2-Hour Surf Lesson in Pembrokeshire

About two hours from the meeting point and back, including a brief on the sand and time in the water. Most of that window is spent catching white water rather than standing on the beach talking.

Give yourself 15 minutes before the start so changing does not eat into the water time. Morning sessions usually run 10am to 12pm, and afternoon sessions 2pm to 4pm.

The beach is confirmed the day before. In June, July and August that is usually Freshwater West or Manorbier. Early and late season we also use Tenby, Saundersfoot, Broad Haven South and Newgale when those beaches are working better.

Parking sits near each beach. If the planned spot is flat or unsafe, we send a new pin rather than running a poor session. Check your messages the evening before.

A surfboard and a wetsuit, fitted on the sand. We match the board to your size and how the beach is working that day. You can wear your own full-length suit if you prefer.

Leave phones and bags in the car. If you need an inhaler or other medication in the water, give it to the coach at the start.

No. First-timers and people who already stand up share this group session. Tell the coach at the start so you are not repeating a first-stand drill if you already pop up.

The brief stays short either way. Most of the two hours is in the water, with cues between waves rather than a long talk on the sand.

Seven. Anyone under 18 needs an adult on the beach for the whole session, even if that adult is not in the water. Children should be happy in the sea and able to follow a simple instruction on the sand.

Tell us ages so we can put the right boards out. The coach keeps the group close and adapts the pace to the least confident person in the water.

Ordinary wind and rain do not stop a lesson. Wetsuits stay warm, and the brief still happens on the sand. We move beach when the swell or wind makes the planned spot unsafe, or if we cannot run a useful session there.

If the planned beach is closed or flat, we pick another Pembrokeshire spot and message you. Check your messages the evening before if you are driving a long way.

Swimwear, a towel, a warm dry layer and sunscreen. A water bottle helps. Get changed into swimwear before you arrive if you want to skip the queue for the wetsuits.

Flip-flops are useful for the walk from the car, then come off for the water. Leave valuables in the car. Pack a bag for wet swimwear afterwards.

Able to swim about 25 metres and happy in the sea is the bar. Lessons stay in water you can stand in for first stands, but you still fall in and you still need to be comfortable with that. A coach stays with the group.

If you are very nervous in open water, say so in advance. The coach can keep you closer and spend longer on the first minutes in the white water.

Yes, as long as it is a full-length suit. We still have suits if yours is thin or you change your mind on the sand. Shorties leave too much skin in the water for this session.

Boots help from autumn through spring. Flip-flops are fine for the walk down in summer, then come off for the water.

Solo bookers join the same group as other people on that slot. The coach still gives cues between waves rather than talking to a crowd on the sand.

Larger parties should tell us numbers in advance so we can put enough boards and coaches on the beach. Turn up 15 minutes early so changing does not eat into the water time.