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GET YOUR DREAM JOB
Do you spend your weekends searching for the best barrels only to return to the office again every Monday morning? Does your annual two-week bodyboarding holiday feel like it’s over before it’s even begun? If you love spending time with the sand between your toes and the fresh air in your lungs, then qualifying as an outdoor instructor could take you down the new career path you’ve been dreaming of.
Here at Bodyboard Holidays we know first-hand the benefits of living that laid-back lifestyle year-round. The sun on your face and the ocean breeze in your hair; there aren’t many jobs that come close to providing you with such a high degree of lifestyle happiness. And you don’t have to miss out…
Join us as we team up with Newquay Activity Centre & the Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy to bring you a one-way ticket towards total career fulfilment. Why should you only get to enjoy your passions during your free time? Who says you can’t make a living doing what you love? Become qualified in the outdoors this year and live your own adventure every single day.
If you like the idea of being surrounded by oceans, mountains, good people and good times, then it’s probable that life as an outdoor instructor is for you. Our Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course is a three-month long adventure programme that ultimately equips you with the skills you need to become an effective outdoor instructor.
You’ll learn how to coach, guide, instruct and save lives at sea using the Newquay coastline as your very fun but very real training ground. During the course you could get the opportunity to shadow our existing instructors during weekend retreats, as well as the opportunity for paid work with our local business partnerships. We’re here to help shape your future in the industry however we can, no matter your desired job role.
During the programme you will gain a wide range of qualifications readying you for a life of enjoyable work in the great outdoors. These will include your ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Award, British Canoeing Paddlesport Leader Award (this will allow you to guide kayak and SUP tours), a Beach Lifeguard Qualification and an award in Outdoor First Aid.
*Price for course only £5399, Price for Course & Accommodation £7784
£5399 per person
Sunset Views Apartment – £600 per person per month
Newquay Bay Apartment – £600 per person per month
ISA/Surfing England Level 1 Surf Coach
RLSS National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ)
SLSGB Surf Coach Safety and Rescue Award
BC Paddlesport leader award (SUP & Kayak)
Safeguarding Qualification
IN-HOUSE QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:
ADDITIONAL TRAINING INCLUDED:
ALSO INCLUDED :
Our Portuguese bodyboard week comprises 7 nights accommodation in a handpicked, luxury villa in the historic seaside town of Lagos. Think MTV Cribs… that’s the vibe.
One of the advantages of visiting Portugal is the excellent yet affordable restaurant options. We take pride in choosing the best coastal eateries for us to enjoy on a nightly basis. Evening meal price not included. Budget 15 euro per day. This flexibility allows us to eat at a vast selection of coastal locations, near to the surf spots that we will visit, allowing a full flavour of Portugal. Full self-catering option available at the villa.
Throughout the week we will run 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 visit local tourist attractions, surf shops, walk to one of the many beachside cafes or explore Lagos’ old town and marina. We guide you to the areas of local interest.
The evenings are for kicking back, hanging out and eating together. Watching a stunning sunset at the beach with some cool drinks, or playing pool, table tennis, using the swimming pool or catching the latest bodyboarding film on the TV.
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:
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:
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
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
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.
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 confirmation email with all details on.
The course is run by our sister companies Newquay Activity Centre and the Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy
Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our guests arrive solo and leave with friends for life.
Due to this course being in high demand, we have very limited availability. However, we can hold your space for 24 hours without payment.
As you can imagine you will be learning lots of technical skills from our team. Some are harder than others and we think surfing may be the most difficult to learn from scratch. However, we have proved this to be achievable for first-time surfers during the course.
If you think you may benefit from a few extra sessions before or during the course, please check out our surf lessons and get in touch, we will discuss how this works. Please bear this in mind for any other technical skill that you think could need improvement.
To work at Newquay Activity Centre as a surf instructor, you need to gain an SLSGB Surf Coach Safety and Rescue Award. In order to complete this award, you need to be able to swim 200 metres in under 5 minutes. This is quite achievable for most standards of swimmers. Please note: at many activity centres you do not need this qualification in order to deliver kayaking, coasteering or stand up paddleboarding sessions.
To help you achieve the right swimming standard, there will be both sea and pool sessions built into the course.
We also strongly advise you to train in the swimming pool prior to the course.
If you are looking for a career in lifeguarding, you will need to pass the RLSS National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification. To do this you will need to complete 400 metres in an indoor pool in under 8 minutes. Although the NVBLQ is an excellent qualification to achieve, this is only necessary if you are interested in becoming a beach lifeguard. This assessment can be quite tough and will require most people to undertake prior swimming training to achieve the targeted time.
Both assessments are towards the end of the course so you will have a decent amount of time to train in the lead up. If you are currently wildly out on those swim times, you may need additional sessions in your own time and/or consider getting some coaching or joining the swim fit sessions at our local swimming pool.
The National Governing Bodies (NGBs): British Canoeing (BC), Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) and International Surfing Association (ISA) are all recognised worldwide.
Because of the UK’s internationally recognised standard of quality, many countries including Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Middle-East, Canada and most European countries all look favourably at qualifications gained by award-winning British providers like ourselves. Trainees also use their NGBs to get employment with UK companies operating abroad.
Start time: 09:00 – Finish time: 16:00. Please note that these times are approximate and will be subject to change. For example, we may need to start earlier to catch a tide or we may finish later due to sessions overrunning. We will inform you about this when possible so you can plan ahead. Please let us know on a week by week basis if you won’t be available outside the hours of 09:00- 16:00.
We try our utmost to make our instructor courses enjoyable and informative. We hope that our students want to gain as much knowledge as possible during this time of learning and that hopefully flexibility will come from the passion to learn. You will get out of this course whatever you put into it and we appreciate your enthusiasm for making the most of the available resources.
The outdoor activity industry is a sector that is growing both here in the UK and in many countries around the world. Having the correct qualifications and experience could potentially see you outdoor instructing in all four corners of the world! This is your chance to change your life for the better and bag yourself a healthy, active and fulfilling career on the coast.
After the successful completion of the Outdoor Activity Instructor Training Course, you will be offered an interview for the chance to become part of the team at Newquay Activity Centre, Bodyboard-Holidays or Women + Waves. This will be a paid role and you will form part of our instructor team.
Newquay Activity Centre holds an instructor exchange programme with an incredible surfing company in New Zealand. This makes it entirely possible to live the endless summer, moving from one side of the world to the other. There are also other international surf schools and centres that we share staff with so we can help you to build a career of international work if that’s the path you wish to explore.
If you’ve set your sights elsewhere, there are many other options including contract and freelance careers. The beauty of this course is that it gives you the tools to make ‘work’ work for you! We suggest spending as much time experiencing as many different activities as you can; this is a great way of finding out where your passion lies.
Is there one particular area that you wish to explore more? Do you want to work abroad and travel the world? Are you happy just being outside as much as possible? Do you want to head down the management route? Maybe you want to open your own centre? Our course is designed to help you explore the options and guide you into making the right decision.
It is for you to answer the question: What do you want to do?
Due to the nature of the job we can appreciate there’s some pretty specialist equipment that not everybody will own. If you already have some of your own equipment (such as a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet etc) we recommend bringing it with you to use on the course. However, don’t worry if this is all totally new to you; we’ll help you to order the best equipment at the best price.
We can also appreciate that costs add up and that you may need to delay investing in your equipment until a little later on. If this is the case, our helpful instructors will be able to sign over Newquay Activity Centre equipment for you to borrow during the course. This is to be kept safe and taken care of until the time comes to return it. Any loss or damage to the kit will be charged accordingly.
Leading up to the end of the course and beyond, we do advise that students begin building their own selection of good quality outdoor gear appropriate for professional use. If you are well equipped to start work straight away you will feel more comfortable and confident in your ability. In addition, we have close links with some of the top outdoor equipment brands with pro equipment deals available to trainees.
Our HQ is situated within walking distance to many of the sites we will be using throughout the course. We are located in Newquay town centre with lots of paid and unpaid parking options close to us. We are also just a short walk to both Towan and Fistral beaches, with many surf shops and cafés nearby.
On some days it will be necessary to venture further afield to make use of the conditions and the environment. On these days we encourage our students to car share as much as possible (please note our Covid guidelines). This helps to lower our carbon footprint and to split the cost of fuel. If you are happy to take fellow students in your vehicle then please let our instructors know. Travelling won’t be necessary every day but widening our activity net on the odd day will help to expose you to new surroundings and landscapes.
Our Newquay Activity Centre van will be fully loaded to supply these trips with the equipment they need. However, if you are struggling for space in your vehicle please let us know and it may be possible to arrange something in advance.
You’ll need :
Cover for public liability will be in place whilst you partake in activities with Newquay Activity Centre, this is to a limit of £5 million. Personal accident cover is available, similar to travel insurance (injuries due to accidents etc), this is something participants can acquire themselves by looking online if they wish to purchase. Insurance is a topic covered during the course Q and A sessions so that everyone is clear of how this works in the outdoor industry.
Yes, there is more information and pictures of accommodation.
We will do our best to place you with people of similar ages, backgrounds and interests. This will vary depending on course participants. You will be sharing a same-sex twin room.
There will generally be ratios of 1:8 (instructor to pupil) for all activity training. However, theory classes may have larger ratios. You’ll often be broken down into smaller groups and all learning will observe the correct social distancing guidelines.
You need to be over 18 to join the course. If you are 65 or over we’d love to chat to you about the course before you book. Please email us to arrange a time and we’ll contact you. Or you can call us on 01637 879571
If you can’t join the course, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.
Cancellation charges for the Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy, courses and modules are payable as follows:
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.
Find out more under our terms and conditions.
About Us
Bodyboard Holidays
58 Fore Street
Newquay
Cornwall
TR7 1LW
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