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Each class is 2 hours long, 80-90 minutes of which is spent in the water. Prior to entering the water you will learn how to pop to your feet in 1,2 or 3 steps! Wetsuits and Surfboards are provided along with one of our fully qualified Irish Surfing Association Surf Coaches who will patiently take you through the complete surf experience. Lessons are held in waist deep water so you don't need to be an amazing swimmer. You will learn about water safety, ocean awareness and wave conditions.
Information and and Pricing on all our "LESSONS" please choose options on the LEFT
Information on "Surf COURSES", "Weekends" and "Faq's" see the text BELOW on this page
Warning: Taking a surf lesson can lead to the surf virus. You have been warned!
If you want to look your best on your board and impress your friends on the beach, you'll want to hang with us for a bit longer! We want you to enjoy surfing, to have positive experiences and progressively learn skills that will help you love surfing as much as we do. Surfing is easy to learn when you're in the right space!
For adults the most popular course we run is the Weekend Surf Course you can take the option to allow us to arrange your accommodation and meals for you by choosing the Weekend Surf Breaks. Also for adults there is the option to do the Mid week surf course.
For Kids and Teens we have the longest running Surf Camp in County Clare with the most highly qualified group of surf instructors possibly in the world, Click here for more info.
In case you haven't heard Lahinch is a very fun place at weekends coupled with possibly the best surf in Ireland. If you want to get the full feel of the Surfing Capital of Ireland you have the option to to immerse yourself in a full Classic Weekend Surf Package, surf, accommodation, food, friends or do a Weekend Surf Course. The weekends suit everyone from couples to groups or if you're alone hang with everybody else!
What are the lesson times?
Lesson times are subject to tide times, so they change from week to week and day to day. If you give us a particular day we will let you know what times are available or possible for that day.
Click here for: Weekend Lesson Times
Do I need to be a good swimmer?
Beginner surf lessons are held in waist deep water. Wetsuits do assist floatation and you are always close by to an instructor and you have an 8 foot floatation device (your yellow surfboard) beside you. If you are a weak swimmer please let your instructor know so He/She can keep a special eye on you. The instructor is a Qualified Beach LIfeguard so you are in safe hands.
Can I show up alone?
Whether you are a group, a small group (of 2 or 3) or an individual you can join one of our group lesson times. If there is no one else booked in for a particular day (this happens in winter mid week) your option is to take a private lesson, see 'Private Lesson' page.
What is the maximum instructor to student ratio?
The British Surfing Association instructor to student ratio is 1 to 10. In Ireland the Irish Surfing Association is 1 to 8. We use 1 to 8.
Are lessons held in winter?
Lahinch Surf School remains open all year round, winter weekends, we usually have only one or two lesson times available each weekend day. Contact us to check availability. If you have your own group contact us to organise a lesson at a time and date that suits you.
What do I need to bring?
In warmer months all you need bring is a towel, a swim suit and a warm jacket. In winter months you can consider buying your own surfing gloves. We do provide these but usually have only about 20 pairs. Similarly in summer we don't provide all the kids with surf socks, which parents can consider buying.
Can I bring my own board and wetsuit?
You can certainly bring your own wetsuit. In Winter our suits will most likely be warmer if you only have a summer wetsuit. It is safer if you use our surfboards as they are all made of foam and are more suitable for a group of people surfing together. Most privately owned boards are hard which would be dangerous in the group.
Where are the lessons held?
Check out our base at the end of the promenade in Lahinch. Check the 'Location' page. We also hold lessons in Spanish Point Beach and Doonbeg Golf Course Beach (surfers entrance) depending on tide and wave conditions, check 'Location' page, for directions.
What equipment is provided?
Winter & Summer wetsuits, surfboards (variety of 1 fin and 3 fin) and in colder months boots, glooves and hoods (and of course expert tuition).
What happens if the surf is small?
If the surf is small in Lahinch we often move to Doonbeg Golf Course Beach, (check location page for directions) for weekend Adult lessons. There are always enough waves for a lesson in Doonbeg. Also keep in mind small waves are ideal for beginner surf lessons. kids and Teen camps don't move location as we do games if surf is small.
Can I organize my own group?
If you have your own group for a surf lesson or course, contact us to organise a lesson at a time and date that suits you.
Any more questions,
just send us an email?
This is how our standard surfing lesson works. Let's say for example we have an adult lesson at 10 am (lesson times change every day with the tides). Students come maybe ten minutes in advance to the beach hut (see 'Location' page) and to check-in. There may be 5 minutes of waiting around, waiting for the other people in your class to show up. Ideally everyone is checked in before the lesson time. Then you'll be introduced to your instructor(s).
For a standard group lesson there will be a group of min 2 to max 8 persons in your group or if there is two instructors working together, the group may be of min 9 to max 16 persons. When everyone is changed and in your gear (this a bit takes longer in winter with the boots/gloves/hoods), you do a quick safety speech for a few things to watch out for while in the water. Then you pick up your boards in pairs, march down the beach and the instructor brings your through proper surfing technique and discusses the wave conditions, this takes less than 5 minutes. This is where you learn to stand up or get some encouragement to perfect your surf technique (it's all about style and grace, on and off the board)!
Then your instructor picks the best and safest part of the beach to enter the surf and you would surf until 11.45 (that is for the e.g. of the 10 am lesson). While your in the surf you can say along side your instructor. The most keen people will continually ask the instructor to please "Get me another wave" they are there to help you catch waves and give you tips as you go but also to keep you safe.. others prefer to work away at it themselves.
If conditions aren't perfect, the instructor can spend most of his time keeping the group together. If conditions are very nice, they'll get more time to do more teaching and working on technique. The instructor stays with you in the water until the lesson ends. At that time you exit the water, get back to the surf hut and get changed out of your wetsuits, 100% of people are completely STOKED. The wetsuits are incredible good at keeping you warm even in mid-winter AND the instructors are the best in the country. 2 hours after your lesson started you'll be ready to leave.
For other options and information see below
Private or Mid-week Lessons
Price info is on the 'Price' page.
Need any more info, check out our Frequently Asked Questions on the 'Surf Lessons' Page.
