WE ARE OPEN FOR SUMMER 2024

Salt Shack Surf School was started by brother and sister duo, Holly and Jay Quinn, both World class surfers and qualified Surfing New Zealand coaches. After 3 years on the Kapiti Coast, Salt Shack is now open in Gisborne and run by Holly with help from local coaches.

Adult & Kids Learn to surf lessons run every weekend on select times. We will be running a range of lesson types over the Summer Holidays for Adults, Kids and Ladies groups. See below for our monthly schedule, and go over to our bookings page to book!

School groups and private lessons can be booked on request.

BOOKINGS

FEB SESSIONS

MONDAYS: ON REQUEST

Ladies sessions are every Monday and Friday at 9am, these sessions focusing on water confidence and technique, these are designed to further your surfing and knowledge and skills to surf independently. Sessions are $110 for a 3 week block. Please book using the Bookings Tab. These are for our ladies that have attended Salt Shack before. Limited to 8 people.

PROGRESSIVE LEVEL : Still needing help in the water, learning to ride unbroken waves.

Bookings for all 3 sessions are essential.

WEEKEND LESSONS

LEARN TO SURF : Come and learn to surf in some of the best beaches in New Zealand. Gisborne has a range of amazing waves and conditions for every type of surfer.

We run small lessons with maximum 4-5 surfers per coach. Lessons range from 1hr to 1.5 hours long. All equipment is provided, you will learn surfing skills, good technique, paddling skills, water and beach safety. And most importantly how to stand up on a wave. We run lessons twice a weekend, you can book a private for 3 or more if the times do not suit you.

ADULT/KIDS GROUP LESSONS: Weekends. $60 per person. all inclusive

AFTERSCHOOL KIDS PROGRAM $110. Tuesdays for 3 weeks

LADIES MORNING SESSIONS $110. Mondays for 3 weeks

Note: Prices vary through the season, and in our local programs.

Private lessons upon request and start at $100

Qualified professional surf coaches • Tailored lessons to suit all levels • Group and private lessons available • All ages and abilities welcome.

OUR LESSONS ARE AVAILABLE TO BOOK UNDER OUR BOOKING TAB IN THE MENU

If you can swim, you can surf

Note: Kids Age 6-16yrs. If there is no swell on the day you will be credited for another session

TERM 1- KIDS 2024 Starting Feb 5th

Intake 1: Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays

This program covers all surfing equipment • Designed for children and teens aged 7-14 • Coached by qualified Surfing Instructors •  For complete beginners to intermediate surfers •  2 levels of sessions available. 

Please note these sessions run for 3 weeks. If your session is cancelled it will be rescheduled or credited. Full payment and sign up is required before, if you are unable to commit to weekly sessions we have weekend sessions available.

BEGINNERS SESSION: Learning to surf is a fantastic way to teach children confidence in the ocean and to gift them with a passion they can carry on all through life. The program covers all surfing equipment, you will learn surfing skills, ocean & equipment knowledge, paddling skills, water and beach safety. Pre booked times are required at sign up.

PROGRESSING SESSION: During an improver lesson you will learn skills required to take your surfing to the next level. If you are competent at catching white water and standing up you are ready to improve! Reading waves, catching unbroken waves and trimming across waves are some of the skills you will learn to up-skill from a learner to enrich your surfing experience. Pre booked times are required at sign up.

2024 CAMPS

THERE ARE NO DECEMBER/ JAN CAMPS AVAILABLE

( surfing, yoga for surfers, equipment, food, 2 x nights accomodation, transport, professional photos )

We are amped to host our next round of Gizzy surf and yoga camps for women!. This weekend is all about having fun, building your confidence in the waves and improving your surfing fitness and skills!. Gisborne is one of NZ’s most consistent surf spots with heaps of different breaks for beginner surfers. You’ll have 2 professional surf instructors and a group 6- 10 surfers, so you are guaranteed to get all the tips you need. You’ll stay in style in at a Wainui beach back, with all fresh healthy meals are catered for you. There will be plenty of beach action, Video analysis, professional photos, stretching and time to relax by the pool!

SURF: Holly Quinn

Holly Quinn grew up in Gisborne with surfing as a way of life. She was a competitive junior surfer representing NZ over 10 times. These days she’s a freelance designer, mum of two, and owner of The Salt Shack Surf School. She froths more than all the groms and surfs twice a day, She loves to teach all levels to surf and encourages everyone to get out there in all conditions, cackles like a maniac in howling winds and revels in risking her own life and limb and maybe yours. Her confidence and joy in the ocean is contagious and she is super excited to share her knowledge and passion for surfing and show you all the best kept Gizzy secrets.

YOGA: Kiri Sutherland

Kiri Sutherland has taught and practiced yoga for almost 20 years. She randomly decided to start surfing at 40 (did someone say midlife crisis) and really appreciates the resilience and strength yoga gives her while learning to surf as an adult. She will take you through selected yoga poses and sequences to improve your mobility and strength, make you feel more confident and present in your body and ready to get back out there!

Accomodation & Food

You’ll have your own private room in a 4 bedroom house which will be used exclusively for our surf and yoga camp needs during the weekend from dining to yoga. We also have 4 places in the weekend available to anyone who prefers to arrange their own accommodation. Food It’s important to fuel up on something delicious and nutritious so you will be catered for by local chef Amy from the Black Fig catering co. At our camp house for most of your meals. This includes both breakfasts, lunches and one dinner during the weekend. On Saturday night we can head into Gizzy town to dine at one of our fav local restaurants.

BYO coffee, snacks and wine etc.

The Levels

Beginner: For surfers who have never surfed or have had a few lessons over the years, need a total refresh, require all gear supplied and lessons to be from the very beginning in the whitewater.

Progressing Beginner: For surfers who have a reasonable amount of experience, 12 months or who have been surfing seasonally for years. These surfers attempt to surf unbroken waves, but surfing is inconsistence and still need lots of basic surf knowledge and guided coaching sessions in the water. Or maybe a late starter to surfing wanting work on catching the right waves.

Intermediate: For surfers who are consistently catching unbroken waves, can perform basic top turns, can enter the lineup confidently and catch waves without any assistance form our coaches. May need work on generating speed and core technique.

CAMP REQUESTS:

Submit your details here with what type of camps you want to attend and we will email you what is coming up!