John McCarthy's Lahinch Surf School

Kids & Teens

In 2002 Senior Irish Surfing Champion John McCarthy set up the first surf school in Lahinch. That summer he introduced the now infamous “Lahinch Surf School 5 Day Kids Camp” , the first of it's kind in the west of Ireland. Years later we are still bringing joy to children through the art of surfing. We'll never know how many great surfers have emerged from the course.

Summary

• Teen Camp age 13 to 17 years
• Kids camp aimed at ages between 9 to 12 years
• Groms from 5 years and up! Beginner Classes held in waist deep water.
• However, all children should be able to swim.
• Please bring a towel and swim suit and warm clothes.
• Maximum of 8 children per I.S.A. & Beach Lifeguard Qualified Instructor.
• Locations: Lahinch, Spanish Point, Kilkee/Doonbeg

What to bring

• We provide the equipment
– wetsuit, surfboard.

• Kids need to bring their swimming togs, towel and a smile!

• (We do provide some summer boots, but many parents prefer to BUY A PAIR OF KIDS SUMMER BOOTS, which WE RECOMMEND strongly).

What if the conditions do not suit?
Unfortunately some days the waves are too wild for our young ones – high winds bring stormy seas.

In Lahinch we bring the children into Seaworld for a surfing DVD, if a room is available.

We withhold the right to cancel surf lessons when we feel conditions are not suitable. In Lahinch, on these days we try to show a surfing DVD to the children in Seaworld if a room is available, instead of doing a surf lesson. If more days are cancelled we provide a refund.

A day that is cancelled by Lahinch Surf School or by the parents CAN NOT BE USED ON A DIFFERENT week. One days notice must be given for cancellations. Refunds are made on the following basis: 5 days cancelled €110 refunded, 4 days cancelled €75 refund, 3 days cancelled €45 refund, 2 days cancelled €25 refund, 1 day cancelled €10 refund.

How much does it cost

No. of days	Kids	Groms
5 days	€110	€120
4 days	€100	€110
3 days	€85	€95
2 days	€65	€70
1 day	€35	€40

When are the
kids camps cranking?

The fun begins once the schools close!
Easter, summer and Halloween.

The first kids camp of the summer kicks on the 12th of June. Thereafter we will have camps running throughout the summer until September.

Easter camps run from during Easter School Hols.

Qualifications and Safety

The objective is to teach surfing in a fun and a safe a manner as is possible.

• All our instructors are Irish Surfing Association Approved Coaches, Irish Water Safety Approved Beach lifeguards and wicked surfers. More importantly they are patient and caring teachers of the art of surfing.

• Under ISA regulations there is a maximum of 8 children for each of our qualified instructors.

• All lessons are held in waist deep water so your children do not have to be strong swimmers. Kids should be confident in the water.

• Kids are supervised both in and out of the water

• ISA Approved: In 2005 we became the first surf school in County Clare to become Irish Surfing Association Approved. To date we remain the only school to have this stamp of approval in Lahinch.