If you’ve ever finished a surf at Cayton and thought, “I’d love to do this every day,” this is your sign.

For 2026 we’re continuing to run official Surfing England Surf Coach Courses at Cayton Bay, Scarborough — and we’re actively recruiting new coaches for the 2026 season. So if you’re looking for a genuine pathway from qualification to paid coaching work on the Yorkshire Coast, you’re in the right place.

This isn’t just a course. It’s a career opportunity.

Why Become a Surf Coach?

Surf coaching is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do. You’re not just standing on a beach — you’re building confidence, teaching ocean awareness, and helping people catch waves they’ll remember forever.

You’ll develop real leadership skills, learn how to manage groups safely in dynamic coastal environments, and become part of a tight-knit surf community here in Scarborough.

Whether you’re planning a long-term career in the industry or looking for seasonal work that fits around travel, surf coaching opens serious doors.

For more information on Surfing England coach courses visit: Become a surf instructor – Surfing England

2026 Surf Coach Course Dates – Cayton Bay, Scarborough

All courses are delivered by a certified Surfing England Trainer Assessor and follow the official national syllabus.

Surf Coach: Recreation Award

10th–11th April 2026
Location: Cayton Bay, Scarborough

The Recreation Award is the entry-level qualification within the Surfing England coaching pathway. It prepares competent surfers to coach beginner and early intermediate surfers safely in controlled surf environments.

You’ll cover:

• Lesson planning and session structure
• Coaching beginner surfers effectively
• Surf hazard awareness and beach safety
• Managing groups in surf conditions
• Clear communication and feedback
• Practical risk assessment
• Safeguarding responsibilities in surf coaching

This course is ideal for aspiring instructors, lifeguards expanding their qualifications, gap-year students, and surfers wanting to step into professional coaching.

Surf Coach: Progression Award

6th–7th June 2026
Location: Cayton Bay, Scarborough

The Progression Award builds on the Recreation qualification and develops your ability to coach in more varied and dynamic surf conditions.

You’ll focus on:

• Coaching intermediate surfers
• Advanced technical feedback and performance analysis
• Adapting sessions to changing conditions
• Leadership and decision-making
• Risk management in more exposed environments
• Refining professional coaching standards

Entry Requirements

To attend a Surfing England Surf Coach Course you should:

• Be a competent surfer
• Be confident in open water and surf conditions
• Be physically capable of assisting participants
• Meet Surfing England minimum age requirements (typically 16+)

To become fully qualified and insured you’ll also require:

• A recognised water safety qualification (such as the SLSGB Surf Lifesaver Award)
• Valid safeguarding certification
• Enhanced DBS clearance

Why Train at Cayton Bay?

Cayton Bay is one of the most consistent surf locations on the Yorkshire Coast, making it ideal for coach training.

You’ll experience:

• Reliable surf suitable for structured training scenarios
• Varied peaks and tidal movement
• Real-world group management practice
• Dynamic decision-making in changing conditions
• A fully operational, professional surf school environment

You’re not learning in theory. You’re learning in the exact kind of environment you’ll coach in once qualified.

Career Opportunities – UK & International

A Surfing England qualification can lead to opportunities across:

The UK

• Surf schools nationwide
• Surf clubs and academies
• School and youth programmes
• Outdoor activity centres
• Residential camps

Internationally

• Seasonal surf camps abroad
• European and global surf destinations
• Resort and retreat coaching roles
• Travel-based seasonal work

Many coaches combine a Yorkshire Coast season with winter work overseas.

We’re Hiring for 2026

We are currently recruiting full-time and part-time seasonal surf coaches for 2026.

If you qualify with us — or are already Surfing England or ISA qualified — you’ll be in a strong position to join our team.

We’re looking for coaches who are:

• Professional and reliable
• Passionate about surfing and the outdoors
• Confident in the ocean
• Strong communicators
• Committed to high safety and coaching standards

Scarborough Surf School operates year-round from Cayton Bay and delivers surf lessons, school programmes, corporate groups and community sessions. We pride ourselves on high standards, strong mentorship and creating genuine career progression opportunities.

Train with us. Work with us. Build your coaching career on the Yorkshire Coast.

Ready to Apply or Book a Course?

To register interest in either course or enquire about coaching positions for 2026, email:

info@scarboroughsurfschool.co.uk

Include:

• Your full name
• Your surf experience
• Current qualifications
• Which course you’re interested in (April or June)

Full course fees, preparation guidance and assessment details will be sent upon enquiry.

Become a Surf Coach in Scarborough.
Train at Cayton Bay.
Join the Team for 2026. 🌊

How to Watch Seals Safely 🦭🌊

If you spend time in the sea around Scarborough and Cayton Bay, you’ll quickly realise something special — we don’t just share the water with other surfers.

We share it with grey seals resting on quiet beaches. With seabirds nesting along limestone cliffs. Occasionally even dolphins and porpoises passing through offshore.

The Yorkshire Coast is wild, raw and alive. As ocean users, we believe protecting that environment isn’t optional — it’s a shared responsibility.

Our Approach to Marine Awareness

Respect for marine wildlife sits at the heart of our coastal culture. During SUP tours, group sessions and community events — particularly where wildlife encounters are more likely — we take opportunities to promote responsible ocean behaviour and awareness.

The goal is simple: Enjoy the ocean. Protect what lives in it. Because wildlife encounters should feel special — not stressful for the animals involved.

Supporting Marine Mammal Rescue Awareness

We actively promote guidance aligned with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), a national charity dedicated to the rescue and welfare of marine mammals across the UK.

If you ever see a seal that appears injured, entangled or in distress:

• Do not approach
• Do not touch
• Report it to the appropriate authorities

Untrained intervention can increase stress levels, cause further injury, lead to abandonment of seal pups and put you at risk.

SUP Tours & Seals — Keeping Encounters Safe

Stand-up paddleboarding offers a unique perspective of the coastline — and occasionally seals may be spotted resting on beaches or swimming nearby.

When this happens, we promote clear guidance:

• Stay at least 50 metres away from seals on land
• Never paddle directly towards them
• Do not block their access to the sea
• Keep noise levels calm
• Move away immediately if a seal repeatedly raises its head or enters the water suddenly

If a seal chooses to approach you, stay calm and let it control the distance. Wildlife should always have the choice.

How to Watch Seals Safely 🦭

• Observe quietly
• Keep your distance
• Keep dogs on leads near haul-out areas
• Never feed them
• Never touch them
• Report injured or entangled animals to the correct authorities

Did You Know?

• Grey seals can weigh up to 300kg — they may look relaxed, but they are powerful wild animals.
• Taking a selfie that disturbs a seal can potentially be an offence under UK wildlife legislation.
• Seal pups can be abandoned if human presence repeatedly disrupts bonding between mother and pup.
• Seals often ‘spy hop’ — lifting their heads vertically out of the water — out of curiosity.

It’s Not Just Seals

Our coastline also supports cliff-nesting seabirds, migratory birds, sensitive rockpool ecosystems and seasonal fish spawning grounds.

Even small actions can have an impact — trampling fragile habitats, leaving litter behind, or allowing dogs to roam near wildlife resting areas.

Why This Matters to Ocean Users

Healthy marine ecosystems mean cleaner water, stronger coastal resilience and a sustainable future for surfing and paddleboarding.

We love seeing seals in the lineup. We love spotting them from a SUP board. But we love knowing they feel safe even more.

Because the best wildlife encounter is one where the animal carries on exactly as it was — undisturbed, wild, and thriving.

A Beginners guide to surfing in Scarborough.

So, you’ve had a couple of lessons and are ready to hit the surf!

We’ve put together this short guide of where to surf in different conditions in and around Scarborough to help you along the way!

Firstly, you will need to have a basic understanding of tides and its very valuable to learn how to read basic surf forecasting sites but for this guide we’re keeping it simple.

Cayton bay

Cayton bay is the most renowned beach for surfing in Scarborough as its one of the most exposed beaches for swell and has a wide range of waves for all levels.

When the sea is calm it’s also a prime spot for Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) due to its stunning natural beauty and variety of things to explore!

Cayton bay works in waves sized 0.5ft-8ft, we recommend beginners-intermediate relocate to South Bay or Filey when the waves are 6ft+ (See details below)

Cayton bay works through all stages of tide and is the best beach to surf at high tide.

We recommend surfing ‘Pumphouse’ at low to mid tide. Pumphouse is great for beginners and advanced surfers and is renowned as a fast-breaking left hander.

Cayton Bay generally works best in South Westerly and Westerly offshore winds, but Pumphouse does offer some shelter in North westerly winds.

Beginner-intermediate surfers are advised to stay within the black and white flags whilst lifeguards are present or within the green zone marked out in our featured venue analysis.

The green zone in the featured venue analysis is the safest part of the beach (keeping a safe distance from the rocks and clear of the rips that run either side of the break) and is directly opposite the Lifeguard station.   On small tides it works throughout all stages of tide but on big spring tides we recommend avoiding full low tide and full high tide for the best conditions.

‘We recommend surfing ‘Bunkers’ at High tide (usually works roughly 2 hours either side of high tide)

Bunkers is a great intermediate-Advanced wave. There are some rocks in the shore break around the WW2 bunkers so take care and be sure to read the conditions and common RIP placements (See venue analysis)

Our friendly team of surf coaches are always happy to offer any advice you may need. You can find us on the cliff top directly opposite the beach path and grass carpark.

Scarborough surf school provide free daily video surf reports on their social media pages.

You can also book onto beginner to advanced surf lessons at www.scarboroughsurfschool.co.uk

South Bay, Scarborough

South bay is a very popular beginner-intermediate surf spot as its very accessibleand is a popular choice during strong northerly winds. South bay provides shelter when the surf is too big on more exposed beaches and has a great choice of beginner to advanced waves.

South bay is best surfed at mid-high tide but can still be fun at low tide. On a large spring tide, the sea will hit the seawall so be aware of tide times.

The south end of the beach offers larger more exposed waves and the north end is rather sheltered by the harbour so it offers a great range of waves for beginners.

Although South Bay is sheltered it can still have strong rips so we always recommend surfing between the black and white lifeguard flags and also avoid surfing too close to the harbour mouth.

North bay, Scarborough

North bay is a very popular beach for surfers of all standards. With parking directly opposite the beach it does often get crowded on a weekend and on good surf days. North bay is a fairly exposed beach which generally picks up the same Northerly and North-easterly swells as Cayton bay. Most favourable winds are Southerlies, South westerlies and westerlies but it can still be manageable and  fun in light onshore winds also.

North bay is a low-mid tide spot and can roughly be surfed 2-3 hours either side of low tide. Once the tide is too high it will hit the sea wall so be sure to check the tide times and beginners are advised to surf between the lifeguard flags.

North bay is just a 5 minute drive from North Yorkshires largest surf store www.secretspot.co.uk who supply everything a surfer or ocean lover could possibly need and also run the annual big wave surf competition ‘King of the point’

Filey beach

Filey is another great sheltered spot for beginners-intermediates. It’s a popular spot for longboarders and also those hoping to escape large surf crowds.

 Filey brig provides lots of shelter in large swells and Filey is also a great option in strong Northerly winds. Generally the surf tends to be biggest in the middle and south end of the beach and more sheltered closer to The brigg and Lifeboat station.

Filey offers free roadside parking directly opposite the beach but can get busy in tourist season.

Filey is a low-mid tide only spot as the tide will hit the high sea walls once it becomes too high.

Filey is also soon to be the home to a brand modern new skate park in 2023.

Seas the Day: 5 Facts About the
Yorkshire Coast

Article by Millie Fuller

Think of Yorkshire and you’ll probably conjure up images of the rugged and wild moors, stretching out as far as the eye can see. But did you know that Yorkshire is also home to some of the most beautiful coastlines in the UK? 

Running along the eastern coast of England, you’ll find fine sandy beaches, imposing craggy cliffs, and some choice surf! Here are a few fascinating facts about the Yorkshire Coast you may not have known. 

1. The Length of the Yorkshire Coast isn’t Always the Same

Length is fixed, right? The measurement of an object doesn’t change… or does it?

The stunning Yorkshire Coast runs from Staithes to Bridlington. Depending on how you measure it, you can get different lengths and they can vary quite a bit! Following the line of the coast, you’ll get a length of around 42-45 miles (68-72km). Taking into account the varying heights of the cliffs as you walk along the coastline, the length comes in at 67 miles (107km). That’s quite a big difference! 

Whatever measurement you choose to accept, there’s no denying that the Yorkshire Coast is a breathtaking part of the world. North Yorkshire & Cleveland, Spurn and Flamborough Headland are defined as Heritage Coasts – prized for their unspoilt coastline, exceptional beauty and heritage. 

Covering more than half of the Yorkshire Coast is the North York Moors National Park, which stretches 26 miles between Boulby and Cloughton – the length of a marathon! Not only is the National Park home to some of the most beautiful English countryside around, but you’ll also find the Boulby Cliffs. Standing at 660 feet (200m) tall, these majestic cliffs are the highest on the east coast. 

2. The Dinosaur Coast

The spine of the Yorkshire Coast is its Jurassic cliffs. These ancient cliffs are between 150-200 million years old, and so it’s little wonder that a trip to any of the local beaches can turn up a wealth of fossils. Hence, the nickname the “Dinosaur Coast”. 

Britain’s oldest dinosaur bone was discovered on Whitby Beach back in 2015 after it literally fell off a cliff! It’s estimated to be 176 million years old and believed to be the bone of a sauropod AKA a brontosaur. Sadly, you won’t find one of those every day! 

Many other archaeological discoveries have been made all around the Yorkshire Coast, including the “oldest house in Britain”. Star Carr near Scarborough was once the site of an ancient lake, and in 2008, a 3.5m structure was discovered in the peat. It’s believed to date to around 8,500 BC and many preserved artefacts have been discovered, including some of the earliest evidence of carpentry. 

3. The Very First Seaside Resort

Scarborough North Bay is the recipient of the Blue Flag award, making it one of the cleanest and safest beaches in the UK. It’s been attracting holidaymakers for over 360 years and is thought to be Britain’s first seaside resort. 

The natural mineral waters of Scarborough were discovered in the early 17th century and were believed to have healing properties. By the Georgian era, doctors were prescribing a “sea cure” to their patients to manage stress and treat respiratory illnesses. This heightened Scarborough’s popularity as a seaside destination. 

Capitalising on Scarborough’s reputation as a spa town, Scarborough’s Grand Hotel was opened in 1867. It had taken over four years to build at a cost of more than £100,000. By today’s standards, that’s around £11.5m! This iconic piece of architecture is still standing today and was built in the shape of a “V” in honour of the monarch of the time, Queen Victoria I. Lots of thought went into the grand design of the building. In its original form, it had 365 bedrooms, 52 chimneys, 12 floors and four towers, representing a whole year and all its seasons. It even had extra taps built in, allowing guests to bathe in fresh or salty spa water.  

4. The Unlikely Inspiration Behind “Dracula”

All along the Yorkshire Coast, you’ll find vibrant towns and historic fishing villages, such as Runswick Bay and Robin Hood’s Bay, simply some of the prettiest in Yorkshire. Whitby is not only a quaint seaside town, but it’s also the birthplace of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. 

In 1890, Bram Stoker arrived in Whitby upon the recommendation of actor Henry Irving. It was during this trip that Stoker is likely to have heard tales of the terrifying Barghest black dog. It was said that if you set eyes on this demonic dog, you would be the next person to die. This local legend and Whitby itself are woven into the famous vampire novel, which has gone on to inspire many movies.

5. The Birthplace of an English Explorer

Famous for mapping the east coast of Australia, the Hawaiian Islands and New Zealand, Captain James Cook has gone into the history books as one of the most recognised English navigators and explorers of all time. But did you know he was a Yorkshireman through and through? 

Born in Marton, he later moved to Great Ayton with his family. However, it was from Whitby that he set off on his maritime journey by finding a job on the coal ships. This set him down the path of becoming a Royal Navy officer, eventually making three infamous Pacific voyages. During the first of these voyages, Captain Cook set sail on the HMS Endeavour with his crew, some scientists, and various livestock… including a goat who had already travelled the world once! By the end of her epic journey with Captain Cook, the goat was retired and lived out the rest of her days in London. 

Come and Find Your Inspiration

Awe-inspiring landscapes, local legends and good old English seasides shape this breathtaking seascape in the UK’s largest county. Why not “seas the day” and discover for yourself the magic that has kept people visiting for hundreds of years? 

Following on from our Grom’s winter wetsuit guide here’s a very handy guide to buying your first surfboard. Written by our head surf coach Tori.

 We’ve had lots of confused family members on the hunt for the perfect beginner/intermediate surfboard to gift their beloved surf addicts recently.

Well fear not! We’ve got your back! Secret spot have been uniting surfers with their perfect surfboard for over 30 years.

We’ve cut out the jargon and created a simple guide to buying a beginner/intermediate board.

It’s a mine field out there! Many shops are more concerned with making a sale than ensuring the products right for you and the last thing you want is to end up with a board that’s unsuitable for your ability.

 We regularly see beginners dashing down to the beach with a tiny tooth pick surfboard in transit and soon enough wandering back with their heads hanging low following a wave free paddle of shame back to shore.

So, here’s some honest advice to get you started.

Choose a board that is suitable for you now and not necessarily for the future surfer you want to become. Sure! The guys and girls surfing shortboards may look cool on the beach but in reality, the coolest surfers are the ones catching all the waves with a big smile on their face!

When choosing a board the key is to find the perfect balance of float (volume) and manoeuvrability to match your body type, ability and paddle fitness level.

The most sensible thing to do would be to pop in store and we can advise you on the correct size board for your height and ability otherwise here’s a few simple pointers you need to understand whilst looking at the design of a surfboard.

Firstly, check the volume of the board.

The volume of a surfboard is measured in litres. The higher the volume the more float the board has for example a 7ft’6 softech board is 72 Litres whereas a high performance shortboard may only have 29 Litres of volume. We would recommend at least 50 Litres of volume for an intermediate/beginner surfer.

The dimensions: These are very important!

The dimensions of a board are the measurements of its length, width and thickness.

A beginner board needs to be stable and catch waves easily. So, you should choose a board that is fairly long, wide and thick this will give the board lots of float.

Length: A big board is more forgiving and easier to stand up and catch waves on but can be more challenging to handle and manoeuvre for a junior or small adult. We recommend something in the range of 6’6-7ft for a lightweight user and 7’6-9ft for taller or heavier riders.

Width: When starting out a nice wide board will give you a stable platform to pop up on. We recommend choosing a board around 20’’-23 inch wide.

Thickness: Foam is your friend! The thicker the board the floatier it is.

Soft board or hardboard?

Softboards

We recommend a sot board for beginners they’re easier to catch waves on, stable, forgiving and less likely to cause injury or get damaged throughout the journey to mastering this sport. The development of softboards has come a long way. The shapes have been refined and fin set up’s now available on a modern softboard have made them a must have for both beginner and advanced surfers of today.

Hardboards

There’s a massive range of hardboards available on the market. The pro’s of a hardboard is they feel much more organic and flowing to surf the con’s are they can be a bit trickier to learn on, they can get damaged more easily and hurt more if you collide with one. So we recommend a minimal or longboard hardboard for an intermediate surfer who has already mastered good board handling and control in the water and has some kind of paddle fitness intact.

Here’s are our top pick of beginner-intermediate boards to suit all budgets

https://www.secretspot.co.uk/surfboards/soft-surf-boards

We love the new Catch surf range! It’s no surprise they are our best-selling boards and totally on trend. These boards are wave catching machines with tons of float and have a refined shape making them very manoeuvrable and super fun to surf in anything from 1-5ft for both beginners and skilled surfers. We have a massive size range of theses boards in some awesome colours too. It’s no longer a taboo that softboards are uncool many local ripper’s have invested in one of these diverse boards that are especially good for snaffling all the waves in small summer swells. Each board features:

Stiff Dual Composite Core.
Triple Wood Stingers!
Durable HDPE Slick Bottom with Bumper-Tail.
Old-School PE Deck with Throwback Design.

Every board comes with 12 months warranty and you certainly get what you pay for these boards are tough and durable!

Softech //Handshaped £299

Sofftech have nailed it with their range of soft boards! These boards are extra tough have heaps of volume and a generous outline making them easy to paddle into waves and are a very stable platform to pop to your feet easily. We just ordered these boards as our new 2020 surf school boards and they do not disappoint! We have as much fun on them as our students and the excellent placement of their carry handle is a god send on those windy days and perfect for junior surfers who may usually struggle to carry a board. Still not convinced? Try them out for yourself! These boards are available to demo at our Cayton bay store.

Theses minimal soft top boards are the ideal starter board. If you don’t want to break the bank and are keen to purchase, your first board look no further!

All the key features are in place; nice wide and forgiving outline, soft padded deck to soften those inevitable knocks, and a set of rubber safety fins to prevent injury to the rider and other surfers and swimmers. The Hellcat Mini Mal is constructed with a soft and forgiving foam deck and comes with a leash. So, your set up and ready to go from day one.

https://www.secretspot.co.uk/surfboards/mini-mals

Torq // 7ft 6 Mod Fun // Seagreen/Red

£389.99

Fantastic allrounder board for all levels of surfers in virtually all conditions!

 If you’re on the hunt for your first hardboard, we can make this decision quick and easy! Torq surfboards are top of the market. These epoxy boards should last you a lifetime and are lovely to ride.  We use Torq boards in our surf school hire fleet not only because of how versatile and fun they are but due to how tough they are and let’s face it surf school kit isn’t always treat with TLC, Yet our Torq boards keep going on strong through many many seasons of misuse.

Featuring a medium full nose and shallow mid-entry there is enough volume for smaller days and weaker surf. As the surf jumps up, step back and the board transforms. You’ll find a board that feels shorter than it’s length, delivering predictable handling and performance.  Tri-fin set-up.

Fancy Giving these boards a try before you buy? Pop in to our Cayton bay store for a demo.

ABC surfboards //  Gambler + Fins // Black Grey

£399.00-£450

Bargain alert! The ABC Gambler has the full works! Board/bag/leash/fins for a very pretty price. Not only are they beautifully finished and very kind on the eye but they surf great too!

 These beautifully made boards will appeal to a wide range of surfers; beginners and improving surfers will benefit from the forgiving shape, while the more experienced surfers on a budget will be attracted by a PU/Fibreglass surfboard with an accessible price tag.

The ABC Gambler will perform in waves from knee-high to a little overhead, coming into its own in the thigh to head-high region. This is a great board for crowded and congested line-ups where it can be difficult to snaffle a wave, it paddles beautifully, catches waves early and once up and riding, trims like a longboard and turns like a much smaller board thanks to the three fin setup.

ABC surfboards are constructed using high-quality foam blanks with a wooden stringer and are glassed with 6oz/4oz Vivaro cloth.

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Womens 2019/2020 Winter Wetsuit Guide

Words by Secret Spot

on 11/11/2019 13:05:13

We caught up with Head surf coach at Scarborough surf School and Secret spot team member Tori,  to hear all about the latest range of women’s winter wetsuits and what will keep you snug through the long winter months – Tori has over 15 years of surfing experience under her belt and has been coaching here in Scarborough for the past 7 years. Come rain or shine you’ll most likely always find her in the water.

“When I first became hooked on surfing here in Scarborough a blue moon ago the surf line up was rather sparsely populated by women. I could count the number of surf girls I might see throughout winter on one hand and the range of wetsuits readily available were even sparser. Fortunately, these days it’s a rather different story! There are more and more ladies popping up in our line up every year. It’s fantastic! and exactly as it should be! The development of women’s wetsuits has come such a long way. We’ve been heard and it’s given us an outstanding range of performance suits right on our doorstep that actually fit!”

There’s absolutely no reason for us to hold back from hitting the cold water all year round and what a good year we’ve had so far! Summer was very kind to us indeed I don’t think I went longer than a few days without a surf and Autumn certainly delivered –  cranking waves more often than not!  Following the year we’ve had here, I’d take our cold water and empty line ups over many warmer locations any day, and thanks to the awesome range of wetsuits that are now readily available, being cold isn’t an issue.

On the back of fitting and washing hundreds of wetsuits for customers, working in the surf industry certainly has its perks and I’ve been fortunate enough to have first pick of the best brands. I’m in the water teaching often all day long so a good quality wetsuit is paramount. Let’s face it we don’t live in the tropics here and its no-good scrimping on equipment in what can occasionally be sub-zero temperatures.”

We only stock the best womens winter wetsuits and when it comes to finding the right equipment for you, we know the industry inside out. All our stock is handpicked by us and this year Tori has been testing all our women’s winter wetsuits out – and has picked out her top 3 favourite women’s wetsuits for 2019/2020.   I’ve based my top 3 winter wetsuits on Performance, Fit, Warmth, Flexibility and Durability and Value for money:

1.    ONeill Womens Psycho Tech 6/4mm Hooded Wetsuit – £349.95

Those of you who know me are probably sick of me wittering about how much of a fan of O’Neill’s range this year. They’re my go to brand and certainly worth shouting about! So much so that I’ve bought myself a suit in every thickness for each season!

So, what’s all the fuss about? Firstly, the flexibility of ONeill’s new Techno butter neoprene is second to none. This buttery soft premium neoprene stretches like crazy! Its super lightweight with quick-dry properties and is by far the most comfortable suit on the market. It’s been a game changer for me!

The combination of the Techno butter 3 neoprene around your arms shoulders and calves with the TB-Air firewall insulating neoprene, which retains your body heat around your chest, back and thighs  and keeps you warmer for longer creates the perfect balance and is the secret to this suit’s  success!  There’s absolutely no reason to compromise warmth over flexibility. This suit has it all!
We love this year’s feminine cut and tasteful splash of colour to brighten up those winter days!

Plus, there’s the added bonus of the watertight blind stitched, triple glued and 8mm silicon fluid weld seams perfectly holding it all together and the patented F.U.Z.E chest zip entry to top it off. Making this an all-round high-performance suit that’s reasonably priced and ultimately my first choice.

Click Here to buy the O’Neill Womens Psycho Tech 6/4mm >>

2.    Xcel 6/5mm Infinity X2 hooded

Xcel have been my most trusty brand for high end good quality suits throughout all my years of surfing and its pretty tough to top them especially for warmth and durability! This suit is our top seller amongst our hardy local community of cold water surf girls and it’s no coincidence!

The Upper body of the suit is built with Channel flex – Xcel’s newest material tech as well featuring ‘Radiant Rebound’ which uses a metal lining under the textile, that prevents cold temperatures from penetrating the outer layer. In addition, the Radiant Rebound reflects your body heat back inside the suit – keeping you in a constant state of warmth. This is a seriously high end piece of kit that’s just the thing for braving even the harshest of conditions.   Love Xcel’s attention to detail in these suits!

From the engineered fit system that truly makes them fit like a second skin to the finer details such as the glide skin fitted hood, Nexskin wrist and ankle seals stopping any flushing and creating extra comfort, too the back knee flex grooves-preventing bunching or discomfort and the magnetic semi-dry zipper! It’s a in all in the detail and Xcel have nailed it!

Click here to buy the Xcel Womens Infinity 6/5mm X2 Hooded Wetsuit >> 

3.    C-Skins Wired 6/5/4mm – £359.95

What a blinder! C-Skins have blown us away this year! Their brand-new design has rewritten all expectations from a winter suit. I found this suit was an excellent fit. C-Skins’s clever design has eliminated any excess seams therefore providing ultra-comfort, flexibility and almost resistance free paddle zones.

Built with their exclusive Diamond flex neoprene and Dark Matter liquid skin throughout the chest, this suit is not only extra toasty and durable but also super flexible! Another example of fine technology and excellent design that was previously unseen for women in the line-up.

It’s true to its thickness and I’m certainly a fan of C-Skins choice to go with a 6/5/4mm design.

I’m known to be reluctant to have to wrap up in 6mm of neoprene In fear of feeling weighed down in the past but C-Skins have hit the nail on the head with this suit, diminishing all my fears and ultimately finding the ideal balance of both warmth and flexibility. Compromise is certainly a thing of the past and it doesn’t cost the earth!   A massive thumbs up from me!

Click here to buy the C-skins Wired 6/5/4mm >>

We all come in different shapes and sizes and all have different needs.. Whether you’re hitting the white water for the first time or shredding the local point. Whether you short, tall, curvy or slight. We have it covered. A good fitting suit is key to let it do its job correctly.

I would always recommend popping in store to try before you buy. We can give on the spot honest advice on the best brands and size for your body shape. If you can’t get to a store simply give us a call, we’re always happy to answer any questions you may have. Gone are the days of poor fitting women’s suits! I myself am – lets say ‘vertically challenged’ – so in the past finding a suit the right length was tricky! Sound familiar? Well an O’Neill women’s wetsuit might be just what your looking for – their suits are available in short and tall lengths.

If that’s not the brand for you then just bare in mind that with most women’s suits the length of the suit increases as the dress size goes up ie, a size 6 tends to be a fair bit shorter in the arm/legs than a size 12 so its usually worth trying a couple of different sizes on. 

Words by Tori Gower – Head Surf Coach and Store manager at www.scarboroughsurfschool.co.uk