cayton bay

17th November 2019 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

Kids (grommits) club- What we got up to this summer plus new 2020 dates!

Kids (Grommit’s) Club

Definition: A Grommit (Grom or Gremme)–Is a young participant in extreme sports. A surfer under the age of 16.

Our kids club courses in 2019 were so much fun and have proved to be so popular that we’ve decided to run extra sessions next year!. Not only do we now run our usual kids club holiday courses but have now opened a new ‘Super Grom’s’ course for those wanting to progress that already have some experience hitting the waves. Here’s a quick peek at what we got up to this year and our plans for 2020!

The summer holidays were kind to us! We had a fantastic season of sun and surf! The perfect combination for fun!

Smiles for miles!

We met a lot of lovely smiling faces this year! Not just kids stoked about surfing but family members too! Over the space of just a few days our juniors made new friendships and quite possible lifelong surf buddies of the future. We like our events to be social everyone’s welcome to participate adult family members are invited to join us coasteering and we finish all our courses off with a BBQ and prize giving.

There were waves for all this year! We love what we do and catching waves and having fun is what we do best. There’s nothing like seeing our Grom’s and surfers of tomorrow ride their first waves right in too the beach. Here’s a few shots of the Grom’s doing just what they came here for..

Our summer courses are not just about surfing! We run multi-activities for your thrill-seeking little nippers! That are not only exciting but educational too!

We are blessed to have such a beautiful coastline with so much to offer! When the sea is calm, we explore all the hidden gems of our coastline either coasteering or stand up paddle boarding.

Coasteering is awesome experience! We climb, swim, do jumps and explore the wonders of Yorkshires biggest sea cave which is thriving with wonderful sea life and renowned for its nesting Puffins. This is a fantastic group activity and often the highlight of our course. The stunning white cliffs of Thornwick bay make it a magical place to explore and the sessions are fun, challenging and educational for all. We are the only activity centre on the Yorkshire coast that are AALA accredited with fully qualified and experienced staff able to run this exciting experience and we love every session. We can’t wait to do it all again next season!

When we’re not surfing or exploring caves, we grab some paddles and hit the water on our stand up paddle boards. It’s another much loved activity we offer and a unique way to explore. When the conditions are right, we are lucky enough to visit our local seal colony via our SUPs which is a truly unforgettable experience and a fun work out for all. We use our ‘Red paddle’ SUP’s and our super SUP to visit these incredible mammals in their own habit. When we are quiet and respectful, they often pop right over to say hello!

Our 18ft Super SUP is a great team building exercise. We get all the kids stood up and paddling together and we have great fun playing games such as ‘last man standing’ It’s always a giggle and often hard to get the kids out of the water by the end of the session.

We believe it’s important to love and respect the sea and our beautiful beaches and we take pride in passing down our knowledge and experience on to the next generation of ocean lovers.

That’s why we think it’s important to not only make our courses fun but educational and inspiring for our youngsters.

We believe the sea should be both enjoyed and respected by all the community and it is our duty to care to protect it. Beach cleans and conservation are tied in with our activities and next year we are looking forward to working with our local Marine conservation society who will deliver educational talks about our local wildlife and how to rescue any sea mammals that may be sick or entangled.

All our courses cover these core features:

Swim, surf and beach safety.
Surf skills.
Coastal environments and their changing conditions, Inc the effects of wind, tides, swell and rips.
Beach cleans
Marine life.
Surf progression and fitness
Etiquette
Wave theory
Stand up paddle (SUP) boarding. (weather permitting)

Team challenges on our Super SUP
Coasteering (Weather permitting)

We are always looking to improve and stay open minded and have a few extra exciting ideas up our sleeves for 2020, So watch this space!

Junior Surf Scheme

All our juniors are invited to take part in the Surfing England’s Junior surf scheme.

We find this scheme is a fantastic incentive for juniors to help them progress through levels 1-5 and achieving personal goals and being awarded with certificates for each level as well as receive great technical surfing instruction from us along the way.

www.surfingengland.co.uk/jss

This year we were thrilled to see many of our juniors had caught the ‘surfing bug’ and were all progressing very quickly. We decided to extend our usual kids club season and run a 6 weeks junior surf progression course. Solely focusing on surf technique and offering more in-depth tuition about everything surf related.

It was a great success and we enjoyed the whole course just as much as the kids. All participants passed level 2 & 3 of the Junior surf scheme and displayed some awesome surfing.

For many the tail end of this course was their first taste of winter surfing.. We surfed every week through all-weathers rain or shine. Everyone was kitted out with boots, hoods and gloves and our hardy grommets really weren’t phased by the cold and continued to love every minute.

Many of our Grom’s are going to continue surfing with us through the entire winter until we start our season again next spring. This is exactly why we love our job and this year’s bunch were an absolute pleasure to coach.

Following this course we will now be running our ‘Super Grom’ club for those JSS level 2 and above so we can continue to offer progressive coaching to a higher level and help our juniors work through all stages of surfing right through to professional and competitive surfing.

Here’s a few shots from this autumn…

Catching green waves

Pre competition practice- Scarborough surf festival

The girls taking stretching to the next level!

Robyn-King of the point competitor of the future?..

Pre surf wave theory lesson

If you would like to kept up to date on our ‘Super Grom’ club updates please join our Facebook group ‘Secret Spot Super Groms’, keep an eye on our website or call us on 01723 585585.

Our kids club course dates for 2020 are as follows:

Easter taster weekends- (Strictly age 10+)

Sat 11th April -Super Grom’s (JSS Level 2+) 9:30am-£35

Sunday12th April-Beginner kids club taster days Sunday 9:30-12pm-£35

May Half term

25^TH-29^th May 9:30-12pm (Age7-16)-£130

After school kids club -5 weeks

3^rd June-1^st July every Wednesday 5pm-7pm-£130

Summer Kids club Mon-Fri 9:30-12pm-£130

20^th-24^th July

27^th-31^st July

3^rd-7^th Aug

10^th-14^th Aug

17^th-21^st Aug

24^th-28^th Aug

Super Grom’s 6 week progression course 09:30-12pm-£130

Sat 12^th Sept-1^st October

More Super Grom surf club course dates to follow soon..

All children must be able to swim 25meters unaided.

All equipment except swimwear and a towel is provided.

Please call 01723 585585 to book.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Drop us a line at info@scarboroughsurfschool.co.uk

31st January 2019 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

Kids (Grommits) Surf Clubs 2019

Definition:

A Grommit (Grom or Gremme)

Is a young participant in extreme sports. A surfer under the age of 16.

Throughout spring and summer, we offer a choice of two fun packed courses to kickstart the season. Both courses have the same content and aims. All you have to do it pick a date and you can leave the rest to us.

The courses are both intensive and fun. We pride ourselves with the fact that your little nippers will not only have a blast but will also make great progression in their newly acquired surf skills with amazing results over the course of just a few days.

Being a surf club, our priority is catching waves but if the sea is calm, we have our Stand up paddle boards (SUP) and our 8 man super SUP, both are great team work activities and help improve fitness and balance ready for when the waves return.

If the conditions are in our favour, we round off the week with a coasteering session and BBQ. The perfect way to finish off a great week with their new surf buddies!

Customer review:

‘’Thanks so much for taking such fabulous care of Henry this week at surf club.

He has had the most amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed every single minute.

Thanks Sam and Tori for inspiring a very little boy and for sharing your passion for surfing!

I’m sure you’ve instilled a new passion in our own little surf dude!

Thanks again Helen’’

So. Lets see what all the fuss is about!..

Our friendly and enthusiastic surf coaches are awesome! Period! All our coaches are ISA level 1 coaches and qualified beach lifeguards and are all DBS checked. We take great pride in ensuring your future surf stars not only have an excellent time but get the very best out of their 5 days with us. In addition to learning to surf our Grommets will become confident watermen and learn how to keep safe and be vigilant of the rapidly changing conditions and recognise potential dangers in coastal environments.

What we will teach:

Kids will learn how to be safe and confident in the water. We will give them an understanding and appreciation of the ocean. By regularly practising safe habits in and out of the water.

We will cover:

Rips and Tides
Etiquette
Weather systems, Swell and wind
Pollution and keeping our beaches clean
Coastal environment and local wildlife
Wave theory and recognising surf conditions
Confidence building
Fitness

Its incredibly rewarding to see our Groms’ blossom and gain more and more confidence over just a few days. Not only in the water but socially and through teamwork. Surfing can do wonders for self-esteem and give a sense of achievement and our Groms’ regularly leave with new friends for life after an intense and fun week alongside their peers.

Not only is surfing exhilarating and fun but also excellent exercise. It’s a high energy sport guaranteed to tire out even the those with boundless energy. Over the week they will build on strength, coordination, flexibility and endurance. Surfing and SUP’ing also teaches perseverance, determination and a can-do attitude. Surfing can be challenging but it all pays off when you catch that perfect wave! and celebrate alongside your friends.

We guarantee giggles all-round!

Having fun is paramount! We incorporate games and a have a playful approach to all our activities.

If the conditions allow, we love to have a paddle out on the SUPS to explore the outer reef to discover some of the wildlife and experience the nature of the environment. We are occasionally blessed enough to be greeted by some of the curious local seals. This is always an incredible and memorable experience and we hope to inspire and wow all our kids by unveiling all the wonderful benefits of being an ocean lover.

Our final session of coasteering and BBQ ends the course with a bang. Coasteering suits all abilities and gives the kids a real opportunity to challenge themselves with some climbing, swimming and jumps as well as giving the ultimate experience of exploring the jewels of our coast and discovering nature at its best. Then we finish an action-packed week off, with a friendly BBQ to reflect and laugh about the events of the week. It’s always enjoyable and heart-warming, not only for the kids but their family and our staff too. Kids club is quite frequently the highlight of our summer and we look forward to meeting fresh faces and new potential surfer dudes every year.

If you would like to book on to Kids club. Please call Scarborough Surf School on 01723 585585. To secure a place.

All we request is that all children can swim 25 meters.

All equipment except swimwear and towels is provided for the week.

We look forward to meeting the next little rippers of 2019 soon!

16th November 2018 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

Carl’s O’Neill Psycho 6/4 Review

Welcome to my next review, I hope you read my thoughts on my last review of the Fire-wire Cymatic if you did not see it then check it out on this Blog.

Right let’s get started, the suit I have been wearing for a year now is the O’Neill 6/4 Hooded Psycho-Tech, I am not going to list all the features apart from the essentials which are stitched, glued and liquid seams through-out, and the use O’Neill’s exclusive Techno-Butter Neoprene in all panels.

I would consider myself a heavy user of wet-suits, I surf pretty much every-time there is a swell add that normal usage to delivering Surfing, Paddle-Boarding and Coasteering sessions it’s safe to say my kit gets a good thrashing! Yes, in Summer I Surf in a 4/3 but at work I mostly use a winter suit as you will never be too warm coaching all day in the North Sea!

As you can imagine I have had heaps of winter suits over the past 20 years surfing the Yorkshire coast so what attracted me to this suit? Well first of all it feels extremely light and Flexible for a 6mm Suit, trying the suit on it feels more like a 5mm suit, there is virtually no restriction around the shoulders and back and zero pressure on the neck when the hood is pulled on.

As always, the fit is the most essential part of choosing a suit, I am a standard size Medium Tall which fits perfectly, O’Neill cover all sizes including Small Tall and Large Small which are sometimes harder to come by.

Let me elaborate on the neck area, I have been suffering neck pain for some time which has been diagnosed as a form of Arthritis in my spine, so any suit which puts any kind of compression on my neck is a big NO, this suit is so Flexible around the shoulders and neck that I cannot feel any pressure, anyone in a similar situation should consider this when choosing a hooded wet-suit.

How was the winter of 2018 for you? I would say it was pretty harsh! I will hit the Surf no matter what the temperatures and I have had no problem with being too cold in this suit, yes if you stay in too long you will get cold but if you are sensible about it, make sure your kit is dry before you go in and just do an active 1.5hrs and get out you will have no problem., I combine the suit with 7mm Psycho-Tech boots which so far have been excellent.

If you want to stay in for long periods in the worst conditions there are warmer suits out there but they have nowhere near the flexibility and comfort of this one, I know what I prefer!

O’Neill provide a 12 Month Warranty if you need it, after a Year of use my suit has no signs of wear at all, just rinse it out and hang it up correctly and you will have no problems.

Finally, is it value for money? Well at £330 I am not even going to answer that, yes, I do get a good deal working in the industry but I would not hesitate in paying this price in fact I am buying a 5/4 version to use in-between seasons!

If you are looking for a performance winter suit which won’t break the bank then this could well be the suit for you….

7th November 2018 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

Carls Board Reviews, the Firewire Cymatic

Ok people welcome to my first surf board review, over the coming weeks I am going to give you some handy feedback and hints on some of the boards I have been riding and the suits I have been wearing, working in the industry has many perks with the best one being able to get my paws on the latest trick gear to play around with so I think its only fair to share my thoughts with you guys.

My first review will be of my latest sled from the Firewire stable the Cymatic, this is one of the latest creations from super duo Kelly Slater and Daniel Thomson with my particular board being the 5,9”. I am going to spare you a load of tech talk and instead tell you how the board really feels to surf.

As soon as I saw the unveiling of the Cymatic I knew I had to have one, not many boards have that instant love at first sight impact, maybe it was the footage of Mr Slater dissecting Soup-Bowl or maybe it was down to my year long love affair with the magical board the Evo, that I knew the wide nosed bat tailed love child of the Omni and Sci-fi would be a bit special?

Finally the day came and it was there right in front of me and it seemed only fair that I dress the board up in some new fins and leash, I opted for the FCS Accelerator Quad set up in medium which I had tested out earlier this year at Surf Snowdonia, if your planning on getting loose and fast then these are the fins to have, and because every little helps I went all out and added the new FCS Freedom leash, less drag = more speed!

My first session was a bit stressful, there was a lot riding on this board my hopes were very high, and the bar had already been set by the mighty Evo. I had waited for a half decent day for my first session, so I paddled out at 3-4ft Bunkers here at Cayton Bay, a nice hollow fast wave which if my calculations were correct the Cymatic would fly in.
I am 76kg and on my first paddle out the board at 34.3 litres glided across the water very nicely indeed, duck diving the dumping sandbar was a doddle, so far so good, Initial worries about living up to the Evo in the wave catching department were soon forgotten as I paddle with ease into my first wave, and off we go!

“I feel the need…the need for speed”

(Cruise, Top-Gun 1986)

The full volume nose makes take offs nice and stable and as soon as you are up and driving down the line it becomes apparent that this board is very quick, in fact its as quick as the Evo and that’s rocket powered!

Surely this is the board that Maverick would have rode?

Now all this speed is very good but what happens when you want to change direction? Cue the nicest cutback I have done in years! The narrower double bat tail really grips into the wave and very little energy is lost allowing you to hit the foam get back into the pocket to set up your next manoeuvre. The quad set up compliments the board perfectly giving the it that skatey almost out of control feel, I love how the tail releases while coming off the top allowing you to come back down the wave more vertically.

All these characteristics really do help exaggerate each manoeuvre and in turn allow you to perform more critical turns, you will find you can actually surf better which in turn builds confidence, it’s a win win result.
So we have been together Three months now and we are still very happy together, we recently went to Cornwall and scored some hefty 6ft beach breaks in which the Cymatic was a lot happier than me to paddle into! Ive had her out in 2ft onshore slop which she performed very well in which leads me to believe this is a genuine One board quiver and excellent travel board.

I think you get the idea that I like the board now! If you are looking for a high performance yet user friendly stick then you need to check the Cymatic out, don’t be fooled by its hybrid appearance you will never outperform this board, but you will improve and have bags of fun, oh and you can pretend your Slater or even Maverick too :0)

5th November 2018 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

Toris Winter Wetsuit Reviews are in!

So winter is here! Time to hang the summer suit up for the year and get fully prepared to take on the great British weather and make the most of the winter swells. A good quality winter wetsuit is essential here on the cold east coast! Keeping you in the water for longer and getting the best out of every surf session whatever the weather – this guide has been put together by Tori Gower, secretspot surf coach and all round top waterwoman

As a qualified surf coach at secret spot surf shop and committed cold water surfer. I’ve been surfing on the east coast for around 15 years through some of our coldest winters. We all want to be on top form in the water and quality kit is key.

Its exciting to see women’s surfing really taking off and seeing more and more women in the water! The development of women’s wetsuits has come such a long way over the past few years with more performance suits readily available for the enthusiastic waterwomen of today! I’m very lucky to have first pick of the best brands in the industry through Secret Spot, so I have put together my top picks of my favourite go to brands of women’s wetsuits for 2018/2019.

Lets keep you toasty whilst shredding this winter!

First up – Sizing is key!

In the past I’ve had issues with sizing and finding the perfect fit with women’s wetsuits. I’m 5’3 and generally take a size 8 wetsuit. I’d always recommend trying on a couple of different suits in store to find the right fit for you or at the very least checking the brands size guide.

For example I’m not the tallest of people – With some brands if I were to try a size 10 suit it would be too long in the leg for me, so a taller lady would need to go up a size. Fortunately this seems to be a issue of the past nowadays! With more brands offering a tall or short sizing option, catering for all body types. The brands I have chosen in my opinion have nailed the sizing as well as performance with more attention to detail to suit women’s needs. Nice flattering cuts, comfortable to wear and nice and snug.

Here are my top 3 suits for the winter 2018/19

O’neill womens O’riginal FUZE hooded – 6/5/4mm (black)

Excellent value for money!! I’ve been really impressed by O’neills range this year! I’ve been wearing theirs 4mm suit all summer and its by far the best suit I’ve tried to date and the hooded FUZE doesn’t have any complaints from me either.

If you want warmth and flexibility without having to splash out too much this is the suit for you! This is going to be my go too suit to brave through many cold surf lessons this winter. It’s super toasty, soft on the skin and comfortable.

Its extremely durable which is a must with everyday use, yet surprisingly flexible throughout the whole body for a 6mm suit. I’m particularly impressed with the flush fit of the hood and very little resistance around the neck and shoulders. It fits like a glove and has a classic flattering cut – Top marks from me!

Rip Curl Women’s Flash bomb 2018/2019 – 6/4mm (black)

I’ve been wearing Rip Curl’s Flashbomb suits every winter for at least the past 3 or 4 years and have never been disappointed. Its not one of our best-selling suits for no reason and this year’s batch is no exception! It’s very popular amongst our local ladies here on the east coast and I can see why!

The Flashbombs’s super flexible and lightweight, which is a must for me during winter sessions with that extra added weight of boots and gloves. It’s a lovely snug fit, I’ve never experienced any flushing and the taped seams are soft and durable. Its highly rated by our local ladies including myself! Its E5 flash lining is an added luxury! Not just for warmth but its quick drying, so that second surf on a frosty day is that bit more appealing when faced with putting on a wet wetsuit.

Personally, I always choose a more flexible wetsuit over warmth but with this suit I don’t have to it undoubtedly meets both needs.

Xcel infiniti hooded 2018/2019 – 6/5mm (black)

So! Xcel never fail to deliver! These guys have got cold water surfing sussed! Several of our hardcore local girls here won’t wear anything else. These suits are built to last and guarantee warmth. If you tend to feel the cold this is the suit for you!
he Thermo dry celliant on the chest and back keep your core and main organs super warm and it has the added lightweight balance of the new thermo light lining throughout the whole lower body, keeping you toasty without having to sacrifice any flexibility. This is an incredibly comfortable performance suit that’s easy on the eye. We all know the only downside to the chest zip is getting the damn thing on and off but with the new one shoulder wide entry design of the infinity suit this isn’t an issue. Gone are the days of wiggling round on the roadside trying to break free whilst withholding your dignity! Ticks all the boxes for me! Hats off to Xcel!

Shop for these suits at –

24th July 2018 Blog by Carl

Surfing and Yoga come to Scarborough!

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Fancy learning to surf with some of the most experienced instructors in the UK? Not only that, but you’ll be fully-warmed up when you get in the water with a signature TYR surf-yoga class, and cooled-down and chilled-the-heck-out post surf, too.

Scarborough Surf School have been teaching folk to surf for over 10 years, and all of their instructors are RNLI Lifeguard trained and fully-insured so you can be sure you’re in safe hands.

The surf lesson will last two hours, and all kit is included in the price. And you’ll get even more out of their amazing lessons (other than successfully riding waves!) with a surf-specific 45-minute yoga class to get you fired up, and a 30-minute yoga cool-down.

We’ll fire the barbecue up too, so bring your favourite BBQ food to help you recharge and replenish.

Sessions will be held at the beautiful Cayton Bay, just 4 miles south of Scarborough town centre. They’ve got a huge carpark, warm showers, men’s and women’s changing areas and a surf shop stocking some of the best surf brands in the world (not to mention the best tea in Yorkshire!).

You can choose either the 9am-1pm session, or the 1:15-5pm session on either Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th of August. Spots cost £53 per person – just choose the right ticket when checking out.

If you book on, don’t forget to bring suitable yoga clothes – something stretchy and comfortable – and a swimsuit or trunks (for under your wetsuit) and a towel.

Feel free to get in touch with either TYR or Scarborough Surf School if you’d like some more details.

17th July 2018 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

SUP Weekend!

Making full use of the sunny weather and calm seas Scarborough Surf School launched what felt like an armada of Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPS) on the water this weekend, as we were fully booked both days. On Saturday afternoon we had an open group lesson for 9. After a SUP specific warm up and stretches and on land and briefing on SUP Basics (Hazards and Risk Assessment/Equipment/Entry and exit/Paddle technique/Rescue and recovery) we took to the sea.

Our group made excellent progress in acquiring basic skills and soon were mastering more advanced techniques including the Pivot and Kahi turns. Now equipped with the knowledge we set a course to explore the seal colony at the southern end of Cayton Bay.

Not to be disappointed we were fortunate to discover a young inquisitive seal pup. Keeping our distance so as not to cause undue stress, we were able to get pretty close and were closely inspected by our new companion in the water! We then parked the SUPS on a sheltered private beach created by high tide conditions and set to explore for dinosaur footprints! By the time we’d paddled back I think we could all agree that we all had spaghetti arms, a good tan and a great afternoons adventure!

We have made a short movie on with one of our recent SUP groups, check out here and get a feel of the vibe:

Book your SUP Lesson now

Here in the UK we are realising that SUP is fantastic way of getting out on the water, not just as a flat water alternative to Surfing but as a fabulous pass-time in itself. What makes SUP so accessible is that the basics are fairly easy to learn and so progress is quick. However there is much more to learn if you want to progress and here at Scarborough Surf School we have fully trained staff to help you make the most of your SUP adventures.

From just £40, the SUP offers a great way to get on the water and enjoy our beautiful surroundings.

3rd April 2018 Blog by Scarborough Surf School

Summer Supping at Cayton Bay

Here at Scarborough Surf School we have been busy gearing up for the Summer season, this year we are hitting Paddle Boarding in a big way, firstly by investing in new inflatable Paddle boards which a far lighter board making the walk to the beach far easier and improving safety for our students.

The next task is to brush up on our instructor skills, so off I went to the beautiful St Ives in Cornwall (yes its a hard life) to attend the ASI level 1 enclosed water and level 2 exposed water paddle board instructor courses.

I soon found out there is more to paddle boarding than meets the eye, body position equipment choice, risk assessing and paddle strokes are essential to get the most out of this fun sport and that is before we attempt a toe-side step back pivot turn!

The Course was run by Glenn Eldridge who is the elite coach for the ASI and competes globally in SUP and Kayak events, Glenn certainly put me through my paces to bring me up to the high standards expected by the ASI. This involved hours on the water each day, video analysis in the classroom and a couple of gruelling timed paddles for good measure!

I can now see the many benefits of Supping, the fitness aspect was particularly evident from my aching shoulders, and its a great way to explore or coast and inland waterways. Most importantly you need to develop awareness of the environment you are paddling in and identify potential hazards which is what you learn in our SUP taster lessons.

There are many other skills to gain in paddle-boarding such as catching waves and down-winding, our sessions are all run in flat water and will give you the skills and knowledge needed to keep on paddling safely and effectively.

I was pretty stoked (and tired) at the end of the 4 day course to be told by Glenn I had got through it and passed and I am looking forward to taking our first sessions this spring.

cayton bay

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