Winner of the Leisure Provider Of The Year and Winner of Winners at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2008 - Winner of Silver at the South West Tourism Awards for Leisure Provider Of The Year 2008 - Winner of Silver for Sustainable Business at the Visit Cornwall Awards 2008 - Silver Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme 2008 - Winner of Surfer's Path Travel Operator of the Year 2007 - Shortlisted for Cornwall Tourism Leisure Pursuit Provider of the Year 2007 - Nominated for Sustainability Awards 2007 - Highly Recommended by the Fat Face Guide 2007 - Official Sponsors of Surfers Against Sewage environmental campaign group

Gb Surf School Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book?

E-mail or telephone with your details i.e. dates, group size,amount of lessons required and we'll get back to you either the same day or within 24 hours.

Isn't it really cold in the sea off Cornwall?

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 does fine. In extreme conditions you can wear a hood, boots and gloves, but the gulf stream keeps the Cornish waters more than bearable for most of the year. The average temperature of the sea is 12 degrees celcius (53 degrees fahrenheit).

I didn't think there were any waves in Cornwall / the UK?

This is a misconceived view which some International visitors may hold. You can see some great surf photography involving Cornish surf spots and surfers here.

Is Cornwall cool?

An excerpt from the New York Times reads "Cornwall... is now considered one of the hip places to visit in England, no matter what your age. With numerous beaches for all levels of surfing, an outpost of the modern Tate Gallery in St. Ives, and the environmentally avant-garde Eden Project in St. Austell, Cornwall is increasingly becoming a popular (international) family destination, particularly for those families with painfully trendy teenagers".

Can I bring my own equipment?

Your own wetsuit yes, but our Insurance demands that we only teach on soft boards in a group situation. If we run a one-on-one lesson we can use fibreglass boards.

What if there are no waves?

This is hardly ever the case as, with our knowledge and expertise, we can pretty much find a wave at any given time.

What do guests do if there are no waves?

There's nearly always a wave to be found somewhere, but if we absolutely have to cancel then you will receive either a full refund of we will book you into another session convenient to you.

Do you have to be a really strong swimmer?

We generally ask that guests are able to swim 50 metres confidently and unaided. However, we will never put guests into a situation or conditions in which they are uncomfortable. Coupled with this, our instructors are qualified and experienced lifeguards.

When is the best time to surf ?

Generally the shoulder months, in the spring March and April and in the autumn September to December. The summer months do bring a reduction in average wave size and swell but there are nearly always waves to be found somewhere - this is why we offer a choice of beaches each day.

We have 2 vans that are air conditioned and have tinted windows

What transport do you use?

We have 4 vans - two VWs and two Mercedes - so we can transport up to 28 surfers at a time, plus wetsuits and boards and safe storage for clothes.

Was a Mako shark sighted in Cornish waters?

There was - three of us were in the water with it! But no-one was attacked. There hasn't been a shark attack in living memory. Sharks (except harmless Basking Sharks) are an extreme rarity.

What equipment do you use?

Our wetsuits are all Rip Curl as we have found these to be the best. Learners and day surf school clients will use Swell boards, unless they have their own boards. Please be aware that we can't teach sessions that have a mixed line-up of soft and hard boards.

Are there dolphins in Cornwall?

Dolphins are a common sight in Cornish waters. Surfing with a dolphin is one of life's most extraordinary experiences.

Do you employ foreign language instructors?

We have a pool of BSA qualified instructors we can choose from, many of which have travelled widely and have more than one language. Please contact us well in advance and we will see what we can do.

What ages do you teach?

Children are welcome, if 7 years of age and up and able to swim 50 metres. There is no upper limit for the silver surfers, as long as they are able to swim 50m and have no pre-existing medical conditions that would endanger their health in the water.