What People Say
Here is a selection of some of the feedback we have received from clients. We hope we can add your recommendation too, and of course also become one of our facebook friends.
Tim,
Apologies. What with getting back to 10 days of emails and the short week I forgot to email you.
I just wanted to say thanks for a great week/9 days. All of us will continue to laugh about the various incidents and stories for many years. I know that all of us would return to Famara, not only for the surf but also for the banter.
Please also pass on my (and Brad and Mark's) thanks to Gillian and Matt. Great stuff.
Cheers mate,
Stephen
Hi Tim,
Arrived back to wet and windy Ireland on Sunday and suffering from a severe case of the post holiday blues!
Just a quick email to thank you and your team for an amazing week of surfing! We had an absolute blast and hopefully we'll see you all again in the autumn!
Take care and all the best for the summer!
Sharon
Hi Tim and Gillian
Just like to say thanks for the excellent days of coaching last week. I really enjoyed and feel that you have helped get my surfing out of a rut and moved it on……
Thanks again I was really impressed by the standard of tuition, you have changed my view of surf schools. Any chance of you guys moving back to Gower so I can have a lesson every week?
Best Wishes to you both
Sarah
Hi Tim
First of all a big thanks for having us in Famara, we had a great time and we will be back hopefully sooner than the seven year gap this time.
We both thought your lessons were brilliant and will be a massive help to our improvement. Going to practice pop ups and promise NO KNEES!!! Could you also thank Gillian and Jack for there time and help.
As mentioned we will see you soon!
Regards and have a great 2010
Gordon & Fiona (St Andrews)
Thanks to you, Gillian & Jack for a great surfing break.
I felt like I made improvements in the short time that I was in Lanzarote and picked up loads of knowledge that will prove useful in years to come, but above all I had a great time!
Many thanks again
Richard
Tim;
Now that we are back in the US and reflecting on a wonderful and, for us, unique vacation, I wanted to write and thank you for the outstanding experience we had surfing with you. I was very impressed with the professionalism and attention shown to my two daughters (ages 12 and 16). Even though they were the youngest by far they had a great time and were surfing by the end of the instruction.
Cordially,
Craig
Hi Tim,
How are you?
I just wanted to write and say a big thank you to you and Sander for an excellent week of surfing over there in Famara recently. Both Mercedes and I really enjoyed the whole experience and thought the quality of the lessons was great...we learnt a lot. I'm rejuvenated and really keen to get surfing regularly now, as is Mercedes, which I'm very pleased about.
I'll be on the look out for a new board at some point, so once I start seeing things that I like, I'll be in touch to run them past you and see what you think. In the mean time I hope all is well and I'll certainly recommend you guys to anyone who shows an interest.
Thanks again,
Tom
Tim
Many thanks for the great time you gave to Sam and Seb. They really enjoyed the experience and I am sure will come back again. They particularly appreciated the knowledge you able to share about all aspects of surfing and the sea.
Ian
Dear Tim,
A quick email to say many thanks for a great experience.
We had a brilliant time learning how to surf and were impressed by the coaching we received. Well done Sander.
We're determined to carry on surfing here in Scotland even if it's not going to be as warm as Famara and look forward to coming back in 2010.
All the best
Zeg
Hi Gillian
Just returned safely back home - missing the waves and sun
already!! Thanks very much for emailing the photos -
always nice to see how the body position is improving!
Thanks too for your coaching and advice - I learnt such a
lot and feel I made a lot of progress with your expert
tuition; definitely the best surf coaching I've ever had.
Take care, and no doubt will see you at Famara soon again
I hope!
Seb
Hi Tim,
Got back from an amazing week in Lanzarote yesterday. I just wanted to say thank you for the surfing course. It made it one of the best activity holidays I've ever been on and I've done a few. I wish it could've been for 5 days instead of just the 3.
I have to say that your patience, enthusiasm and professionalism is a credit to you and your team. I'll definitely be back to learn more...
Diolch yn fawr.
Thanks again,
Gavin.
Friday 17th April
Dear Tim
Thank you for 3 days of brilliant surfing tuition and for looking after us and making us feel so welcome! We both had such a good time and got so much from the coaching. As I said to you on our last day, I have learnt more in three days than in three years! and most of all for me my confidence in the water has improved.
Thanks Tim
Judith
P.S. It is cold and miserable here!
Hello Tim
I'm writing to thank you enormously for the week Anna and I spent with you from March 19th to 26th.
It was a privilege to have such excellent coaching from you, Gillian and George. I spent over a week after my return dealing with the individual complaints of every football injury I ever sustained, but complaints were all they were and I'm definitely appreciating finally having some biceps.
So good to be in the sea and I look forward to the day when I can be in harmony with it and on it rather than being an enthusiastic victim. I definitely appreciate all your guidance in the right direction.
We'd both love to come back, hopefully after getting some British experience under our leashes.
Thanks again, at some point in the future I'd like to ask your board buying advice if that's OK, but not before I've earned it with some more time in the water.
Cheers
Steve White
Hi Tim,
I hope all is well in with you in sunny Lanzarote and you're all set for the Easter break.
Just a quick note to say thanks so much for a helping to make my stay such a good one.
I had a really good time as always and I'm really happy with the progress I made while I was there ... baby steps, but I'm just chuffed to bits with my silver 1!
Please pass on my thanks and best wishes to Gillian & George.
Take care,
Anne
Dear Tim,
Just a quick note to say thank you for a fantastic week with you and your team at Famara. It was quite simply the best instruction that I have had to date and I only wish I had had this professional tuition some 20 years ago. Although part of a fun group of fellow surfers, I felt that I was being given individual attention at each stage of my learning and development. I came to Surf School Lanzarote to learn and I have done that in buckets. I have a very clear idea of what I need to go away and work on in all elements of my surfing and only hope that my 1 year old daughter affords me the time to put into practice all of that learning.
I hadn’t realised that it would be so intensive when I booked through ‘errant’ but I am grateful for the commitment and dedication of the team over the five days and Kate is delighted with the slightly trimmer version of her husband when she finally got him home late last night.
Please pass my best regards to Gillian and George and I hope she has forgiven me for the barrel ride at Famara! I suspect from what you said that I might be the only substantive Major (and student) to ride the barrel at Famara and long may the record stand.
I hope to be able to come back and see you (family commitments pending) and I will be in touch as soon as I am able. I have recommended you to all my serving and ex serving mates who I usually surf with so you may get some calls or enquiries.
Thanks again for a great week
Kind regards
Sam
Good morning Tim,
Just a little e-mail to thank you and George for the fantastic 10 days! I've been surfing with quite some surfschools but your approach is by far the best and most professional. ……The dedication and persuasion which you show while teaching are of a different level….. I thought I knew a lot about surfing but I learned more in those 10 days than in all my other surftrips together, thanks for that.
Say hi to George and remember that when you come to Antwerp you'll always be welcome at our place.
Best regards,
Marc van Lier
Dear Tim, greetings from Mayo. I wanted to thank you for an amazing experience last month. I came away from my five days in your surf school recharged and inspired, and with an appetite for surfing that will stay with me. I had a surf in Enniscrone on December 26th. It was extremely cold, but the waves were great. I'll be in touch again about buying a board and also about returning for an extended stint as I mentioned.
Happy New Year Tim,
Every good wish,
Martin Dyar
Thanks all for the sessions/ coaching / guidance......great time as ever....went home well rested, surfed out and a smile on my face!!
Happy christmas and all the best for new year!!
Til the next time, take care!
Noel
Dear Tim, Mark & Gillian,
I just wanted to send you a quick message to say thank you for all your time and energy during my time spent with you this week; I have had an awesome time, made even better by great coaching from three people who are clearly so passionate and devoted to their sport, day in and day out.
I also feel that I will be able to transfer some of what you have shown me into my Kayaking in one form or another. I would definetly like to come back to see you again for more coaching soon; I just have to figure out how to fit surfing (of the standing variety!) into what I already do, as I it's captured my imagination a little! ...and I really want to learn to cut back now!
Best wishes and take care,
Charlie.
Tim, George, Mark
Just a note to thank all of you for your efforts and time last week. I am only sorry that I was not better able to make use of your time and skills.
I have been involved with instructor led sport for 15 years in one way or another and have always been really lucky to have great teachers and this was no exception. The right mix of technical instruction, information sharing and practical help, delivered professionally with enthusiasm and encouragement.
Well done to you all.
Thanks again.
Best regards
Peter
Peter McGlone
Hi Tim,
Just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks to you, George, and Mark for last week. We all had a great time and our surfing improved!! Have been to a couple of surf schools and thought the instruction was by far the best. I'm very keen to come back out in the new year - hopefully around March time. Will keep you posted.
Thanks again,
Iain (and Llew, Fiona, Zahira)
Hi Tim
I wanted to email to thank you for everything while I was at the Lanzarote Surf School. I really enjoyed the days I spent there and I'm delighted at how much I progressed during the time. The quality of tuition was excellent and I learned so much over the short time. I can't wait to get back in and I'm very excited about heading out to Lahinch (as soon as my toe is okay enough)!
I definitely plan on coming back to your surf school again...this time for the full 5 days!!
Thanks again for everything!
Best wishes
Melissa
Dear Tim
We just wanted to send an email to thank you for our time at surf school last week. We had a really challenging (and exhausting!) week but one that was also a lot of fun and very informative. The level of instruction and support was great - and I particularly appreciated the one-to-one encouragement when it was most needed! We've both come home feeling really pleased with ourselves for just having a go and for what we achieved - and definitely keen to do more - once the bruises and blisters have died down...
Enjoy the rest of the summer and thanks again
Best wishes
Jane and Steven Illingworth
Dear Tim,
We have just arrived home after our holiday and we have all agreed that the three days we had in surf school was the highlight of our holiday. As Vice Principal of a secondary school in North Lincolnshire I can honestly say that much of this was down to the quality of the teaching we were given by George and Simon. They are true professionals, very knowledgeable and ultra enthusiastic. At no time during the three days did I feel any sense of danger towards myself or my children, I knew we were in very capable hands. Please pass on my thanks to George and Simon and we would all like to think that one day we will be back.
Kind regards,
Andy, Hannah and Jessica Tasker
Hi Gillian, Simon and George
Just wanted to send a quick message on behalf of us all, to let you know how much we enjoyed our stay in Lanzarote last week. Sophie and Amy really enjoyed the surfing and would like to say thanks to the boys.
We were very impressed with the running of the course and felt that the girls were in safe hands. We loved staying in Famara, it was extremely relaxed and seems a million miles away now that I’m back at work in London. (The weather seems a million miles away too.)
We’d love to return sometime and in the meantime we will recommend surf school Lanzarote to our friends.
Thanks once again.
Regards, Linda and Simon Gaze.
Tim.
Just a quick thank you to you and the two boys for a fabulous few days of ,surfing. I think I can safely say our bodies are starting to recover from the pain of using some unusual muscles and being pounded with salty water!
The reason we had been recommended to come to you was because your course was more complete and professionally run than others, and I have to say it was everything exactly as advertised. The surf was predictably good and we have both learnt things that no one has ever taken the time to explain to us before.
I think we will both be trying to cement some of the things we learnt this summer in Cornwall, let's hope the weather is up to it. I can also see us visiting you again for a continuation of our learning experience.
Please pass on our thanks to George and Simon, both of whom were excellent instructors as well.
Thanks again,
Fraser and Vickie
_________________________________________________________________
Dear Tim,
Having attended the surf school last month, I would like to take this opportunity to send you this friendly note about the course and to say thank you.
It's been an interesting, well placed and well structured course. I had a terrific time and in my opinion the quality of instruction from all of you was first class. I was very impressed by the combination of skills shown by all of the instructors!
The course was run professionally and catered to the needs of the individuals. The sessions were varied with a good mix of practical and theory sessions all injected with an element of fun. All the instructors were approachable with strong subject knowledge and experience.
I was always impressed with Simon's careful group control, attention to safety and detail as well as individual care.
An extremely enjoyable and rewarding course (quite hard though....but it wouldn't be rewarding otherwise!!!) that I will recommend to friends in the future.
I would like to thank the coaches and their dedication and knowledge of which they have shared with me.
Thanks, best wishes for the future.
Regards,
Judit Uj
Tim,
I just thought that I would write to say how much Corina & I enjoyed our 3 day course last week.
We thought that Simon & George were fantastic teachers, they were extremely thorough & gave fantastic, detailed instruction for the duration of the course. Corina has had lessons in the past when on holiday in Australia, she was staggered at the difference in the lessons. It was a very, very enjoyable 3 days.
Could you thank Simon & Tim for us.
We are both now hooked on surfing & intend to come back for a 3 or 5 day course again in October after a 2 week trip to Bali in July.
Kind regards,
Andrew Westbrook
Hi Tim
I just wanted to say a massive thanks for teaching me how to surf "properley" over the last week, i had a great time and feel i have learned alot, and definitely have more control when on a wave.
I had some great expereinces especially going out back with you i can tell you that the heart was pounding!!
back in England now where its freezing and raining, suddenley that wind doesn't feel so bad!!
Hope your well, thanks again
Matthew Brear
Dear Zoey,
Just back from our surfing holiday in Lanzarote. I wanted to let you know how wonderful it was; the holiday far exceeded our expectations. The feature which really stood out was the quality of the training at the Surf School Lanzarote. I know that I'm probably sounding like an advert but the guy in charge, Tim Jones was fantastic. The man is bursting with enthusiasm for his sport and skilfully encourages and cajoles everyone around him so that they too share his joy.
I took my two teenage children and one of their friends with me and was concerned about the obvious dangers of surfing. As soon as I met Tim and George, his assistant I knew that I didn't need to be worried about our safety. They identified all risks and taught us how to maximise our safety. They had eyes everywhere. Nothing escaped their attention ... which is reassuring when you and your loved ones are bouncing around on a board in the surf.
I'd half expected the teaching to be done on an ad-hoc basis but in fact, the whole process was efficiently planned and organised. Tim reminded me of an all knowing, kind hearted sergeant major. He even spent the lunch breaks giving us surfing related talks.
Something else that surprised me was the cross section of people taking the course. I imagined that there would be nothing but sprightly, blonde, strong, young men. Actually, there was a lovely mix of all ages and sexes: Families, couples and more women than men.
We look forward to visiting Famara and Tim's school again. Many thanks for your website and organising the trip.
All the best,
John.
Hi Tim
I just wanted to say thanks for the wonderful tuition I had off you and George and Simon the other week. I really enjoyed myself and learnt so much.
Today is one of the rare occaisions we have swell in Paignton where I live, so I've just been in. Now I'm back on my board I can really appreciate how much I learnt, and my husband was shocked at my confidence in paddelling out!
thanks again, and I hope to come back soon.
Jo-Ann Drury
Dear Tim, Simon and George,
Thank you all for a really amazing week of surf tuition, I thought that your teaching style and knowledge of surfing was exceptional.
I had a great time and your enthusiasm and love of surfing was incredibly inspirational and has really motivated me to try and get fitter and stronger for my next surf holiday so that i have a fighting chance of popping up and staying up!
Thanks again,
Dani x
Hey Tim,
Dave here from the 3 Irish amigos (Pete,Emmet were the other 2) that were over with you a few weeks ago. First off let me tell you that we had an amazing time with you guys, and was the brilliant experience from start to finish. Personally I learned more than I could have hoped, and we were practising it all last weekend, with snow on the dunes, which was quite a change from Lanzarote :) We will definitely be back at some stage in the future, hopefully the end of this year.
Regards
Dave
Hi Tim & Gillian,
Big thanks from me too!
It was just the best surf trip I ever had!
Every single day, I was learning something new and that's a great feeling - the carve board session was a real enlightenment to understand what I need to do to improve my style. I've learnt loads & I now have loads of new thoughts to put in practice in the (freezing) water!
It was also great to try loads of different boards & understand better the designs/how the boards work. It has really re-opened my mind to have loads of fun surfing different boards!
And of course, I will always keep some great memories of "magic sessions", like the sunny longboard session on the East coast or paddling out for the dawn sessions with the sky still red!
It was an amazing trip - many thanks again!
If you're coming to London or Woolacombe & need somewhere to crash, don't hesitate to give me a shout!
Take care & have a great Christmas & New Year.
Olivier
Hi Tim,
I've just shivered my way through my first chilly weekend back in the UK after a completely fabulous week in Famara with you guys and Surf South West, and I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you.
Brian and I had the most amazing week, which I don't think I'll ever forget. I have done a couple of day courses before but I have never enjoyed learning to surf as much as I did with you, and despite my annoying cold slowing me down, I was really pleased with how I progressed over the week. You and Simon and Gus were so perceptive, patient and helpful to me that I couldn't fail to improve! I'm looking forward to coming back again and improving some more - next stop, unbroken waves...
It's going to seem very strange tomorrow morning climbing into a suit rather than a wetsuit, but I'll be thinking of you all out there on the beach.
Please pass my thanks on to Simon and Gus, and I hope to see you soon.
Thanks again
Claire
I've just gotten off Magic Seaweed, looks like my local will be good tonight, possibly cracking Wednesday evening, it's a testement to the quality of the course that I can't wait to get back into the water, despite the cold.
Had a great time, learnt so much, I have lots of work to do but a least I know what direction I'm going in. The structure of the course and the quality of instruction were both first class, marry that with fantastic weather and waves all week and you've got a perfect surf holiday. I will definitely be recommending the school to friends.
Will be back in contact when I feel I'm ready for that custom board.
Both Ireland and Wales beaten over the weekend, what a bummer.
Thanks for a great time.
Adrian.
Hey Tim,
Back at work with a fading sun-tan...I´d really like to thank you for two good weeks. The structure of the course was really good, with drills and then time to work on each one of them. Also the talks about different subjects important and/or interesting for surfing were really good, especially since you seem to know so much and never had a hard time answering questions.
Both I and Malve also found your way of teaching superb. One step at the time and focus on what´s most important no matter in what phase of development we were. Especially good was it when one of you stood on the beach so that you could answer questions and give comments while we surfed.
Most important I think is how enthusiastic and genuinely dedicated all three of you seem to be about surfing and teaching.
The store in Stockholm that recommended you is Rockaway Beach, e-mail: info@rockawaybeach.se
Best wishes to you
David
Hi Tim,
This looks fantastic, thanks a million Tim.
I’m really excited now at the prospect of moving onto something more suited to my size and abilities.
Now I’m looking forward to working with Adrian on delivering on the final package.
Thanks for all your encouragement & help , I have to say , it truly is great to come across someone like yourself who really does embody the spirit of this wonderful sport. Apart from the obvious thrill of the waves , that sense of community and support is one of the many reasons I was attracted to surfing.
Thanks again Tim , I hope to see you in the water again sometime soon.
Slán agus beannacht leat,
Alan
Dear Tim and Jo
Now that Ryan and myself are back in Bath ready to start our final year at uni, we thought we would just say a massive thank you for the amazing surfing experience you both provided for us in September.
On arrival we didn't even think we would be standing up on the boards by the end of the week, but thanks to your excellent coaching and instruction which was pitched at just the right level, we achieved that and more!You really pushed us and challeneged us beyond anything we thought we would achieve in a week. We also feel a bit more educated about surfing in general which is great. We are hoping to book up another holiday next summer and would be looking at coming back for a longer course of lessons- we will keep you posted!
We have definately caught the surfing 'bug' and are going to join the surf club at uni and take it from there! Wetsuits are on the Christmas list and hopefully in the not too distant future we will be getting our own boards!
Thank you once again for making it the best holiday I've certainly ever had. Next year I will be paddling out so Ryan doesn't leave me behind!- I'm going to work hard on my swimming!
Take care,
Best wishes
Emma and Ryan
hi tim,
colum here ( tall guy from dublin, you picked me up outside mcdonalds during april a few times and I had diarrhea). any way I have just had my first surf since our lessons in april (I had just had a new baby if you remember) and recalled that I meant to email you after leaving lanzarote to, well to say thanks really and also to explain how much of a difference the lessons made and why. I only really surf a couple of times a year, I have work and family commitments and I am involved in a couple of other sports as well, so it can be difficult to get over to the west coast. therefore I thought that after a period of time, I was not going to get any better because I just didn't surf that much. I still enjoyed an occasional time in the water, but catching a wave and making it down the line were pretty much the limit of my expectations. I have had individual lessons before and gleaned a few tips from some of them and nothing from others. it's not that I didn't want to try other things but I was never in the water long enough to try new things or to practice them and I also didn't understand what to attempt next or how to attempt it. after a couple of pertinent lessons from you guys that all changed. I am used to playing sports at high levels and so have been exposed to very technical training. the key for me is that at some point the new technique clicks. it is not just a matter of being shown what to do, it is also necessary to understand what you are doing, what you are trying to accomplish and why it might help. in this way you can think your way though the technique as your body learns it and then eventually (one hopes) it will become second nature. that is what I think you achieved, instead of just giving instructions, you provided me with an explanation and therefore an understanding of the techniques and that is why I remembered them five months later and although there was a little rustiness I still surfed better than I had before, enjoyed it more because of that and understood what I had forgotten to do when things didn't quite go according to plan. in conclusion, by a long way the best surfing lessons I have ever had.
thanks
regards
colum
ps:would it be ok to ask you about board design as I need a new board and don't really know much about what I need.
Hi Tim
Thanks for a great week’s course. Your tuition was excellent, the emphasis on safety was reassuring and you even got us old wrinklies standing up on our boards! The highest praise comes from our 2 teenagers who felt they had really learnt a great deal from you and would like to return for more. We loved Caleta de Famara – it felt very ‘real’ and unspoilt, although we are still emptying sand out of our belongings.
As a fellow Christian I welcomed your prayer at the beginning of each day – we were all well and truly blessed!
Keep up the good work
Best wishes
Julie Jarman
Paul Witzig, writer and surf film maker... 1972
