Open Surf Lesson in Westward Ho!

Each open lesson lasts two hours on the beach and in the water. Usual start times are 10:00 and 14:00, though we move those slots when the tide or the swell will give you a better session in the shallows.

You should arrive a little early so we can fit wetsuits and walk you through the plan. Multi-lesson packs let you spread sessions across a short break or take them through the year, which helps if you want more than one go at standing up.

We provide a soft foam board, a wetsuit, and boots and gloves when the sea is cold. Kit is refreshed each season, so you are not using tired rubber or a board that is too small for a first lesson.

If you already own a board or a suit and want to use it, check with your instructor first so we know it is suitable for a group session. Otherwise, come in swimwear and we will kit you out at the centre before the walk to the sand.

The purpose-built centre sits about 50 metres from Westward Ho! beach, so you change, collect kit and walk straight onto the sand. You do not need to carry a board down a long path or get changed in a car park.

Heated changing rooms, hot showers, toilets and secure storage are all on site, with a surf shop and a pizza cafe if you want something afterwards. Public parking is next to the building, which keeps the start of the lesson simple.

Beginner lessons stay in shallow water under full supervision, so you are not asked to swim out of your depth. A basic swimming ability still helps, because it makes you more comfortable when a wave knocks you off the board.

Your instructor stays with the group and chooses a patch of beach that suits first-timers. If you are unsure about the water, say so at the start and we will keep you in the white water and take breaks whenever you need them.

You need a reasonable level of fitness, not a gym routine. Paddling and standing on a foam board use your arms and core, and the sand walk plus the warm-up get your heart going before you even catch a wave.

Group sizes stay small enough that you can rest without holding anyone else up. Coaches tailor the pace to the people in front of them, so a first lesson should feel like work you can keep up with rather than a race.

The suits have a titanium lining, which holds heat far better than a cheap hire suit. In colder months we add boots and gloves so your hands and feet stay usable while you paddle and stand.

Westward Ho! is a shallow, fairly flat beach, so the water often feels a little warmer than at steeper North Devon spots. You will still get a shock when you first lie on the board, then the suit does the rest once you start moving.

You start with a warm-up and a safety talk on the sand, then head into the shallows on a soft foam board. Instructors group you with people of a similar experience so you are not sharing a peak with someone already turning on unbroken waves.

In the water you practise paddling, popping up and catching white water, with feedback after each try. The aim is a few clean stands and a clearer idea of how the beach works, not a perfect carve on day one.

Yes. Packs of two, three, four, five, six or ten lessons are available if you want more water time than a single session. Two or three lessons suit a short break, while five or six work well across a week-long stay.

The ten-lesson pack can be used across a year, which suits locals as well as visitors who come back. Tell us how long you are staying when you book so we can space the sessions around the tide.

Public parking sits next to the centre on Pebblebridge Road, a short walk from the door and from the sand. You can unload kit bags here rather than carrying everything from the far end of the village.

Spaces go quickly on sunny weekends and in the school holidays, so arrive with time to spare. If the nearest bays are full, use the wider village parking and walk down, still leaving enough time to change before the briefing.

Bring swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, a towel, sunscreen and a drink. A spare dry layer for afterwards is useful, especially on a windy afternoon when you come off the beach.

Leave valuables you do not need on the sand at home or in the secure storage on site. We provide the board and the suit, so you do not need to bring your own unless you have already agreed that with the instructor.