You do not have to be an experienced surfer to get into the water in St Ives. Porthmeor Beach has a long connection with surfing, and for many visitors this is an ideal place to try standing on a board for the first time.
Start at Porthmeor
Porthmeor Beach faces the Atlantic and is the main surfing beach in town. Local surf schools and hire providers can help with boards, wetsuits and instruction.
If you are completely new, I would choose a lesson rather than simply renting equipment and hoping for the best. You will learn basic technique as well as important information about currents, waves and beach safety.
Conditions matter
The sea does not care about your holiday schedule. Some days offer manageable waves for beginners; other days may be unsuitable.
Follow lifeguard advice, beach flags and guidance from local instructors. Never assume conditions are safe just because other people are in the water.
Bring a wetsuit
Cornwall may look almost Mediterranean in photographs, but Atlantic water temperatures tell a different story. A suitable wetsuit makes surfing much more enjoyable for most of the year.
You do not need to be good at it
Your first session may involve more falling than surfing. That is completely normal and, frankly, part of the fun.
Afterwards, Porthmeor is perfectly placed for food, coffee or a visit to Tate St Ives.
Even if you decide surfing is not your new lifelong passion, spending a couple of hours in the Atlantic gives you a different relationship with St Ives. The town looks even better when you are viewing it from the water between waves.
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