Surf's up at Southerndown Surf School

04-03-2010

Welsh surfing enthusiasts can now learn to ride the waves like professionals thanks to a new surf school. Set up by experienced surfers Daryl Davies and Nic Howell, Southerndown Surf School is the Vale of Glamorgan’s only dedicated surf school.  Situated on Wales’ beautiful heritage coast, the school runs surfing lessons at Southerndown and Ogmore-by-Sea beaches for individuals and groups of all ages from beginner level upwards. 

Southerndown Surf School instructors have a combined 50 years experience in UK and international surfing as well as excellent local knowledge of the heritage coastline.  All are fully qualified as British Surf Association coaches (BSA), National Rescue Standard (NRS) beach lifeguards, and are experienced in mentoring children and young people through the BSA Young Athlete Junior Award Scheme.  All students receive high quality wetsuits and beginner surfboards and start off with an initial training and practice session on the beach before they brave the waves for the remainder of the lesson. 
Co-founder Daryl Davies explained, “We started off running a voluntary school and received so much interest that we reached full capacity almost immediately.  The next logical step was to set up a surf school in order to teach children, young people and adults to surf in a fun and safe way.  The school is all about enjoying a healthy outdoor lifestyle and the heritage coast provides a fantastic setting for this.” 

The surf school is also linked to a local Tee-Pee camping organisation and horse riding school which offer further opportunities for outdoor activities.  Daryl continues, “We can instruct individuals, families, couples or groups from schools, colleges, universities, youth clubs, and the workplace, as well as stag and hen parties.  There has been lots of interest and enquiries about the school and we would like to thank Alun Richards from Business in Focus for the excellent business advice and for helping us to get grant funding through the Creative Rural Communities programme to get our business off the ground.”

Southerndown Surf School may be contacted at southerndownsurfschool@live.co.uk or on 07964 985404 or visit the website at www.southerndownsurfschool.co.uk.