Our Story
Spence caught his first wave in the 1970’s (back when every Cornish surfer knew each other’s name) and his life wasn’t the same from that day on. While working, raising a family (and somehow sneaking off every time a swell appeared) Spence had dreams of opening a surf school for many years before making the leap of faith and starting Falmouth Surf School in 1995. The school has always been based on taking groups to where the waves are because as beautiful as its beaches are, the Falmouth coastline is not renowned for consistent surf. The closest consistent surf break is the beautiful cove of Porthtowan and Spence, along with his fantastic team of instructors, have taught thousands of enthusiastic beginners how to stand up, ride waves and progress their surfing.
The business has since grown and developed and now offers a range of water sports lessons and equipment hire as well as SUP yoga and fitness training all based at Maenporth beach. Spence is extremely proud of all that he has achieved with the surf school (though he would never admit it), and is also proud that his daughters Jessie and Naomi & her fiancé Matt are now an integral part of the business too. Naomi and Matt run the mobile surfing lessons and beach yoga and Jessica teaches SUP Yoga and Fitness.
Our Team
Spence
Still a beach bum, and water fanatic at 68 (going on 18...) Spence is now based at Maenporth and teaches 'Over 50's surf lessons' as-well as hiring SUP boards and kayaks, and with a little persuasion will be happy to tell you a surf tale or two…
Naomi & Matt
Naomi and Matt have gained years of experience running surfing and yoga workshops & lessons and working at events, and both have an intimate knowledge of the Cornish coastline and how to enjoy it.
Nay has been running a Yoga school for 4 years, specialising in Aerial and SUP yoga. She loves the beach, surfing, and skateboarding. Matt is a professional surfer and coaches’ beginners to advanced surfers. He’s in the water pretty much every day and if not surfing or coaching is finding a smooth road to bomb on his skateboard! Matt is also a RNLI lifeguard and works on the Cornish coastline.
Jess
An experienced and talented dancer and yoga instructor, Jessie teaches her SUP Yoga classes throughout the Summer months (as well as working in the A&E department at the Royal Cornwall Hospital!). SUP Yoga is her passion and gets out on water any chance she gets; you’ll find it easy to spot her with Jack Russell ‘Maggie’ perched on the front of her SUP board as she paddles across Maenporth cove or over to the ‘Ben Asdale’ shipwreck for an adventure.
Adventures on Land & Sea
“With 25 successful years under the belt instilling a lifelong love of the ocean in enthusiastic learners, we’re looking forward to the future and to maintaining our reputation as the first place to come for an introduction to surfing and water sports in Falmouth.”
— Falmouth Surf School & Watersports