Nick Thorn Surf School
Who visits us?
Holiday makers, Surfers, weekend surfers, families, individuals, partners, stag & hen groups, newly wed, advanced surfers, intermediate surfers, beginner surfers, fun days out, progression sessions.
What to do here?
The team at Nick Thorn Surf School have helped hundreds of people get into the water and experience the thrill of surfing their very first wave. Our dedicated instructors provide a supportive environment where you can master the fundamentals of the sport in preparation for your future surfing adventures. We also teach you how to stay safe in the water and the basics of surfing etiquette. We offer lessons to surfers of all abilities and ages (from 8 years and above). All surf lessons are 2 hours in length, our half day is one 2 hour lesson, our full day is two 2 hour lessons. We cater for individuals, groups, schools and corporate training days. We are sure that you will have a fun and exciting experience learning to surf the beautiful coastline of North Devon. All our surf sessions are run from Putsborough beach. Putsborough is the most sheltered and safest of all the North Devon Beaches. It has excellent toilet facilities, dog and family friendly and a lovely beach cafe. With it’s relaxed atmosphere – its is a hiden Gem! Lifeguards and coastgaurds are on hand from Woolacombe Beach. Nick Thorn Surf Coaching is a Lifeguard training centre. Helping 100’s of lifeguards work all over the world and gaining their dream job.
Top 3 reasons to visit
- Fun and friendly
- Safe and helpful staff
- Qualified
Our Story
Nick Thorn Surf School
With over 20 years experience as a lifeguard and surf coach, Nick Thorn runs his own surf school in North Devon and personally teaches lifeguard and surf instructor qualifications. Nick’s company is a full Lifeguard Training Centre and Surfing England Accredited level 4 Surf Accredited School. As one of the county’s highest quallified trainer assessors, Nick is certainly the most decorated waterman in the UK, having trained and competed against top lifeguards and coaches worldwide. His achievements in and out of competition are testament to his determination and love for the ocean. Locally, Nick Thorn has been the first to achieve many challenges, raising thousand of pounds for charity. He is the only person to have swum single-handed from Lundy Island to Woolacombe in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. To date he is the only person to paddle from Lundy Island to Woolacombe as well as paddling alone from Hartland to Lundy to Croyde in over 25ft swell. Nick’s lifetime achievements are a long list of wows, briefly he has amassed more than his body weight in medals. Having swum for England three times, Nick was; European Surf Iron Man Champ x3 European Surf Race Champion x2 European Board race champion x2 Winner of Wollongong Best Lifeguard x3 Finalist in the Australian Nationals Surf and Board race x3 Ranked 3rd in the World for Surf Iron Man 2001 Rep Great Britain Surf Lifesaving x6 Won multi Island Races in Hawaii British SLS Surf Iron Man Champ x9 British SLS Surf Race Champ x13 British SLS Board Race Champ x13 In 2008, Nick provided training for local candidates to qualify for the first ever lifeguard service in the British Virgin Islands. “I have always used my previous knowledge and water skills in order to teach, coach, and promote others in courses, skills and life experiences.” To further enable him to better transfer his many different water skills to others, Nick continually updates his multi skills teaching qualifications enhancing his professional development, whilst still dabbling in masters competition.
Our Activities
Meet the team! Nick Thorn Surf Coaching has been running for over 25 years. We have hand picked the team of professional and qualified staff to offer you the safest and most enjoyable environment possible.