Welcome to our new website where you can find out all about our Surf School at Garretstown (Gtown for short!) , Co. Cork. Our site is also a resource for surfing information at Gtown and in Cork. You can check out lots of cool stuff from todays waves to lessons, camps, boards and the latest Surf news!
Our Surf School started in 2004 with just a few boards and a bunch of enthusiasm! Since then we have grown and many stoked people have learned to surf with us. Kids, Teens, Adults, Mom’s & Dad’s, no matter who you are it’s never too late to start surfing! With Gtown, we’ll show you all the tricks and tools to enjoy Irelands fastest growing Sport!
Cork Local Sports Partnership
Gtown Surf School is a fully approved Irish Surfing Association Surf School, we take great pride in offering our customers a great surfing experience both on and off the water. Learn to Surf safely, with respect to the ocean & others and with expert tuition.
Check out our Blog page where you can get up to date info on the Surf School and surfing at Gtown. Our “Todays Waves” service will help you maximise your surf time. All we ask in return for our “Todays Waves” info is that you give generously anytime you pass a RNLI Lifeboats Donation box!
So that’s the Deal folks, we offer a complete package for Surfing at Gtown, drop us an email, give us a call or “High 5!” us the next time we meet you in the water.
Winter time Schedule: Sept to April
We are always stationed at Garretstown Beach every Saturday and Sunday from September to April without fail.
We offer lessons every Saturday and Sunday at 11am & 2pm without fail. However you must phone or email to book your place. You must also arrive ten minutes before your lesson time. We open each Saturday and Sunday at 9.30am and close at 5.30pm for hire. We also offer mid week lessons by appointment only so call us up and book your chosen time.
During our Summer season we are based at the beach 7 days a week from 9am til 6pm and later if the surf is really good! Surf lessons are available 7 days a week so just call or email us to make your booking.
Note:
- Please call or text us before you travel to make sure there are waves and safe surfing conditions.
- Summer Camp 2008 dates for Kids & Teenz will be available here Jan 2008.
SURF LESSON PRICES
- 2 Hour Beginners Surf lesson - €35 pp
- 2 Hour Beginners Individual Lesson - €50 pp
- 2 Hour Improvers Lesson - €30 pp
- Half Day Improvers Video Coaching Session - €80 pp
- Half Day Intro to Stand Up Paddling Lesson - €50 pp
- 1 ½ Hour Junior Beginners Surf Lesson - €25 pp
EQUIPMENT HIRE PRICES:
- Soft Surfboard Hire per hour - €10
- Stand Up Paddle Board Hire per hour - €15
- Wetsuit Hire per hour - €8
- Wetsuit Boots hire per hour - €3
- Gloves hire per hour - €2
- Skull Cap hire per hour - €2
Jon’s career in adventure sport began at 13 when he took up Kayaking. Ever since, he has relentlessly pursued a passion with anything adventure! His passion for surfing began in 1992 when he learned to surf whilst on many surf trips to Lahinch in Co. Clare.
Back then, Surfing was a sub culture, a minority sport. Over the years Jon took up windsurfing, mountain Biking and developed his Kayaking skills and qualifications to become one of Irelands best known and most experienced Kayak Instructors. He has lead many successful trips to the Alps, Himalayas, Pyrenee’s and Africa.
Alayne & Jon settled in West Cork in 2002 after getting married and set up a very successful sea kayaking school in Kinsale. They then set up a small surf business in Garretstown in 2004. Jon soon realised that they were offering something that people really wanted. So Gtown was born!
Jon is also a qualified Beach Lifeguard & Surf Instructor. Baby Aoife joined the team in 2005 and Jon is encouraging her all the way to be adventurous!
Being Jon’s wife, Alayne has a equally passionate feeling for anything outdoors. She grew up by the beach at Garretstown and soon took a keen interest in sailing & adventure sports. She has spent many years working in the Outdoor industry. Alayne looks after much of the back room / business side of things but can always be found down at the beach helping out or on the water running sea kayak trips.
She is also a fountain knowledge on surf equipment and is particularly passionate about selling people the right equipment and offering good advice. Alayne also holds down a regular day job as a guidance counsellor with Youthreach. Jigsaws and good coffee are her hobbies!
Garretstown Surfing
Here are details of todays surfing conditions at Garretstown. This item is updated daily so we can advise on whether or not classes will take place at Garretstown, as well as providing information to surfers in general.
Buying a unique gift for someone can be a real challenge sometimes! Often you may be told exactly what they want! Surf Lesson Gift Vouchers are a great solution!
We can set you up with a great little package deal that can includes great value bundle deals on vouchers, Gift Cards, detailed info letter & a FREE bar of Sex Wax to novelty up your gift pack.
Gift Voucher packs can be bought over the phone or email and paid for with all forms of payment including Visa & Laser Cards. Our speedy dispatch service means you can even sort out last minute gift ideas! Call us now for more info! 
