← Surfing in St Ives

St Ives, Cornwall, England

St Ives Surf School

St Ives Surf School is a surf school in St Ives, Cornwall, England.

St Ives’ surf HQ sits on Blue Flag Porthmeor, a short walk from town and the Tate, recognised by Surfing England as a Centre of Excellence. A second watersports centre on Porthminster runs paddleboard, kayak and (when needed) coasteering. Partners with Surfers Against Sewage and The Wave Project; co-founded Saints Boardriders (150+ members) and a surf house overlooking Porthmeor. Live beach webcam on site.

Services

  • Surf lessons levels 1–5 (beginner, improver, advanced, private)
  • Coasteering
  • Paddleboard lessons and tours
  • Sea kayak tours
  • Surf hire at Porthmeor; SUP/kayak hire at Porthminster
  • Clothing and accessories shop
  • Gift vouchers
  • Salt water / luxury surf retreats (enquiry form)
  • Saints Boardriders club and surf house
  • Educational group sessions

Lessons

  • Beginner surf: 2 hours, waist-deep water
  • Improver surf: 2 hours
  • Advanced: typically private or matched-ability group
  • Private surf: 1.5 hours, 1:1 up to large groups
  • Paddleboard beginner 1.5 hours; kayak tour 1.5–2 hours; coasteering 1.5–2 hours
  • Tide-dependent start times; Porthmeor does not break at high tide
  • Arrive 30 minutes early to check in

Rentals

  • Porthmeor: wetsuits (5mm), softboards 7–9ft, hardboards (50+ boards, 5ft fish to 9ft longboard; Torq, Softech, Ocean Earth, Alder), bodyboards, boots/gloves/hoods, deckchairs and windbreaks
  • Porthminster (May–October, weather dependent): Red Paddle Co inflatable SUPs, single and double sit-on-top kayaks (buoyancy aids included), bodyboards, wetsuits
  • ID required; parental consent under 16; long-term hire (3+ days) can be reserved

Camps

  • Salt water luxury surf retreats (enquiry only — no public tariff on pages checked)

Prices

  • Surf — 1 lesson £47
  • Surf — 2 lessons £90
  • Surf — 3 lessons £130
  • Surf — 4 lessons £165
  • Surf — 5 lessons £195
  • Surf family/group — 4+ people £43 per person
  • Surf family/group — 10+ people £40 per person
  • Surf family/group — 15+ people £35 per person
  • Private surf 1:1 (1.5 hours) £100
  • Private surf 1:2 (1.5 hours) £145
  • Private surf 1:3 (1.5 hours) £190
  • Private surf 1:4 (1.5 hours) £235
  • Private surf 1:5 (1.5 hours) £280
  • Private surf 1:6 (1.5 hours) £325
  • Educational group — surfing lesson £30
  • Educational group — any 2 activities £55
  • Educational group — big beach day (6 hours) £55
  • Porthmeor wetsuit hire — 2 hours £12
  • Porthmeor wetsuit hire — 4 hours £14
  • Porthmeor wetsuit hire — day £16
  • Porthmeor softboard hire — 2 hours £14
  • Porthmeor softboard hire — 4 hours £18
  • Porthmeor softboard hire — day £22
  • Porthmeor hardboard hire — 2 hours £16
  • Porthmeor hardboard hire — 4 hours £22
  • Porthmeor hardboard hire — day £26
  • Porthmeor bodyboard hire — 2 hours £12
  • Porthmeor bodyboard hire — 4 hours £14
  • Porthmeor bodyboard hire — day £16
  • Porthmeor boots & gloves — 2 hours £3
  • Porthmeor boots & gloves — 4 hours £5
  • Porthmeor boots & gloves — day £7
  • Deckchairs & windbreaks — 2 hours £4
  • Deckchairs & windbreaks — 4 hours £6
  • Deckchairs & windbreaks — day £8
  • Paddleboard hire — 1 hour £17
  • Paddleboard hire — 2 hours £28
  • Single kayak hire — 1 hour £17
  • Single kayak hire — 2 hours £28
  • Double kayak hire — 1 hour £25
  • Double kayak hire — 2 hours £40

Surf spots served

Porthmeor BeachPorthminster Beach

When to go

Porthmeor year-round. Porthminster watersports April–October. RNLI: Porthmeor Easter–October; Porthminster May–September.