Whether you’re an experienced pro or a nervous newbie, St Ives is a spectacular place to take to the water.
Swells rolling in from the Atlantic attract surfers to Porthmeor Beach (the most popular surfing beach in St Ives) throughout the year. It offers some of the best surfing conditions in the UK, and it’s just a few steps from The Sail Lofts, so all you need to do is grab your board and go. There are also other excellent surfing beaches nearby at Sennen, Carbis Bay, Gwithian and Godrevy, Perranporth and Newquay.
Surfing isn't the only watersport to be enjoyed in St Ives and West Cornwall; kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving and coasteering are also popular. With such a varied coastline, the potential to find the perfect conditions for different sports is often achievable, with large exposed beaches for windsurfing or a shelted bay to try diving, West Cornwall is the perfect base for a watersports holiday.
At The Sail Lofts we have dedicated facilities for surfers and kayakers, including a wet room with hot showers and storage for wet suits and surfboards. There’s also outdoor showers to rinse all your gear in.
To keep upto date with the surf, we provide a daily report for Porthmeor on Twitter and Facebook. A local website, Surfhog, provides longer range forecasts and a daily report of nearby Godrevy on their Twitter account.
We can book surf lessons and board hire ready for when you arrive, but if you want to find out more about what’s available around the region, here are a few of the best local companies:
Shore Surf - Learn to surf with half or full-day tuition at this British Surfing Association Level 4 surf school. A safe, relaxed and affordable introduction to surfing. 01736 755556
St Ives Surf School Based on Porthmeor beach, metres from The Sail Lofts, Harris and his experienced team can help you learn to surf. Sail Lofts guests receive 20% discount, just quote 'Sail Lofts' when booking.
The Gwithian Academy of Surfing - The original surf school in St Ives Bay, Cornwall. 01736 757579
Pasty Adventures - Learn to kitesurf in Cornwall with Lee Harvey - World Tour competitor. Lee also offers a range of other adventure sport courses including: coasteering, windsurfing, sailing and surfing and is conveniently based out of St Ives. 0781 450 1920
Freeriders Surf Shop, Falmouth - Keith and the team are online, on the phone or in the shop (when they're not in the water) and offer great advice on boards, wetsuits and equipment.
Check Cornwall's Weather and coastal conditions with Destination Cornwall’s daily detailed forecast. A reliable source for the weather in Cornwall.
