A unique experience; brand new for 2023. Perfect for those looking for a well rounded experience of the Cornish coastline. Expect fun-filled surf sessions at Cornwall’s premier surfing beaches and coastal walks taking us to tranquil corners for wild swimming.
On this Surf & Swim weekend, you’ll build all-round ocean confidence and knowledge whilst exploring our beautiful coastline and meeting like-minded folk. We’re hugely excited to be combining our two favourite ocean pastimes and sharing them with you.
Dates
14-16 July 2023
Location
Newquay, Cornwall
Prices
| EARLY BIRD OFFER* | |
| Twin share ensuite room per person – £475 | |
| Private occupancy double room per person – £599 | |
| * until 31.1.23 while availability lasts |
| STANDARD PRICE | |
| Twin share ensuite room per person – £525 | |
| Private occupancy double room per person – £674 |
Book now with a 50% deposit – remainder due 8 weeks prior to retreat weekend.
What to Expect / Itinerary
We’ve got a varied and active weekend lined up for you. Expect morning surf sessions, timed to make the best of the tides. These will be delivered at a level appropriate to your ability to aid progression and make the most of the waves.
Our afternoon swims will have you exploring the coast paths, seeking calmer waters. Whether you’re after a gentle dip or a more strenuous swim trek, our experienced swim guides will be there to support you. Saturday night we’ll be headed to an outdoor spa, the perfect spot to unwind after a day on the coast.
As always at Surf Sistas we’ve chosen a lovely place to stay, 4 star accommodation overlooking Fistral beach where we’ll be surfing!
| FRIDAY | |
| – Arrivals and check in from 3pm | |
| – Evening walk and swim | |
| SATURDAY | |
| – Breakfast at hotel | |
| – Meet and Greet at South Fistral green (right outside the hotel) for your first surf session. | |
| – Surf Session 1 | |
| – Lunch | |
| – Coastal walk and Sea Swim Session (including ocean confidence class) | |
| – Evening Spa Session followed by dinner out at one of our fave eateries | |
| SUNDAY | |
| – Breakfast at the hotel | |
| – Surf Session 2 | |
| – Afternoon Coastal Walk & Swim (We’ll be aiming to take you to a different spot!) | |
| – Departures & Farewells |
What’s Included
- 3 swim sessions with our Swim Sistas Coaches (include guided coastal walks to our swim spots)
- 2 surf sessions with Qualified female ISA Surf Sistas coaches
- 2 nights Hotel accommodation overlooking the ocean with breakfast included
- Wifi
- Private Spa session on Saturday night (Spa comprises of Sauna, Hot tubs and Ice baths!)
- Surf Sistas tote bag filled with delicious treats and goodies from our favourite brands
- Wetsuit and surfboard hire for surf lessons
- On the beach warm up routines to prepare you for your surf session.
Surfing
There’s no better place to surf in the UK than Cornwall, that’s why we base ourselves here! On our Surf + Swim weekends you can expect low ratio coaching groups to make the most of your sessions with us.
The first session on Saturday will consist of an introduction and assessment of our local spot, Fistral Beach. We’ll spend time getting to know you and your surfing ability before jumping in the sea to have an exhilarating surf session. We’ll tailor our coaching to suit your level whether you’re a complete beginner or regular surfer looking for additional coaching and tips.
Having rested those paddle arms and unwound during the Saturday night sauna, Sunday morning you’ll hit the surf with fresh energy. Now is time to consolidate those tips and techniques covered over the weekend. You’ll come away from the weekend with new found confidence and joy for surfing.
If you’re a surf fanatic and think two sessions might not be enough, you might prefer a more surf focussed weekend or week long course.
Swimming
Our Swim Sistas Guides are experts in their field and happiest in the ocean, you will be safe and happy in their hands as they help you to fine tune your swim technique, accompany your open water swims and share their strategies for ocean confidence with you.
Swim guiding on our North Cornwall weekend is led by Hannah Waller, an STA qualified Open Water Coach, Swim Instructor and Aquaphobia Coach. Having spent most of her childhood in the water, always enjoying the freedom of open water swimming and the opportunity it gives to challenge her limits Hannah decided to take her passion and turn it into a career.
We’ll take you on beautiful coast path walks to seek out swim spots and hidden coves. What better way is there to enjoy Cornwalls’ coaslinet! Whether you prefer a leisurely dip swim trek (max 2km) to push yourself, we’ll be there to facilitate the best experience with our experienced coaches. This is a great opportunity to build experience sea swimming so you have confidence heading out again after the course is finished.
“For me, being able to swim is one of the most important life skills someone could ever have, especially living in Cornwall. I feel extremely privileged to be in this position, teaching potentially life-saving skills, whilst giving children and adults the confidence and freedom they get from being in the water.
I love being close to nature and spend as much time possible outside, hiking, running, swimming, surfing as well as working on my other small ice cream van business. My moto is that you are only ever one swim away from a good mood!”
Accommodation
Our accommodation for the weekend is the newly renovated 4 star beachside Esplanade Hotel at South Fistral in Newquay. Overlooking the waves you will be able to check the surf from your breakfast table. After your surf lesson, enjoy a relaxing session in the hotel sauna.
Choose between a shared ensuite twin or double room, or a single occupancy ensuite double room. If you are coming solo you can still choose the shared room option and we will match you with another solo Sista.
Who is this Surf & Swim Weekend for?
For those of you who love both surfing and swimming and want to enjoy the best of both! Or you might be a keen surfer but want to build your swimming skills for those flat days or when you can’t get to the coast. All surfing and swimming abilities are welcome. We run small ratio coaching groups of max 1:4 so we’ll tailor the weekend to your individual needs.
How to Book
Book now and take advantage of our Early Bird Pricing available on a limited number of spaces until the end of January 2023 or until these spaces are taken.
Please use the paypal links below to book your Early Bird space with a 50% deposit or the full amount. If you choose to book with a deposit the remainder will be due 8 weeks prior to departure.
Once we have received your Paypal booking you will receive a booking email with all the information that you need about your Surf & Swim weekend. If you have any questions in the meantime please do drop us a line and we will be happy to help.
FAQs
What do I need to bring?
Come ready for both surf and swimming:
Bring two sets of swimwear, a full wetsuit or shortie if you would like to swim in one, swim goggles, a tow float, a swim hat if you have one (hint – there will also be one in your goody bag!), Dry robe if you have one, 2 towels (fast drying advisable), day sac (its easier to carry a ruck sac style bag than a tote bag style when walking on the coast path).
For surfing bring a wetsuit (we’ll provide you with one if you don’t have your own), suncream, a sun hat and wet bag to put your surf gear in. Surfboards come included in the course.
Come dressed for any eventuality. The weather in Cornwall can change quickly! Even in the summer, we recommend layers and comfy clothing to keep your warm after your sea dips.
I can no longer attend, what are my options?
We understand that things happen that may mean you can no longer join us.
You can cancel your holiday at any time provided the cancellation is communicated to us in writing. As this incurs administrative charges we will retain your deposit and in addition may apply cancellation charges up to the maximum shown as follows:
49 days or more 20% only
30-49 days 50% of total cost
21 – 30 days 70% of total cost
20 days or fewer 100% of total cost
Please check our full terms and conditions before you book.
Who can attend your courses?
We currently open up our courses to women 18+. We want to make our courses as inclusive as possible, so whatever your age, sexuality, ethnic background/nationality, body type, there’s a place for you in the sea. If you have any concerns please do drop us a line and we can chat through any worries that you have.
How physically fit do I need to be?
A good level of physical fitness is very beneficial for both surfing and swimming. However, we don’t want your worries about your fitness level to be a barrier to joining us.
We will be doing 2 active sessions per day and carrying boards to and from the beach so expect to sleep very well each night. A swim session will also include a short coastal walk to our swim spot.
This is quite a physical weekend, however our instructors have lots of tools to adapt to varying levels of ability and fitness.
If you have further concerns please do drop us a line as we are always happy to chat this through with you so that you have a very clear idea of what to expect.
What thickness wetsuit do I need to bring?
Great question! This can really depend on how much you feel the cold/heat and the time of year you’re surfing. As a general rule a 4mm wetsuit is a good go-to for surfing in the UK 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 hardy surfers heading into winter surfing, November-April is the time to pull out a thicker 5mm suit.
If you want a full guide to wetsuit thicknesses and water temperature, Surfdome can give you a comprehensive breakdown.
How ‘good’ do I need to be?
We cater for all ability levels on these Surf & Swim weekends, so there is no level of “good” required. Whether you’re completely new to surfing and/or swimming or an experienced water woman, you’ll flourish on this course.
Is it ok to come on my own?
Absolutely! What we love about our courses is the ability to bring together women from all walks of life who share a love of the ocean. You’ll be welcomed into a very supportive and fun environment. At the start of the course, we do a meet and greet before the first surf session so that you can get to know one another.
I don’t feel very confident in the sea, will this be a problem?
We understand the sea can be a daunting place but we don’t want this to put you off. Our coaches our all qualified Surf Lifesavers and we operate on Lifeguard Patrolled beaches. Therefore you’ll be in safe hands during your time with us. If you are a little nervous, do let us know so that we are able to reassure you and answer any specific concerns that you have. Our team will be giving advice to boost your ocean confidence and we will be adapting our coaching to your individual needs.
Our Swim Lead Hannah is an STA qualified Open Water Coach with years of experience under her belt. Each day for our swims, we’ll be assessing the conditions and taking you to the best place for your swim to ensure maximum enjoyment.
Will the waves be manageable for me in Newquay?
Whilst we can’t predict the waves, our local female coaches have expert knowledge on the conditions at all the breaks we surf at. In Newquay, we’re lucky to have a wide variety of surf spots within the local vicinity! This means we will be able to forecast and choose conditions and breaks that are manageable for you.