The Escape Surf School Newquay Cornwall

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the lessons include the equipment?
Yes, Surfboards and wetsuits are all inclusive in the costs. We also issue boots and gloves in the colder months. You are welcome to bring your own equipment, but this does not affect the cost.

Can we keep the kit after the lesson has finished?

After the lesson, we ask that you return the equipment. However if you want to hire equipment from us to practise in your own time, then we can arrange this for a small charge. 

After taking a beginners lesson, will I need any more lessons?

The first lesson gives you the basics, gets you standing up on your board in the white-water surf zone, keeping you as safe as possible while you have lots of FUN! If you want to progress to the “outback” and ride unbroken waves, then you would require more lessons. Usually 4-6 lessons is enough for someone to master the basics and be ready to go out and practise on their own, although this is always dependent upon a number of factors including; fitness, surf conditions, wind and tides, and stamina

Please check out the Surf Lessons and Courses page for more information on our course.

How many lessons do you recommend?

This is down to your time, budget, commitment, fitness levels and aspirations etc.

For a beginner we would generally recommend at least 2 or 3 lessons to start off, this would allow for reasonable progression. However, for a more fulfilling development with a view to keep surfing for the rest of your life, a 5 or 6 lesson course is advisable, at the end of this it is normally possible to get to a level where you could go out on your own and practise your skills, although many of our regular customers come back for more intermediate lessons, where we cover more advanced techniques

How many lessons a day do you recommend on a course of lessons?

Once again this is very much dependent on your personal circumstances.
As a general rule our recommendation if you have the time spare, is to take 1 lesson per day, if you are on a longer course. This allows for plenty of rest between sessions, we tend to see better levels of progression from our students with this structure and motivational levels remain higher.
Surfing is a demanding sport and people often over estimate their abilities / expectations. Taking it easy and giving 100% on the session is the way to go!

How old do I need to be?

We take children from 8 years and over. There is no upper age limit. Our oldest student is 75! All under 18’s must have their booking / enrolment forms signed by a parent/ guardian before they can take part in a lesson. In addition, if children aged between 8-12 are booked onto Group Surf Lessons, we ask that a parent / guardian also joins them in the water, due to the physicality of the activity. If the parent / guardian is not joining the surf lesson, then we can provide a wetsuit so they can enter the water with the children. If you have any questions regarding this policy please give us a call on 07810805624

Do I need to be able to swim?

Yes! We do stipulate that all participants must be able to swim 50 metres (two lengths of a pool).
This is a basic requirement for obvious safety reasons. All customers must complete a course enrolment / declaration, stating that they can swim this distance. (Parents/ guardians to sign for under 18’s).You will be declined if you cannot swim the required distance.

What if I have a medical issue, can I still take part?

All customers must complete the course booking/ enrolment form prior to the session. This gives us information on medical info etc; it is not disclosed to any 3rd party.

Please contact us in advance if you have any concerns about your health.

I have been surfing for a while, and I don’t want beginner type group lessons, what else can you offer?

Every surfer / sports person no matter what level will benefit from coaching. We offer intermediate and advanced coaching on a daily basis which is aimed at upper level surfers looking to improve

We can cater for a first time novice to a competitive level surfer.

Our coaches are highly qualified with ISA coaching accreditations from levels 1 - 3 as well as additional coaching awards, they are all experienced surfers and sportspersons of a high calibre. We will be able to give you top quality, professional coaching at all levels.

What happens if the surf is too big, dangerous or too small / flat?

If the surf is too big and the conditions dangerous and we cannot run a lesson then you will be given 3 options.

  • Your lesson will be re-arranged for another convenient time /day.
  • You will be given a credit voucher for future lessons.
  • You will be refunded

Please note, this is only applicable if the decision to cancel the lesson is made by us. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for more details

Isn't the sea really cold?

It depends on the time of year you come - we've surfed in just shorts in the summer and in the winter a winter suit (5mm) does fine. All lessons are inclusive of equipment and in winter (and spring or autumn if required) we also provide boots and gloves to keep you toasty and warm, as well as high quality winter wetsuits. The gulf stream keeps the Cornish waters more than bearable for most of the year.

Do I need to book?

It is preferable to book in advance. If you leave it until the last minute or just drop by there is no guarantee that we will be able to fit you in. Many days, particularly in the height of summer can be fully booked.
We also work to strict coaching ratios so this places limitations upon us with staffing levels.
The earlier you can book the better, this will ensure your place and will make our life a lot easier in organising resources such as coaches, equipment etc.

How do I book?

You can book online, call us on 07810805624 or send an enquiry email on our contact us / enquiries page
We will check for availability and then at the first opportunity get back to you. We endeavour to answer all enquiries within 24 hours. 
If you prefer you can always call our booking line on 07810 805624 and arrange everything over the phone.

When booking surf lessons, full payment is required at time of booking, this is so we know lessons are confirmed and we can allocate staff. If you are booking for a large group, then we can take a deposit to secure the dates, whilst you arrange the rest of the payment. Group Bookings will then require full payment 14 days prior to arrival.   Booking online allows you to choose your preferred date and time, as well as choosing packages. Full payment is required at time of booking, when booking online

Are the Instructors qualified?

Yes, all our coaches are qualified. They will have a minimum International Surfing Association (ISA) Level 1 Surf Coaching Accreditation. All the coaches are qualified Beach Lifeguards and hold First Aid certifications. This is an integral part to gaining full Surf Coach status.

The team of coaches are handpicked and we are confident that we have some of the premier staff in the UK. As well as being excellent coaches, we also insist that our instructors have surfed themselves for at least 4 years (some up to 40 years!). This is ensures good ocean knowledge which is a very important part of learning to surf.

See The Team for further info / biographies of all our staff

Do you have a Child Protection Policy?

Yes. We have a formal written policy in place and the staff are all trained and aware of issues when teaching children. All of our coaches are CRB checked. Please contact us if you require further information

What are your teaching ratios?

We operate according to ISA / Surfing GB surf coach and school guidelines:

Novice / Beginner groups, up to low level Improvers. 8 : 1 max. 5 : 1 ideally.
Progressor / Intermediates; 5 : 1 ideally.


Our ratios will always take into account group ability, group experience, age, surf conditions & tide.
Certain times of the year, for example weekends in August, can get very busy, but we will always endeavour to keep our ratios as low as possible

Policy Documents

Please contact us if you require any other documentation