Fore Street near Towan Beach. We’ll send you detailed information before your arrival, including parking instructions and maps.   

Both of our accommodation options are within walking distance to Fistral Beach, Newquay Bay, the town centre and many local supermarkets. 

BY TRAIN 

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. 

BY AIR 

We’re a 20-minute drive from the airport. You can fly into Newquay from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Flights are also available from key European cities.

We might be slightly biased, but we think the landscapes around Cornwall (or ‘Kernow’ to the locals) are some of the most interesting, varied and adventurous landscapes in the whole of the U.K. We have golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, historic fishing towns and rugged coastlines; and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! 

Head inland and you will find even more raw beauty with rolling green hills, cavernous mines, ancient stone structures, vast moorlands and granite-topped mountains. And while the landscape holds a picture-perfect gaze in the eye, the undulating lands are also a symbol of the history surrounding Cornwall itself. From gin-smuggling pirates on the coast, to the tin-mining villages in the hills, to the legend of King Arthur in Tintagel; there’s so much to explore and learn. 

NEWQUAY 

Newquay is our home and we couldn’t be more proud to welcome course students to this relaxed and friendly surf town. It’s a place filled with independent retailers, artisan coffee shops, high-end eateries and epic beaches. There are surf shops to stock supplies and welcoming pubs for well-earned rests; you might end up staying a little longer than you expected!  

Grab a coffee and watch surfers wander down towards the waves, or wake up early to catch an epic sunrise over Fistral Beach. While you’re in town, be sure to make the most of your 15% discount at Newquay’s Rip Curl store on Bank Street.

ACCOMMODATION

Sunset Views Apartment – £600 per person per month

Newquay Bay Apartment – £600 per person per month

This is for a shared twin same-sex room. Apartment allocation is made by us and determined by the dynamic of the students on the course. We will confirm with you which apartment you will be staying in a week prior to the course start date. Both are great, so don’t stress! Full payment for accommodation is due 8 weeks prior to the course start date.

Cornwall’s climate is fairly unique and independent from the rest of the UK’s weather patterns. Thanks to the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic ocean and the jet stream in the atmosphere, we enjoy the warmest sea and air temperatures in the country with a relatively mild climate year-round. 

Each bay, beach and pocket of adventure seems to have its own microclimate in Cornwall. It’s best to be prepared by always keeping sun cream packed in your bag just in case those rays start to filter through the cloud.

The benefit of this means we are able to deliver our course year-round; spring, summer, autumn or winter. We have many sheltered spots along our stretch of coastline along with all the correct technical equipment for the relevant season. We are well-equipped to deliver practical lessons in all weathers and conditions.

For the duration of the course, we will have all of the necessary equipment stocked in the Newquay Activity Centre HQ for students to use for free. However, we have put together this recommended kit list for you to consider buying whilst on the Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course. This will help to prepare your equipment box and set you up ready to take on that first job once qualified!

You may already own some of the kit yourself which is great, please bring this along with you for the course. Having your own equipment ensures that you are wearing the kit that fits you correctly, means you’re comfortable and makes you look professional.

If you don’t currently own any equipment or you need to increase your existing box of adventure goodies, we can create a kit package for you to purchase at a discounted rate. This will be available to buy on the high street or online – please let us know what you are interested in. We will make sure you are provided with all of the kit you need for the duration of the course if you are yet to invest in equipment.

If you do have the budget and are excited to start purchasing your outdoor instructor kit, this is what we recommend you focus on first: 

Water Wear 

• A full-length wetsuit (winter or summer, hooded or non hooded – time of year dependant) 
• Wetsuit Boots (time of year dependant) 
• Wetsuit Gloves (time of year dependant) 
• Wetsuit Hood or skull cap (if you have a non hooded wetsuit – time of year dependant) 
• Wetsuit socks (time of year dependant)  
• Buoyancy Aid 
• Helmet 
• Tow Line 
• Throw Line  

The following are non-essential items that we do not stock for use during the course. You may already have these items which is a great way to save money whilst bulking out your instructor kit. 

Miscellaneous items 

• Changing Robe/Towel 
• Kayak/Coasteering Shoes – Note : Any old grippy lace-up trainers are fine 
• Waterproof Phone Case 
• Whistle (Look for Fox 40) 
• Safety Knife 
• Water Bottle 
• Flask 
• Gloves (time of year dependant) 
• Swim fins 
• 80L dry bag 
• 10L dry bag 
• Warm + waterproof jacket 
• Fleece Jacket 
• Beanie 
• Water bottle 
• Soft racks for carrying surfboard on vehicle 
• Car seat cover to keep seat dry incase you’re driving in a wetsuit 
• Lock box or storage device for car key whilst bodyboarding/surfing 

Remember, we will allocate you free use of our equipment during your spare time throughout the course. This will need to be reserved in advance. If you want to improve your bodyboarding, surfing, kayaking, SUPing etc during the evenings or weekends, please feel free to speak to one of our staff who will be happy to assist.

This is an unusual privilege on a training course like this but we feel it will offer you an excellent opportunity to up-skill throughout the course. This will need to be booked in with the centre for your required times.