Tramore Surf School
Tramore Surf School
4.5
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About
Tramore Surf School is based opposite the lifeguards hut on Tramore promenade in the south east coast of Ireland and provides a safe, relaxed and affordable introduction to the exhilarating sport of surfing. Located on the beach front and open all year round. We offer lessons and rentals as well as school programs. Established 2 years ago our surf school is the newest (but best!) in town. We alw
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Tramore Surf School
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4.5
30 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
3
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
2
Heather B
County Tipperary, Ireland34 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Bought my husband a surf lesson 1:1 with an instructor for his birthday. Well organised and enthusiastic. My husband is fit, strong and active but found this tough going after 1;5 hours, so make sure you're up to it! They can provide all the gear and somewhere to change. Mission accomplished, he got stood up and rode a few waves - happy days!
There's also a really good coffee shop nearby where I grabbed a hot chocolate after a dip in the sea.
There's also a really good coffee shop nearby where I grabbed a hot chocolate after a dip in the sea.
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FionaWaterford
Waterford, Ireland32 contributions
May 2022 • Family
We booked this for our dads birthday and had a brilliant morning out. Our two instructors John and Nathan made a big effort with us and were super enthusiastic and fun for the whole time. Definitely will be back. Thanks for great day!
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary M
Limerick, Ireland13 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
As people who has always loved water sports we are keen to have our kids enjoy and learn surfing. So while on a week holiday in Tramore I booked them for week long surf camp even though my youngest still can't swim. The three kids aged 11, 9and 6 had a ball for the week. Bernie was very accommodating with great rates for the week. Evan and Dave were very patient with them. Especially youngest who started the week kicking at the edge of the water pressing to a body board Tuesday and a board on Thursday. Whilst he was very nervous still, he allowed them to bring him out a Wed bit and caught a few waves with their help and never panicked when he was wiped out largely due to the confidence he had in them. That spoke volumes to me. The older two found themselves in different waves every day and came out smiling and wanting more. Even managed to crowd control when the surf area was crowded with other schools in the water. So would I go again? Well I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for an introduction to the sport or wanting to rent a board for a while.
Written 14 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary O
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Solo
Purchased my first wetsuit for sea swimming here … phenomenal service and great information provided by staff to a novice sea swimmer - would highly recommend !
Written 5 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grainne Q
10 contributions
Serious safety incident
Aug 2023 • Family
When I arrived late to collect my son from day 1 of a surf camp, he was no where to be found. He had just turned 10 years old!
He is not local so I had no idea where to look for him. No one at the school could tell me where he was. I asked why I was not contacted or why there was no safeguarding policy in place for a handover of minors to their caregiver at the end of a session. I was not given any answer by the owner or instructors. I left to go looking for my son on the beachfront and through the town. Luckily he was found, some time later at our holiday home, 1.5 miles away where he had walked, frightened and upset. He said he had been left alone as the instructors had left to begin the next session and became frightened so left to try to find me.
While I acknowledge my lateness, Bernadette the owner, refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the incident. She refused to acknowledge the appalling lack of child safeguarding. She admitted that it’s “hectic” between one session and the next but it was her refusal to accept any blame that left me flabbergasted, at one point saying “my responsibility ends at the end of the 2 hours”. She spent the entire discussion after the event defending her business and redirecting blame to me and my son.
Bernadette is very fortunate that my son was found when he was, as the next step would have been Garda involvement. I am very sure her safeguarding practises would not have been considered as thorough as she claimed them to be.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT RECOMMEND THIS SURF SCHOOL!!
He is not local so I had no idea where to look for him. No one at the school could tell me where he was. I asked why I was not contacted or why there was no safeguarding policy in place for a handover of minors to their caregiver at the end of a session. I was not given any answer by the owner or instructors. I left to go looking for my son on the beachfront and through the town. Luckily he was found, some time later at our holiday home, 1.5 miles away where he had walked, frightened and upset. He said he had been left alone as the instructors had left to begin the next session and became frightened so left to try to find me.
While I acknowledge my lateness, Bernadette the owner, refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the incident. She refused to acknowledge the appalling lack of child safeguarding. She admitted that it’s “hectic” between one session and the next but it was her refusal to accept any blame that left me flabbergasted, at one point saying “my responsibility ends at the end of the 2 hours”. She spent the entire discussion after the event defending her business and redirecting blame to me and my son.
Bernadette is very fortunate that my son was found when he was, as the next step would have been Garda involvement. I am very sure her safeguarding practises would not have been considered as thorough as she claimed them to be.
I WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT RECOMMEND THIS SURF SCHOOL!!
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RB
Dublin, Ireland9 contributions
Jul 2022
We booked and paid in advance for surf lessons for children. When we got there the sea was as flat as a lake. There were no waves so surfing was not possible and therefore surf lessons were not possible. The staff tried to persuade us to take out paddle boards, we had no interest in this and refused.
When we respectfully asked for our money back and we were messed around at first and told "oh the manager is not here" etc... eventually the owner's thug son resorted to intimidation and started shouting in my face "You were told you're not getting your f* money back! Now get out of my f* shop you f* baldy headed c*" All of this happened in the presence of my 9 year old son who ran out of the shop in fear. If I didn't come from a life of playing rugby he might have scared me too.
It appears to me that this business to do anything at all to avoid giving you your money back.
I subsequently learned that Tramore is a poor spot for surfing and only has some useable surf in and around February so don't pay until you are there and see how it is. This company will take advantage of children and bring them into the water for a play about anyway - but if you want actual surfing lessons then this is deceitful behaviour.
I would advise also reading the Google reviews about the shameful character of these people.
There is another surf school 50 meters around the corner in the red house, they appear to be a much more sensible outfit that you would expect from such organisations.
We have visited a few surf schools around Ireland, these people are not representative of the surfing community, or pretty much any retail service in the country.
Don't be fooled by parents that are satisfied that their children had a fun day out at the beach, this is no true reflection of the business. Beyond the business the surf instructors are lovely people, I believe they are not a part of the Tramore Surf School directly and are only employed on a piece meal basis.
When we respectfully asked for our money back and we were messed around at first and told "oh the manager is not here" etc... eventually the owner's thug son resorted to intimidation and started shouting in my face "You were told you're not getting your f* money back! Now get out of my f* shop you f* baldy headed c*" All of this happened in the presence of my 9 year old son who ran out of the shop in fear. If I didn't come from a life of playing rugby he might have scared me too.
It appears to me that this business to do anything at all to avoid giving you your money back.
I subsequently learned that Tramore is a poor spot for surfing and only has some useable surf in and around February so don't pay until you are there and see how it is. This company will take advantage of children and bring them into the water for a play about anyway - but if you want actual surfing lessons then this is deceitful behaviour.
I would advise also reading the Google reviews about the shameful character of these people.
There is another surf school 50 meters around the corner in the red house, they appear to be a much more sensible outfit that you would expect from such organisations.
We have visited a few surf schools around Ireland, these people are not representative of the surfing community, or pretty much any retail service in the country.
Don't be fooled by parents that are satisfied that their children had a fun day out at the beach, this is no true reflection of the business. Beyond the business the surf instructors are lovely people, I believe they are not a part of the Tramore Surf School directly and are only employed on a piece meal basis.
Written 5 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patsharper
Dublin, Ireland4 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
Me and my girlfriend had an amazing time yesterday in our first surf lesson. Firstly absolutely loved surfing ‘or trying at least, but our instructor Niall was brilliant!! He was so enthusiastic and really wanted us to get it!! He was very encouraging and was completely focused on us. Equipment provided was great, never once felt cold and boards were fine for learning. Thanks Niall!!
Written 16 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michelle h
Cork, Ireland60 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
Our youngest decided she wanted to try surf lessons so we took her and her friend here to give it a go. It happened to be a wild windy day, so waves were good, but we felt very safe in the hands of our 3 instructors. Niall one of the instructors tried his best with me, but failed to get me standing on the board, but turns out our youngest is a natural! She loved it. It was great to be in the sea for an hour nice and warm in the wet suits provided. Hot showers provided after in a communal changing room. Not the ritz but sufficient. Great experience, everyone should give it a go.
Written 27 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lindaMoriarty12
Cork, Ireland10 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
The instructor was amazing, myself and my boyfriend went for a lesson today with an instructor called Niall, he was very helpful, friendly and I suffer from a little bit of social anxiety and he was so nice and understanding, as the beach was packed we moved to a quieter area , we had a great time 😀
Written 4 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TruckerJim2012
Ennis, Ireland41 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Recently visited Tramore and rented a wwt suit for my 5yr old and myself to do some paddle boarding. Staff were very friendly and very helpful. Will use again and highly recommend. Continued success in your business!!
Written 19 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What is the youngest that can get surf lessons? I have a nephew who is 6 and a niece who is 9...
Written 15 January 2020
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