Quality and Variety of Surf

The HQ for our surf courses is Fistral beach in Newquay, one of the most consistent beach breaks in Cornwall. Working at all tides and holding a variety of wave sizes from ankle grazers to overhead sets. We love surfing here but also are blessed to mix up the surf spots heading to nearby Watergate, Crantock or Perranporth for a change of scene. All have their own wave characteristics and are within a 15 minute reach of Newquay. But if you want to spread your wings beyond the realms of Newquay, Cornwall’s 300 beaches in all different shapes and sizes, will give you all the different flavours of surfing. You can surf here year round and we can guarantee there’s almost always somewhere working.

The Cornwall Food Scene

Delicious nourishment is a must when on a surf trip, we need good quality food to fuel us and Cornwall delivers on all fronts. I would describe Cornwall as having a contemporary cafe culture, providing delectable modern style brunch menus accompanied by high quality coffee. Seriously, the coffee you get in Cornwall matches the best London outlet. We’re home to many small independent cafes.

As far as evening dining goes there’s a lot to choose from. Newquay has a mixture of great cuisines from Gilmore’s Mexican to the famous Lewinnick Lodge. Falmouth town on the south coast is renowned for it’s selection of charming waterside pubs that compliments is rich music scene. St Ives and Padstow is where you’ll find sea inspired gastro-pubs. We’ve even collated a comprehensive list of our favourite cafe’s, restaurants and bars in Newquay, should you find yourself in the area and in need of recommendations. 

Accessible lifeguarded beaches

Most of the beaches in Cornwall have nearby parking areas making it easy for you to rock up, slide into your wetsuit and straight in the surf. There can be nothing more frustrating than hunting down a parking spot when the surf is pumping! Between September and April, a lot of the street parking changes to unlimited stay. Bonus! That means you can spend all the time you wish in the sea without fear of a parking fine. 

We’re also lucky that most of our surf beaches in Cornwall are patrolled by RNLI lifeguards between May and September. If you join us on a course, you’ll be coached by wonderful women who are all qualified surf lifesavers on lifeguarded beaches.

If you’re heading for a surf, check out here which beaches are lifeguarded. We’d also recommend reading the RNLI’s beach safety guide. If you still feel unsure about surfing out of the lifeguarding season in the winter you can book in with us for a Private Lesson and we can take you to the best spot and help you improve your surfing! Drop us a message for more information.

Easy to travel to

Whilst on a map Cornwall looks quite isolated, the transport links making it easy for you to hop down for a weekday or weekend surf course. Newquay Airport connects to Manchester, London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Belfast amongst other destinations, giving you easy access from anywhere in the UK. There’s also a direct trainline running from London Paddington to Penzance (in the south of Cornwall) stopping at multiple locations. By car or bus you can drop down easily off the M5 onto the A30 and cruise straight into Cornwall. 

A lower carbon footprint for travel

In light of the recent COP27 summit and the pressure to keep global below 1.5 degrees, many of us are limiting flights to reduce our carbon footprint. If you’re UK based you may consider going for a holiday at home using car or public transport instead of hopping on a plane to get to your surf destination. As mentioned, Cornwall is very well connected and accessible!

The Cornish Microclimate

With the highest average annual temperatures thanks to it’s oceanic climate, Cornwall is the place you want to be year round when it comes to weather. The summers are usually a degree a two cooler than the rest of England. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, Cornish summers are a heavenly. Who wouldn’t want infinite opportunities for ocean dips in the summer heat? Cornwall also averages a couple of degrees warmer in winter and thanks to the Gulf Stream the sea is reasonably warm year round – get yourself down here!

Year round surfing

Surfing doesn’t stop when the summer season comes to an end! You’ll get waves in Cornwall all year round! From having surfed in Devon, Cornwall and Wales, I can safely say that Cornwall has delivered me the most consistent surf. The summer plays host to mainly soft longboarding waves whereas winter brings in bigger swells opening chances to score bigger surf which can be very fun! If you’re not a fan of big waves, no problem, there are many sheltered spots (which get smaller waves) in Cornwall that you can head to during the winter if you want to head down for a surf. The bay in Newquay being one of them. If you need a little more convincing then check out our blog on Thriving in Winter Surf for practical tips to make the most of winter surfing. 

Endless flat spell activities

On the days when there’s no swell or those storms set in there are endless activities to enjoy. The South West Coast Path tracks the entirety of the aforementioned 250 miles of coastlines, so you can enjoy a hike along the undulating cliffs and watch the ocean from a different perspective. There’s also the rugged moorlands of Bodmin Moor and West Penwith if you’re looking for some elevation to your walks. 

If you’re craving the sanctity of the ocean, then wild swimming might be for you. Cornwall hosts an array of tidal pools, sheltered coastal spots and stretches of tranquil water, making it a top destination for swimming alongside surfing. You can discover more at Wild Swimming Cornwall or if you fancy a swimming focussed getaway to boost your confidence then check out our Swim Sistas Wild Swimming Retreats. 

There are so many reasons why we love Cornwall, not just the consistent waves. If you’re looking for a getaway with surf, cultural enrichment, fantastic music and good food then we can think of nowhere else to be! Join us in 2024!

Our love affair with the Balearic Islands started with our Wild Swimming Retreat in Ibiza. There we immersed ourselves with open water swims in turquoise waters, the Mediterranean sun hugging our skin. While our romance with Ibiza shows no sign of stopping, our adventures on the White Isle had just wet our appetite to explore more of the Balearics, what swim adventures might be waiting for us on the other islands?

Earlier this year we gave way to temptation and hopped on a plane to Mahon in Menorca, the smallest of the Balearics and a little less talked about and travelled to. We spent our days scoping out wild swimming spots, hiking the coast path, getting lost in the fresh pine forests and even took an unexpected turn and ended up at a cheese farm!

We fell in love with with this quiet little isle and we knew we had to curate a Wild Swim retreat here. Here are just 6 of reasons we love Menorca and why we know you will too!

The Coast Path Circles the Entire Island

Walking is made easy here! Menorca has a coastal path that snakes the entire Island, originally a 116 mile coastal bridleway used to connect watch towers looking out for potential invaders. Many of the swim spots we will take you to on our retreat are off this beaten track, winding through the pine trees and along cliff lines to secluded coves and quiet corners.

The miles of path means the adventure doesn’t start at the waters edge, but at the start of the day when we get the map out at the breakfast table, scouring for swim spots and plotting our routes.

At home we’re lucky to have the South West coast path covering the whole of Cornwall, forming a vital part of our wild swim adventures in cornwall, so in this way Menorca really feels like a home away from home.

There’s always somewhere to swim

Being an Island, no matter which way the wind blows on a given day, or how strong, we can always find somewhere to swim. This makes it the perfect getaway for a swimming retreat as we can swim everyday! And with lots of variety, no need to stick to the same spot again and again.

Menorca (and Ibiza) are also great places to hone in your swim forecasting skills. By looking at the wind patterns and tides, and being responsive to the ever changing elements here, you’ll get a sense of where and when to go swimming which is a useful skill you can use to plan your own swim escapades.

Every Swim is different

From Ladders, to slip ways, to sandy beaches there’s so much variety to the swim in Menorca. Some are gentle dips in little coves, others are long distance swims against the backdrop of white cliffs. We may take you on a hike to get there. On other swims we might jump straight out and slide into a bar for a sip of sangria. With over 100 beaches to choose from, no swim will be the same and each one offers up it’s own wow factor.

It’s Peaceful here

Ibiza is know for it’s electric energy and vibrant nightlife. When we’re in Ibiza we feed of this magic energy and love it. However Menorca offers up a more calming quiet energy in comparison to it’s neighbours. It’s less busy and less populated. On our travels in April we often had the beaches to ourselves.

We’ve chosen to run our Wild Swimming Retreat in October, one of the quietest times here but also when the water is at it’s warmest. We’ll miss the summer buzz and hot temperatures, making October a perfect time to sink into the tranquil Menorcan energy and have a little extension of summer during which we can fully unwind.

Menorca also averages over 300 sunny days a year with temperatures between May and October ranging from 22 to 29 degrees! So if you’re in any doubt about whether to come, you’re pretty much guaranteed a warm sunny experience!

The Authentic Feel

Whilst wild swimming first calls us to Menorca, there’s so much more here that fills our cups and makes us fall in love.

Menorca was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere in 1993, preserving it’s botanical richness with over 60 endemic plant species. Floral meadows quilt the landscape and curb sides. The Island also has over 1600 prehistoric monuments, particularly Tayolout which are 5m tall stone buildings that add texture to the landscape amongst the wildflowers.

Venturing into the capital Mahon, you’ll find Georgian architecture whereas travel to the city of Ciutadella on the other side and the influence is largely Spanish in style. So much beautiful architecture to feast your eyes on. Amidst the towns, if you turn down the winding country roads, you’re likely to stumble across one of the many cheese farms, (just like we did) and be able to purchase some tasty cheese freshly produced. It’s utterly delicious.

It’s all these little extra details and intricacies that have sealed the deal for us.

A Hassle Free Swim Adventure

When planning our recce to Menorca we were grateful for how smoothly we moved from sky to sea. You can fly into Menorca on a short 2hr flight from many UK airports including, Gatwick, Exeter, Stansted, Bournemouth and Manchester (you can find a full guide or European flight paths to Menorca here)

Straight from the airport we were picked up by the hire car company and transferred to pick up our car rental. From there we were on the road and in the sea within a couple of hours of landing! There was very little traffic, parking was easy and there were an abundance of cafes, restaurants and bakeries to delve into for some nourishment.

Having a hassle free trip, gave us the space to enjoy all Menorca offered to us without the logistical matters weighing on our minds.

We’ve aimed to create this for you on our Wild Swim Retreat in October.

If you haven’t already been wooed by the blue and white colour palettes of Menorca we hope that the reasons we love this place will spark your curiosity to see for yourself.

If you want to come and swim with us in Menorca, we have a couple of spots left on our Wild Swimming Retreat this October.

Dates: 8th-13th October 2023

Highlights

• Discover the diversity of breath taking swim spots offered by the quietest of the Balearic Islands
• Hike through forest tracks to hidden turquoise coves with white sand beaches
• Experience the delight of bridges, ladders and platforms built for swimmers to navigate the rockiest of inlets
• Fine tune your open water swimming technique in our technical pool sessions.
• Ease swim tired limbs with gentle meditative Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra
• Take in Menorca’s stunning sunrises and sunsets from the warm embrace of the Mediterranean sea.
• Delve into healthy and delicious home cooked meals lovingly prepared with island produce
• Take home a special Swim Sistas gift bag & the best kind of memories

I got into Bellyboarding for the first time last year, despite having spent 6 years already in the sea surfing. Here’s how it went.

It all started with a sprained shoulder… 

I was having a good ol’ boogie at my friends’ wedding when out of nowhere, my friend Russell runs towards me and launches me in the air. It all turns on it’s head as Russell had had one too many drinks and lost his balance, He dropped me and I toppled head first to the floor.

It was confirmed at the physio two days later. A shoulder sprain and out of action for 6-8 weeks. That meant no surfing. When I looked at Magicseaweed (RIP Magciseaweed) following the appointment (why did I even do that) and saw the epic forecast for the week ahead, my frustration levels rocketed off the scale.

After a few weeks of sulking on the cliffs watching the waves, a solution to my woes presented itself. Hey Jeff, “A crew of us are heading for a belly board in the bay – you want to come?” My housemate Nash, ultimate surf legend, worked locally for a belly board company.

As bellyboarding required mostly leg action from kicking into waves, I knew my shoulder would be protected. The first set came in. “Jeff, this ones for you” shouted Candace, calling me into the wave. I mimicked what I’d see the rest of them do and held the board in front of me, kicking frantically with my little legs. As I felt the wave picking me up, I scooted my tummy onto the top and prepared for the drop. 

Squeals and hoots radiated from my mouth. It honestly felt like one of the rides at Thorpe Park when you go over the top and take a vertical drop. I plummeted down the face of the wave, head first at rocket speed (at least it felt like it). In my peripherals, I could see the wave mounting over me, it felt invigorating and I honestly thought I’d get a tube, on the inside, I could see Nashi grinning at me. When I came off the back it was all grins and laughter… Belly boarding is the best!!

Whilst I’m still an avid surfer and nothing can replace that, I’ll score a few bellyboard sessions a month when the surf is funky or I’m in a funk with surfing. If you’re not tried it before but are intrigued, here’s a 6 reasons why Bellyboarding could be the one for you. 

What is bellyboarding exactly?

Bellyboarding has a rich history, actually being the first form of surfing. Natives of the ancient Hawaiian and Polynesian Islands would ride in “prone” (lying down) position on short wooden boards called Paipo’s. This later evolved into what we know as surfing today when the Alaia board was invented; a longer version of the paipo. It has gone through phases of popularity in the UK since the 1900s. In the last few years we have seen the resurgence of bellyboarding – especially as a more sustainable alternative to mass manufactured polystyrene bodyboards that cause significant ocean plastic pollution. Bellyboarding involves riding waves on plywood wooden boards on your tummy. You can enjoy this in both whitewater and green waves. 

Why should you try it….

1. For when the surf is funky…

When those onshore winds set in and the surf gets a bit lumpy and uninviting, it could be worth getting the belly board out. I’ve had countless fun sessions during an onshore low tide where the waves feel too wobbly for a surf. 

2. …..Or when you’re in a funk with surfing

Sometimes we get into a rut with our surfing. These times do pass. But instead of putting fuel on the fire by pushing yourself through frustrating times it could be worth taking a step back and enjoying the sea in a different way. Introducing: the humble belly board! It may look small but taking out the bellyboard to snag a few waves takes the pressure of trying to perform in the surf. 

3. When you can’t paddle anymore but want to get in the sea

Paddle paddle paddle. Unsurprisingly, about 50% of our time during a surf is spent paddling and about 3% wave riding! No wonder at the end of a good spell of waves, our shoulders are done for. When the muscle ache sets in but the surf is still on, consider a circuit brake and grab the bellyboard. It’s a great leg workout!

4. Overcoming fears of steep take offs

One of the best things that came out of bellyboarding was overcoming my fear of steep drops. You see the wave behind you and start the paddle. As it picks you up, you look down the steep  drop and you pull out in the fear of nosediving. The belly board simplifies things. You can forget about the pop and potential of nosediving and focus on acclimatizing to those take-offs. Taking on big waves on a belly board gave me leaps of confidence with my surfing take-off. 

5. It’s utterly hilarious

Bellyboarding consists of beaming grins and belly laughter.. Belly boarding removes some of the pressure we surfers put on ourselves to score good waves with style and technique. You can focus on having a good time in the water with friends. Just make sure you don’t get ridden over by a surfboard.

6. A sustainable alternative to a bodyboard

Bellyboards have traditionally been made of plywood and still are to this day. It’s estimated that 16,000 polystyrene foam body boards are discarded on UK beaches each year. Swapping for a wooden belly board will prevent further plastic pollution. Our favourite belly boards brand are local legends Dick Pearce, Potbellyboards and the talented Guy Butcher of Butch Boards. 

Tips for bellyboarding safely

Now you’re convinced that belly boarding is worth a go, here are some handy hints for doing it safely.

Stay within your comfort zone

If you’re unconfident in the sea then standing in waist to chest water, you will still score you epic belly boarding opportunities. If you want to ride the green waves, a pair of swim fins will give you the extra added propulsion to take off. I much prefer having my fins on for peace of mind. 

Go between the flags at a lifeguarded beach

The red & yellow flags is the place for bellyboarding. You’ll be away from the surfers and less likely to be hit by a surfboard. The flags also map out the safest parts of the beach away from rocks and strong currents.

Know the beach hazards

We always recommend swimming between the red and yellows. But it’s still important to know the beach hazards, especially if you’re in the sea out of lifeguarded hours. Look out for rip currents (read the RNLI’s explanation here), rocks and strong offshore winds. The best thing is to check the surf report before you head to the beach and check the beach at low tide. This is when most of the hazards are exposed. If you’re unsure don’t go in. 

Wear a pair of swim fins and a wetsuit

Swim fins with give you extra propulsion for maximum wave catching but also with help you to swim in and out of the sea more easily. I love Da Fin’s which fit really well and are made of Silicon (not plastic which is more likely to break and worse for the environment)

As a general rule a 4mm wetsuit is a good go-to for bellyboarding most of the year round. You can wear a 4mm suit from early April/May through to November. However if you’re surfing in the summer months into autumn (June-October) when the water is warmest, a 3mm suit will suit you well. For the hardy surfers heading into winter surfing, November-April is the time to pull out a thicker 5mm suit. 

Watch out for surfers!

Communicate! Don’t be afraid to call when you’re taking a wave or making a noise if you think a surfer could be close to hitting you. You might also want to consider wearing a helmet for extra precaution. In whatever situation you find yourself in, make sure you protect your head as a priority. 

We’re big fans of bellyboards at Surf Sistas. During our courses, there’s the opportunity to get the bellyboards out for a session if you feel like you want a break from surfing! Join us on a Cornwall course in 2023 for a good old giggle in the waves. 

And although she’s a legend of the big city lights, Rosie is a grounded soul, creating space to enjoy the ocean through surfing and swimming as well as dedicating time to helping others.

You may be a city dweller yourself, exploring how you balance life as an urbanite with your passion for surfing or swimming. You might find Rosie’s story inspiring and relatable! We chatted to her earlier this year to learn more about her life and her relationship with surfing and the ocean.

Hey Rosie! Tell us about yourself. Where you’re from, what you spending your time doing, and about your vibrant and varied career!

Hi legends! I’m from the south coast of England and basically spend my time between there, London and of course Kernow home of Surf Sistas when I’m in the UK. I love to surf, swim, sail, be very vocal, dance, box and of course go to Yoga. I love writing too, its never a bus man’s holiday for me, I really love everything I do for work and fun. I’ve worked as a journalist for the last 15 years, I started off in TV working on the X Factor and then moved onto being the Fashion and Beauty Director of a few main stream magazines. I’m also a Yoga teacher, trained in positive psychology and I’m an Integrative health coach. I like to make people feel happy! (Find more about Rosie’s work here!)

What motivated you to become an integrative health coach and yoga teacher?

Working as a journalist for some mainstream titles I was lucky enough to travel the world at quite a young age and meet a lot of people that our culture labels as ‘successful.’ The trouble was, it felt like most rich and famous people I had the pleasure of working with had misdiagnosed their own needs and weren’t happy as a result.

I realised we’re often sold lies to essentially make us all consumers. Its felt like consumerism was playing on scarcity mindsets, and making people’s realities very warped. Without getting too heady, I realised I could easily fall into this trap myself. So I dedicated all of my spare time to studying and training over the course of about seven years.

The aim was to make people feel the best they possibly can, no matter what their life situation. You got to have a blast while you last!

When did you first learn to surf? What inspired you to try?

I think it was in my early twenties. Obviously I was that kid who jumped on a body board at any given opportunity but I think in my twenties it was a way of escaping everything I just listed above.

What impact has surfing had on your life?

A huge one. The biggest impact has been the people I’ve met, and the times we spend together. The lifestyle is expansive, abundant and full of laughs that make me think I might die.

Tell us about your time with us at Surf Sistas. What surf Sistas courses/retreats/trips have you been on?

So many highlights! I literally cry laughing just thinking of so many! Surf Sistas have taken me to places I never thought I’d see, pushed me to my edge, and given me friends for life. Once we surfed a point break in Costa Rica and Whale came to visit us. Needless to say I tried to speak whale that day. Every trip fully immerses you in the culture if where ever you go, taking you off the beaten track, in safe hands, really taking  the stress out of seeing places and having new experiences.

How has surf Sistas helped you on your surfing journey?

Big time. I went from wrestling with a crocodile like a kook in the soup, to surfing like a spatch cock chicken, to out back on green waves with their very empowering, professional coaches.

As a health coach and yoga teacher any advice you’d give surfers to stay fit and healthy for surfing year round?

Sadly, be absolutely rigid with checking the Surfers against Sewage app. (Vote wisely folks) You need a lot of flexibility in your hips, shoulders and ankles if you surf, so a regular Yoga practice is super healthy. Surfing gets you into a flow state, so it’s something I’d label a primary food, which is something that nourishes you off the plate. With that being said, its important that we don’t get too hooked on a flow state or primary food, because we can end up neglecting other important areas of our lives. So as with everything, find balance.

Have you got any surf trips or other adventures lined up this year?

I’m running a few retreats abroad this year and teaching at lots of festivals, so it’s a busy summer, but hopefully I’ll squeeze in a trip for me that’s not work related later in the year.

If you’re a London city surfer like Rosie, you’ll love our Cornwall Surf Retreats and Tropical escapes. For our full course calendar – Click Here

Bella won the Emerging Filmmaker Award at the London Surf Film Festival in 2022, for her edit First Light Stillness (watch here), starring Surf Sistas Coach and Longboarder Beth Leighfield. Since then, she’s had the drive to continue making films documenting surf stories.

Her surf muse, Beth Leighfield, is a talented Longboarder, having recently represented the UK as the ISA World Longboard Championships in El Salvador (read more about Beth here).

Beth and Bella teamed up again at the beginning of this year, taking a road trip through a remote peninsula in Mexico, to bring us a new surf film: Unplugged. What a dream team!

With the far flung corners of Mexico known for being pretty remote (and also dangerous), we were intrigued to hear how they navigated the challenges of off-grid living, filmmaking and wave hunting. Bella tells us all about it below.

Unplugged: The name tells us a little. But what is the film about? 

The film is about freedom I guess. 

Finding freedom from modern society, from social media and from crowded surf line ups. It’s a 6 minute ode to exploring untouched nature with friends and simply just being there. Unplugged as no real deeper meaning, or narrative involved, it’s more a creative reflection on just living life without anyone else around but a few of your surf buds and no mobile phone service for weeks on end.

What inspired you to make this film? 

Me and Beth in 2022 wanted to start filming more together, and once we won the LSFF award it inspired us to go bigger and farther. That’s when Beth invited me to join her and boyfriend Paul in Baja this year. They were going to be travelling around anyway and said we should join! (We being me and my boyfriend Tom). Then we thought it would make a sick surf edit, if we could film along the way. A surf edit that not only would get to show off Beths beautiful longboarding, but also show off a mixed gender group travelling together. So often you see surf edits online of a women’s group OR a mens group trip,  but rarely mixed, which I feel it’s time to change that. I also thought It would be a wonderful opportunity to freely learn how to do video, with no distractions in a stunning empty place.

You went to a remote part of Mexico, how did the logistics work? 

It required ALOT of planning. 

To travel around the North of Baja, as someone who normally resides in the UK is hard! I was extremely fortunate that Beth and Paul had Gerry their GMC all ready for us, kitted out and prepared for the trip. Me and Tom just needed to get to them. For me I had to travel on 2 planes; Uk – Mexico City – La Paz, and then got a 13 hour bus up the Baja Peninsula to meet B and P. While they had to drive from mainland Mexico, where the truck was kept at Pauls parents, and drive up, around, across the boarder and then drive for days down the Peninsula to meet us. And that was just the travel, we had to spend lots on insurance, good camping gear, camera gear etc etc. It was all so worth it, but it’s no easy quick trip! 

Searching for waves, off road, off grid, in hidden corners.

What was it like camping out in Mexico? 

Amazing, I can’t recommend It enough. You definitely need a car, but it’s the best way to travel in such a wild and wonderful place. 

What were the challenges of making the film in this environment? 

Not having internet to google settings, so I had a little yellow notebook that I filled with all the different things I needed to know about my camera. But also sometimes it’s hard to remember to get your camera out when you’re having a nice moment travelling, you have an internal battle with wanting to capture it all and then wanting to just live it too! 

Any advice you’d give to aspiring female filmmakers starting out? 

Well this one is a tough one for me to answer, as I’m at the very beginning of being a ‘videographer’ if you can call me that yet. But my advice would be to start by filming what you love, and then it will be exciting and you’ll want to keep going. For me I love capturing nature and the sea in all its glory and it makes me want to pick up the camera to do so each time. 

Join us at the Unplugged Screening

Credits for Unplugged Surf Video

Videographer and editor @bellarosebunce
Drone @paulbertrand
Featuring @beth_leighfield // @tombaldwinn // @paulbertrand // @bellarosebunce
Music and sound editor @teddy_white._
Special thanks to @thefilmsafe

But that doesn’t mean that learning to surf in your 30’s is impossible. Or that you should have started in your teens or 20’s to get to a good level of surfing. And one of our surf instructors is actual proof of that!

We caught up with Surf Sistas coach Kirsty, who learnt to surf in her 30’s and smashed through several barriers along the way to becoming a qualified surf instructor! Over to you Kirsty!

It all started with a bucket list….

Growing up and living in the landlocked West Midlands I had zero exposure to the sea. My mum couldn’t swim and while I had lessons at school, I was never a strong swimmer. I pretty much hated sports at school, preferring dancing instead. 

Up until the day of my first surf lesson, I’d never been in the sea. Like, not even for a splash around.

But something about surfing and the surf lifestyle appealed to me. So, during a holiday to Cornwall I added ‘learn to surf’ to my bucket list, just to say I’d done it.

I just didn’t realise at the time how much of an impact that lesson would make and that it would literally alter the course of the rest of my life. I hate sounding dramatic, but if I look back at how different my life looked before surfing, I still can’t believe how much life has changed since I started surfing. 

My first surf lesson

So at age 33, I booked a lesson and tried to forget that I was actually scared of the sea. But when the day arrived, the instructors put me at ease so much and I was concentrating so hard on what to do that all those worries disappeared. And staying in waist high water and being able to touch the bottom meant I never felt out of my depth.

I still remember the first wave I caught, got to my feet and rode into the beach. It felt like flying and I was instantly hooked.

Becoming a landlocked surfer

Living in Wolverhampton in the UK isn’t exactly an ideal place for getting to the beach. So for 3 years after that surf lesson, I kind of forgot about surfing and figured it was something I might do occasionally on holiday. 

Until a chance conversation with a friend one night who’d tried surfing once and wanted to do it again. He suggested going to North Devon. And while me and my husband figured we’d make a weekend of it, our friend suggested a day trip. We thought he was crazy, but the following weekend, he picked us up at 5.30am and drove 200 miles from our house to Croyde where we rented boards and wetsuits and had a brilliant time.

And that’s how I became a landlocked surfer. We did crazy day trips as often as we could and holidays in the UK centred around Cornwall and Devon. I had occasional refresher lessons and learnt to lower my expectations. Although I’d stood up on my first lesson, it took months of doing those day trips to be able to stand up on a board again.

With inconsistent opportunities to surf, progress was a lot slower and sometimes it felt like taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back again.

It was frustrating, but I did everything I could to help myself in between surf trips. Doing surf specific exercises in the gym, improving my general fitness and practising my pop-up on dry land.

And that was fine for a while, until the pull to be nearer to the sea and surf more often became so strong for both me and my husband that eventually it reached a tipping point.

We love her laid back longboard style. Just cruising.

Moving to Cornwall

Disillusioned with city life, the 9-5 grind and feeling like we were in the rat race, we sold our house, packed up our lives and started over in Cornwall. 

Within months I connected with other female surfers, joined a female only surf club and got in the water as often as I could. I’d picked up a few bad habits with my surfing that I wanted to iron out and I can still remember swallowing my pride and spending months in the whitewater re-learning my pop-up which was slowing me down when it came to surfing unbroken waves. It was one of the best pieces of advice that a surf coach gave me.

All that work paid off and once I felt confident that I’d broken the habit of going to my knees, I started surfing out back on small 1-2ft days and slowly going out when it was a bit bigger.

Goal setting and taking it too seriously

I’d seen a picture of someone surfing shoulder high waves and making it look so effortless so I set myself the goal of being able to do that consistently. I had to push myself outside my comfort zone but with some coaching along the way, improved fitness thanks to all the surfing which increased my confidence, I reached my goal. And then I immediately moved the goalposts and set myself more surf goals than I care to mention.

That’s when I started to take surfing way too seriously. I wanted to prove that I could be good at it, because we all want to be good at something, right? But why I decided I wanted to be ‘good’ at one of the hardest ‘sports’ to learn I’ll never know. 

I guess at the end of the day, I love pushing myself outside my comfort zone.

But by taking it too seriously, I forgot how to have fun and while my surfing improved in some areas, I felt rigid and looked wooden in my stance because I wasn’t relaxed. I’d cry with frustration, threaten to give up surfing when a surf didn’t go my way and set my expectations way too high. 

Then I watched a documentary on Stephanie Gilmore, 8 x women’s world champion. She’d always wanted to be the best surfer in the world but in the film, she ponders why and says ‘you don’t get super powers from being the best surfer in the world.’

And that really made me stop and think, and remind myself that I never got into surfing to get ‘good’ at it. I just wanted to feel that incredible feeling of riding waves and have fun along the way.

And what actually is ‘good’ anyway? When I stopped and thought about it, I realised everyone’s interpretation of being a good surfer differs. And besides, what does it even matter? It’s all about how it makes you feel and not a measure of success.

Kirsty finding calm in the sea

Finding peace

For a couple of years I had to really work on my mindset and as I let go of all those expectations and limiting beliefs, my surf stance loosened up, I started to relax and have fun again. And as a result, I found true peace with where I’m at with my surfing. 

I don’t have to prove to anyone that I can surf and I no longer set unrealistic expectations. I don’t even set goals anymore. I surf purely to enjoy the feeling. I no longer give myself a hard time for not surfing (that was exhausting!) and if it’s too big for me, I’m no longer pushing myself to try and break past that next barrier.

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, and if you’d told me in my 20’s that I’d become a surfer, I’d have laughed and wouldn’t have believed you!

Qualifying as a surf instructor

But there was one more thing that I wanted to achieve. I benefited so much from surf coaching and felt I had a lot to give, especially to other women who learn to surf in their 30s or later in life, or who are landlocked and can’t surf very often.

I wanted to share my experiences of learning to surf and overcoming some of the barriers I faced. So I decided to become a surf instructor.

There was only one tiny barrier that stood in my way. My swimming.

Remember me telling you that I was never a strong swimmer? No-one had ever taught me how to swim front crawl properly. I mean full head down, goggles on and breathing to the side. And for my qualification I needed to do a timed swim as part of my lifeguard qualification.

So I got some swim coaching and spent months in the pool, working on my technique and getting progressively quicker at reaching the time needed to pass the course.

And all that swim training has paid off in other ways. I now swim in the sea beyond the breaking waves without the comfort of a surfboard. It’s improved my sea and surf confidence, and I’ve discovered a love of swimming that I never thought I’d ever have. 

Life really does begin at the end of your comfort zone and I’ve got surfing to thank for completely changing my life. I’ve gained so much from surfing – a new home, lifestyle, travels, new skills, friends, and a new career!

So if you’re sitting there thinking that you’re too old, not sporty enough, or you live too far away from the beach to be a surfer, I’m proof that age is completely irrelevant. 

And if that’s not enough proof for you, just take a look at local Newquay surf legend Gwyn Haslock. When you find out how old she is, you’ll never see age as a barrier to surfing again!

Kirsty’s energy, positivity and support is why we love coaching with her! Epic celebrations!

Kirsty’s tips for learning to surf in your 30’s

Just do it!

Without sounding like a walking poster child for Nike, don’t let barriers stand in your way. Because when you break those barriers down, they’re probably just your inner voice trying to tell you that you can’t do it. 

You can!

Have surf lessons or join a surf course

Surfing’s more than just standing on a board and riding waves. Sure, you need to know how to do that, but you also need to know about the sea, the beach and how to stay safe, especially if you don’t live by the coast or you’re not familiar with things like tides, waves and currents.

If I didn’t have lessons I honestly wouldn’t be where I am today. (check out Surf Sistas range of courses here!)

Set realistic expectations

Not everyone stands up straight away, and that’s ok. 

Surfing is unlike anything else you’ve probably tried, unless you’re into snowboarding, so be prepared to fall over and over again. It’s all part of the process and even competitive surfers fall off waves all the time. 

Your aim should be to just have fun!

Be prepared for a potentially life changing experience

Because learning to surf in your 30’s could send you on a path you never thought was possible!

We’re lucky to have Kirsty as part of our team of coaches in Cornwall this summer. If you’re looking for a surf course this summer check out our range of courses here!

Our White to Green Weeks are our flagship courses and arguably the most popular. They’re designed for those of you who have played in the white water and are looking to dabble first time amongst those green waves. In this course we cover reading green waves, techniques for paddling out back, how to position and catch green waves and much more!

This snapshot week was the first week back for our Surf Sistas Cornwall Courses & Retreats for 2023 and coached a group of 10 woman from the UK and overseas. It was a lovely time and we had a good giggle throughout. We were blessed with fun sized waves throughout the week. Not too big and not too small – perfect for learning to paddle out back and catch green waves on – which everyone managed successfully!

On the last morning we headed a little further out of Newquay for a dawnie! The light was illuminating, the water glassy and the waves completely empty! Here’s a snapshot of those wonderful conditions and all the wonderful surfing these women achieved.

We’ve got lots of dates in the Calendar for White to Green Courses this summer:

12-16 June
26-30 June
10-14 July
17-21 July
24-28 July
14-18 August
21-25 August
4-8 September

For full info and to bag your spot click here!

Back in the day, surfers would take the sea in their swimmers, catching waves until they turned blue! Luckily for us lot, wetsuit technology has advanced dramatically in the last few decades, giving us a great deal of choice when it comes to wetsuits.

However with choice of wetsuits, comes more jargon and more confusion.

Which wetsuit? What is technobutter? Which thickness? Built in hood? Limestone neoprene? Yulex? And what even is an insulated firewall?

We’ve simplified it. Wetsuits came into being to keep us warm. Being warmer means more time in the sea doing what we love – SURFING! So in this blog we’ve given the lowdown on what thickness wetsuit you need based on the water temperature and time of year. We’ve also stuck in a few handy tips for buying the right wetsuit.

What does the thickness mean?

It’s not uncommon to hear surfers chatting about their wetsuit thickness amongst other surf related surf small talk in the line-up; “Are you in your 4 3 today?” “Nah it’s balmy in here mate, got the 3 2 on!“

To someone not well versed with surf jargon (consider yourself lucky in some respects) this can be confusing as to what these numbers mean. What is the difference between a 4 3 wetsuit and a 3 2 wetsuit?

These numbers measure the thickness of wetsuits in mm. There are two numbers as some parts of the wetsuit are thicker than others. In the example of a 4/3mm wetsuit, the thicker parts will be 4mm and cover your organs and torso whilst the 3mm parts will be the arms and legs giving better flexibility for all those wonderful surf manoeuvres .

Wetsuits can range from 7mm thick (mostly for divers) to 1mm Springsuits (Springsuits are shorty neoprene suits). The most common wetsuits people use in the UK and the ones you’ll want to consider buying are 5/3mm, a 4/3mm or 3/2mm thick.

Which thickness wetsuit do I need for a given time of year?

These are the average water temperatures for Cornwall! If you spend most of your time surfing in other parts of the UK, check the water temperature in the local area. The NE of England is a lot colder than Cornwall for example.

January – March

During these winter months, the water temperature in Cornwall drops to its coldest, ranging from around 7-10°C.

You’ll need a minimum 5/3mm hooded wetsuit plus boots and gloves (particularly if your fingers get cold easily).

Trust me when I say you’ll need a hood! Brain freeze happens from surfing, not just downing your ice cream too fast.

If you cant get hold of a hooded wetsuit, you can buy a separate hood to wear. This can be good if you want to wear your winter suit further into spring. Having the hood down can sometimes cause more flushing.

April – June

As spring arrives, the water temperature starts to increase, but it’s still cold relative to the air temp. (the sea takes a little longer to warm up.

The sea temperature ranges from around 10-14°C.

For surfing, a 4/3mm wetsuit or a 3/2mm wetsuit is great! And into April and even early May you still might want to opt for boots. So if you’re joining a Surf Sistas course in May, we recommend getting yourself a pair of boots.

Feel the cold? April you may still be in your 5/3mm.

July – September

The last few summers in Cornwall have been extremely hot and dry, making the water all the more inviting for a dip to cool off.

The water temperature in Cornwall can reach up to 18-20°C, so a 3/2mm wetsuit will prevent you melting.

On the warmest of days you may even want to surf in a Springsuit (neoprene swimsuit) or a Long John (sleeveless wetsuit) but if you’re joining us on a course, we recommend a 3/2mm as you’ll be in the water for 2 hours at a time.

Long johns, surf leggings and Springsuits are also a wonderful choice if you decide to join us on one of our global surf retreats in the tropics!

October – December

Autumn brings the start of dropping temperatures. The water is still pretty warm at this time into October, however it’s the windchill that will get you.

The water temperature ranges from 10-14°C.

Time to dust of the 4/3mm wetsuit or 5/3mm wetsuit . And it’ll also be time to whack the boots and gloves back on.

How do I choose a wetsuit thickness?

So you’ve got an idea of the recommended thickness suits for the water temperature, but the wetsuit(s) you decide to buy can depend on a couple of things

How much do you feel the cold?

If you’re someone that clads yourself in a Michelin man insulated jacket, even in mildly cold weather, you might want to consider a thicker wetsuit than the standard recommendations. It’s no fun being cold in the ocean and can put a lot of us off surfing, especially in winter.

Don’t forget boots, a hood and gloves. Absolutely crucial – these are the places you feel the cold first.

And if you need more tips for coldwater surfing – read this blog.

What’s your budget?

If you’re a little tight on cash and can only afford one wetsuit, you want to be getting a suit that you can wear for the maximum amount of time. A 4/3mm suit is good choice. You can get away with it for the spring and summer and come winter you can wear a thermal rashvest and hood for an extra layer of warmth.

Having said that, a lot of companies do now offer a wider range or wetsuits with some pretty good budget wetsuits that still provide the flexibility. You can also look for second hand ones – there’s a Facebook group for this!

How often are you going to surf?

Be honest with yourself. If you’re a busy bee living away from the sea or a beginner surfer, start off with one wetsuit instead of buying the all the gear.

Are you going to be surfing all year round?

Another be honest with yourself situation. Be realistic about how likely you are to get in when it’s cold. Many of us hardy surfers still trade in a coldwater surf for a land based activity in winter. I tend to surf a little less in winter. But having said that, the cold should not be a barrier to getting in.

If you are keen to keep up surfing year round (consistency is key to progression) then having the right gear is important. And finally the wetsuit industry has cottoned on the fact that women do want to surf in winter and have started making the hooded wetsuits for us! Hooray!

If this is the case, get a 5/3 (or 5/4) for winter and a 3/2 for summer.

Buying the right fit wetsuit

If your wetsuit doesn’t fit properly, then it’s not gonna provide you with the much warmth as you’ll soon feel the cold flush of water down your neck.

Keep it on the snug side.

It’s not meant to be easy getting a wetsuit on, although you’ll get used to it the more you wear one. You want your wetsuit to feel slightly tight, especially a new one as they do stretch with time.

Particular under the arms and across the lower back you want it to be snug. It should also we well fitted around your neck, wrists and ankles to avoid flushing. If you have lots of rolls on your arms and legs, it’s probably too long.

Top Tip: Take a plastic bag with your when putting on wetsuits. Put the bag over your feet and ankles. It’ll help you slide into the suit more easily!

Try before you buy

If you’ve not worn a wetsuit before, we strongly recommend going to a surf shop and trying on different brands. Brands really do vary in their size and you want to find a brands that fits you best.

The staff in the surf shop can also help you with advice.

A note on Wetsuit materials: Avoid the Neoprene

Having watched the BigSea Documentary (click here to learn more), we’ve been educated about the devasting effects of Neoprene manufacturing on the Environment and Human Health. Neoprene is the commercial name for chloroprene which is traditionally used to make wetsuits.

However, the main chloroprene manufacturing facility, Denka, located in Louisana, USA – has been linked to the well above average levels of Cancer amongst residents in the local area and causing Louisana to have the most toxic air in the whole of the USA. The region surrounding the area has been named “Cancer Alley” – You can read more here.

With a lot of uncertainty around the wetsuits industry supply chains – it’s hard to know which brands are using Neoprene from the Denka factory and which ones aren’t (even the “eco” neoprene).

Therefore we recommend, if you can, buying a Yulex Wetsuit, made from natural rubber and currently the most environmentally friendly wetsuit material.

The following brands offer Yulex Wetsuits:

• Patagonia
• Finisterre
• Srface
• Billabong – (Eco-Conscious Range)
• Needsessentials

We do however appreciate that Yulex can be more expensive than regular neoprene, in which case buying second hand or buying a Limestone Neoprene Wetsuit (has less neoprene in it) might be a more suitable option. We’re hoping with time, there more wetsuit brands adopt Yulex, the more affordable it’ll become.

If you’re joining us on a course in Cornwall, we also have a range of wetsuits you can hire! So don’t fear if you’re stuck on buying one! Our coaches can give you advice on brands and sizing from their personal experience.

For more info on our Cornwall surf courses – Click here.

However, on day two of our recce, a large swell in the med was brewing, and some strong northerly winds sent those large ripples across the sea to the North Coast of Menorca. This meant only one thing…… WAVES!

On day two of our recce, a large swell in the med was brewing, and some strong northerly winds sent those ripples across the sea to the North Coast of Menorca. This meant only one thing…… WAVES!

Being reasonably sheltered from the long fetch of the Atlantic we weren’t expecting to see any surf, particularly as we were on the hunt for swim spots. But as both lovers of the surf and swim, this greatly excited us!

However, we’re not in any rush to set up a surf trip to the Balearics, the inconsistency of waves here wouldn’t make for a very exciting trip. But we scoped out some incredible swim spots. Think crystal clear waters, mixed with shades of blue and turquoise giving way to gleaming white cliffs and pine tree forests that smell fresher than daisies (and there were a lot of those too).

We fell in love with this little Island. Exploring cove after cove filled with clear water and white sand never stopped enchanting us. To give you a taste of what we found and what might be to come from Swim Sistas, here’s a little snippet of Menorca.

To find out more about the next venture with Swim Sistas follow us on Instagram. You can also sign up to our Newsletter for exclusive first news on new courses dropping.

The Surfing Plateau

I learnt to surf on a gap year six years ago which got me out the back and wave riding consistently. Since then I haven’t had coaching, and whilst I’ve made progression, it’s been slow with a lot of frustration. It wasn’t until a recent trip to Morocco that I realised how useful it was getting coaching when you’re an intermediate level surfer.

I was out logging at a point break with a couple of friends, one of whom is a ISA Level 2 Surf Coach. She had seen me take a few waves and whilst chatting as we paddled back up to the point, she offered some feedback. “Instead of “charging to the nose” in three big steps but falling just short, aim for four much smaller steps with the last step being slightly extended to get a hang 5″

What happened next felt cosmic. I took the next set wave, popped up, set my line and mentally counted to four as I deliberately shortened my step and slowed down. Next thing I know those five little piggies on my left foot were wrapping themselves round the nose of my board in a perfect hang five. EEEEEEK!

Over those two months, my longboarding improved more than in the last two years, by accepting feedback and mentally focussing on one improvement point in my surfing. This has got me even more excited for the Intermediate Weekends we’re running this Summer. We’re excited to have the chance to help you break through your plateau and take your surfing from strength to strength.

Over those two months, my longboarding improved more than in the last two years, by accepting feedback and mentally focussing in on one little improvement point in my surfing at a time.

Wondering what a Surf Sistas Intermediate course can offer you? Here are 6 key reasons why we are confident this weekend will make a radical difference to your surfing experience ..

We’re running a 1:3 Instructor Ratio

For most of our courses we run a maximum 1:4 ratio. On this course we’re limiting spaces to only eight guests with three coaches in the water. 1:4 is a great coach to student ratio as you will receive lots of 1:1 coaching (most surf schools run a 1:8 ratio). However, we have decided to reduce to 1:3 on the Intermediate weekends because at this level we’re anticipating that each participant will have very specific surf niggles that are more varied from one woman to the next. The 1:3 ratio will mean more tailored and individualised coaching for each student.

We Structure the Weekends around your goals & surf dilemmas

No Intermediate weekend is the same. One of you may join looking to improve your cutback and another of looking to learn how to generate speed. Therefore, we don’t cookie cutter these courses.

Prior to the course, we request your feedback on your current experience, surfing ability and the individual goals you have for the weekend. That way are coaches are prepared to tailor the weekend and coaching around what you want to learn. We won’t have a pre-set rigid structure of what will be taught. But we do have a bank of resources and techniques that we’ll pull from to support you to achieve your goals.

Photography (in water and Out)

For one of the sessions, we’ll be joined by a professional in-water photographer who will be capturing your waves. Not only will these be used in the photo/video analysis session but they’re also epic shots that you can keep as memories of your surfing (even for the gram). For all four water sessions there’s also a land based photographer, capturing your waves so that you can see your progression over the weekend.

We move with the Tides

Forecasting is wonderful but there’s only so far into the future the long range will go. We know that when you book your course, you might not know what the conditions will be like. Over the weekend we’ll be scheduling the session times to get the best tides, winds and waves possible. This could involve dawnie sessions or exploring a different beach! We’ll contact you the day before the course starts to confirm the Saturday session timings and decide on the Sunday session the day before as well. Get ready for a fun filled weekend!

No time off work needed!

That’s right. You can hop in and out of the course over the space of a weekend, saving your annual leave for winter escapes, maybe even on one of our global surf retreats The weekends will be full-on days so you can get the most of your time with us. Just be ready to get the caffeine going Monday morning.

Experienced Instructors on board to deliver the best coaching

In Newquay, we’re lucky to have a community incredible female surfers and instructors. A fair amount of the time, the number of women in the sea can outnumber the men!

This means our Surf Sistas team includes some highly experienced surf coaches, with Level 2 ISA qualifications under their belts and/or extensive years of coaching experience.

If this sounds like the course for you, head to our course page to book your spot and get the full information.

Unsure of your level of ability, check out our guide to picking the right Surf Sistas course for you.