Cornwall is a county peppered with world classes beaches to picking one out is pretty tricky. However, there is something very special about Mawgan Porth, the so called Mecca of British surfing. Anyone who gets their thrills on the water as opposed to terra firma won’t be disappointed by their trip here. Even if you haven’t tried certain water sports before, with such a choice on offer and in such a sublime setting, it really is rude not to try at least a couple of these. Many of the sports below take place at neighbouring Watergate Bay and full instruction is available for all of them.
Surfing
Although it was touched on in the intro surfing has to have its own section. Less of a sport and more of an experience, there is something almost spiritual about the being at the mercy of nature that makes this one of the most popular watersports across the globe. King’s Surf school has been at Mawgan Porth for over a decade and has turned many an enthusiastic amateur into a proficient surfer. The first time you go from lying on your board paddling to actually standing up is a moment you will never forget, and what better place to do it?
Kite Surfing
Combining the skill of surfing and the thrill of power kiting, kite surfing is an absolute blast. Full instruction is given in mastering the art of getting out there on your board, standing up and then letting the wind take over. There are few adventure sports match this one for an adrenaline rush of epic proportions, and it’s little wonder it is described as the “ultimate combination of wind and wave”. Taking off from the top of a wave and being suspended there courtesy of the wind trapped in your kite is the nearest thing to flying and gives you an adrenaline rush par excellence.
Wave Skiing
A quick and easy to master adventure sport that is none the less thrilling, wave skiing is perfect for those who want to be out there on the ocean wave on a surfboard but prefer to sit rather than stand. Most first timers are wave skiing within an hour thanks to the expert tuition offered on Watergate Sands by Carl Coombs, a former wave skiing world champion. Think of an adventure sport that combines the best elements of white water rafting and surfing and you sort of get the idea of what to expect when you go wave skiing.
Power Kiting
Power, or traction kiting, takes place on the neighbouring sands of Watergate Bay. In the same way that surfing uses water, power kiting harnesses the power of the wind to give you one of the most exhilarating rides of your life. If the last encounter you had with a kite was running around the park as a kid then prepare to be blown away by this hugely popular land based adventure sport. You cannot imagine the speeds you will reach as you race along the sand being pulled by your kite, and those who have never tried it before will soon by flying along with the best of them after a short course courtesy of the Extreme Academy Surf School.
kate and toms have a great choice of properties to rent in the area which are ideal for somewhere to set up base to try out these sports. Head over to our properties in Cornwall page to have a look.
