Blue Coast has had a great start to the season, with plenty of surf lessons and paddleboard lessons & tours running despite the slow start to the spring weather. We've received 18 five star reviews this season so far, and it makes my day every time we get a new one! It's great to get good feedback and know that people are loving the experiences we offer.
The last couple weeks have seen a significant shift in the weather, with warmer air and water temperatures and plenty of sunny days. Don't forget your sunscreen if you're coming to join us!
Surf 'n' Fun Kids Summer Surf Camps
It's been brilliant to see our Nippers Kids Surf Club fully booked every week; friendships are being made and surf / sea skills are being developed (the club is full at the moment, but if you're interested in getting your child signed up please join the waiting list here).
Building on the success of the club, we're pleased to offer (new for 2023) 4 day summer programmes of surf lessons, beach safety and education, and fun with new friends at Cullen Beach. These camps are suitable for ages 8-14. Please find more information / dates here.
The Blue Coast Shop
We launched our online shop at the start of the season - we offer tried & tested surfboards and paddleboards that we have personally used and recommend. Here's Gogz with his new board, ready for a surf lesson!
We're happy to have fulfilled several local orders for surfboards and paddleboards; we hope to bring more high-quality and good value products to our local beaches for better fun & safety for all. All board purchases come with a free surf or padddleboard lesson, and can be collected from us in Cullen or delivered to you anywhere in the UK.
Coastal Paddleboarding in Moray & Aberdeenshire Guide
Maisie and I were hard at work in April putting together a free eBook guide on Coastal Paddleboarding in the North East of Scotland. We put a lot of time into it to create a valuable resource for folks interested in paddling on the sea, and it has been well-received having been downloaded over 300 times.
It was awesome to hear that several holiday accommodation providers have printed out the guide so that their visitors can benefit from the resource when staying locally.
School & Youth Group Sessions
Our surf lessons and activities for school & youth groups can be adapted for specific outcomes, and are brilliant for building confidence, developing a better relationship with the sea, as well as learning about beach safety and the ocean environment while having fun and catching some waves.
Big thanks to Banff Academy, Buckie Guides, and Moray College for joining us for activities. It's always great fun and we're always striving to develop and improve our offering in this area.
Stretch & Surf Yoga Day Retreat
We ran our first Stretch & Surf retreat of the season in May, partnering with Kimberley Yoga and Coastal Pizza. It was a feel-good day with sunshine, nice surf, relaxing yoga, and delicious pizza. Thanks to all that came along and made it such a memorable day.
Our next date in June is sold out, but we have two more dates scheduled in September with a few spaces left.
Paddleboard Yoga
We've been fortunate to have been blessed with ideal wind and weather conditions for our SUP Yoga classes with Kimberley Yoga at Portknockie Harbour. A unique experience that combines a beautiful location with a feel-good yoga class. You'd be surprised how stable the paddleboards can be but these classes still add another fresh element to a yoga practice.
More dates are available on the booking system if you're keen to try!
Tourism & Hospitality Week
At the end of May, we ran a week-long promotion for local tourism & hospitality workers / business owners in Moray & Aberdeenshire. It was great to make connections with local people working in the industry and showcase some of the activities that we offer!
We were lucky enough to have our first dolphin encounter of the season on one of the paddleboard lessons, when we ventured out of Portknockie Harbour on a perfectly still day. Unfortunately I wasn't fast enough with the camera this time!
Staff Training
Well done to Maisie who in May completed her Outdoor First Aid qualification in Elgin, in preparation for her paddleboard instructor course! The course was delivered over two days and covered emergency first aid and outdoor scenarios.
I had the opportunity in May to take the first part of the ISA Level 2 Surf Coaching Course with the Scottish Surfing Federation. This qualification focuses more on developing and coaching surfers at a competitive / more advanced level - very helpful not only for my own surfing, but it's exciting to study surf coaching from an athletic development perspective. We will be applying some of the learning to our Nippers Kids Surf Club, aiming to develop a pathway for the promising young surfers that surf with us!
We're thrilled with the start to the 2023 season, and are looking forwarded to getting in to June and the summer! Thanks for taking the time to read, and we hope to see you at the beach soon.
Thanks from The Blue Coast Team (Adam, EmmieJo, Kimberley, Maisie and some new team members coming soon..)
