Cornwall Surfing Instructor Camp - United Kingdom

Product Details

Why Base Camp?

• 25 hours coaching per week including extensive individual feedback
• Video analysis, surfboard maintenance, wave and environement eductaion
• Surf Harlyn, Croyde, Fistral, Polzeath and a week in Northern Spain
• Work experience and NARS lifeguard course included

Harlyn Bay

Harlyn Bay is one of the finest, and safest, beaches in Cornwall, and thanks to its location and perspective, also the recipient of consistently large Atlantic swell. A fantastic variety of other beaches in the immediate surrounding area, such as Constantine Bay and Polzeath Beach, offer surfers of all abilities great surfing conditions, should the surf be mushy or flat in Harlyn itself.

Backing onto the delightful rolling hills of North Cornwall, Harlyn Bay lies five minutes drive from the charming fishing harbour of Padstow, where you can sample Rick Stein’s fish and chips, and just round the corner from the beautiful beaches of Trevone. It is a fabulous place for seeing sea life; dolphins have often been spotted here along with many types of coastal birds, including puffins.

Padstow Town

The busy tourist towns of Rock, Padstow and Polzeath all share a very Cornish charm – life runs at a relaxed place, people are friendly, and everyone knows how to enjoy themselves.

Considering its size, there is a famous nightlife in this little area of North Cornwall - The Mariners in Rock and The Oystercatcher in Polzeath being the obvious suspects. Going out tends to be a more relaxed affair than you might find in close neighbour Newquay, with the emphasis on pints with friends rather than raves - but if you can get yourself invited to a local house party however, you might find a different story...

Accommodation

In Harlyn Bay, accommodation on our 6 week Surf Instructor course comes in the form of several large, warm static homes just up the hill from the beach. Each static home has a living room with TV, kitchen, a couple of bed rooms and beautiful views over the bay.

Our Coaches

Harlyn Surf School is an independent and progressive surf school with a very personal and dedicated attitude to coaching; it has developed a formidable reputation. It has been run as a surf school and surf instructor academy since 1994, guaranteeing that it knows the ins and outs of teaching surfing, and is renowned for its high service level, expertise and modern coaching techniques; it has been selected to operate surf academies and development squads for some of North Cornwall's most promising young surfers.

Course Outline

Date: Sept 6 2008
Length: 6 weeks

Date: Sep 6 2008
Programme: In the first week your coaches will introduce you to the break at Harlyn and offer you an opportunity to brush away those cobwebs before the training starts in earnest. Video analysis will be used to make an in-depth breakdown of your personal surfing, so that the coaches can build your surfing up to a level you’d never anticipated.
Activities: On arrival you will be shown round your accommodation and attend a welcome drinks, where you will meet your coaches and the owners. On Friday evening we hold a BBQ on the beach, and on the weekend head to Rock for some waterskiing & wakeboarding.

Date: Sep 13 2008
Programme: This week your coaches will continue to scrutinise your technique so that you can give faultless demonstrations. Expect to surf a variety of different breaks around the local area of Trevose Head, and tackle a variety of conditions. Fitness training will start first thing this week, expect runs and lots of swimming...
Activities: Our coaches will run a surfboard repair and maintenance workshop this week, and a workshop on beach safety. Another BBQ is organised, and you’ll organise and take part in a local beach clean. On the weekend there’s the opportunity to tour a local surfboard factory, and spend some time shopping for surf goodies.

Date: Sep 20 2008
Programme: Road trips are planned to Polzeath and Croyde beaches to give you some experience in different conditions, while fitness training continues as before. This week you will have the opportunity to do some teaching yourself, as you instruct local school kids under the supervision of your coaches.
Activities: In week 3 you’ll take advantage of your newfound fitness to paddleboard up the Camel Estuary as far as Wadebridge! A serious achievement. You’ll also have the opportunity to go coasteering on the weekend, or take a high speed boat trip from Padstow round the headland.

Date: Sep 27 2008
Programme: Week four will contain 5 days of intensive training for your beach lifeguard with a final day dedicated to the exam. The training includes a comprehensive first aid course including managing spinal injuries and resuscitation, rescue techniques, flag communication and beach safety theory. The practical exam requires you to swim 400m in a pool in under 7 mins 30 secs. On the weekend an overnight trip to Newquay to relax and surf the legendary Fistral break.
Activities: A relaxed week in terms of activities, maybe just a chilled beach BBQ one evening. First Aid and rescue training will be the emphasis this week.

Date: Oct 4 2008
Programme: In your last week in Cornwall, you will continue to work on your personal surfing, which will by now have reached a very high standard, and also continue to do some teaching of your own. The surf coaching 3 day course takes place in the second half of the week, and includes classroom and practical training sessions, as well as work experience.
Activities: Although training hard for the end of week exams, there will be plenty of opportunities for activities and workshops, including Surfing Tips and Techniques and Body Movement and Bio-Mechanical Principles. There’s also the opportunity to visit the headquarters of Snugg wetsuit manufacturers and think about getting that custom surfboard made up.

Date: Oct 11 2008
Programme: To the continent! In your final week you will travel to France or Northern Spain, depending on the best conditions, and enjoy the epic breaks while you take to the water for the first time as a newly qualified Surf Instructor.
Activities: Lots of fun to be had including all sorts of beach related activities, and cheap bars and busy clubs in the evenings. This week is a celebratory week, but careful you don’t miss out on the sweet surfing due to the hangover!

Included in the Course

Accommodation (shared), Base Camp Support Team, Instructor training (25+ hours per week), Surf Instructor Course (with all manuals/materials etc), Surf Instructor exam fee, Social events, Base Camp partner discounts, Recruitment Service and more!

Base Camp Guarantee

When you book with Base Camp you know you are getting the best customer service. We provide 5 full days of instruction from the most qualified coaches with comfortable central accommodation and social events / activities. Our small personal team both in the UK and abroad are here to answer any questions you have and our state of the art intranet gives you 24 hour access to loads of information including your account, the course plan, message board and media area.