Mastering The Wave – well, sort of

I can hear the waves start to roll in as I grapple with a wetsuit in the confines of a small wooden hut, trying to coax the reassuringly thick rubber over goose-pimpled legs.

Finally suited and booted, I head out to join James Long, my surf coach for the next hour and a half, on the AstroTurf lawn to the side of the large, wooden clubhouse at The Wave, Bristol’s much-anticipated inland surf lake that finally opened to the public on Friday, October 25.

“Warm enough?” asks James with a grin.

It’s a typically grey autumn morning, but the cold wind fails to penetrate my winter wetsuit and boots combo. In fact, I feel kind of invincible in this cosy rubber wrapping. In this outfit I am ready to conquer the world.

Back in real like, it’s time to get down to the important business of learning to surf. The first part of the lesson takes part on dry land and includes going through the main points of the board and logistics of getting to your feet. So far, so good – in theory at least.

After a brief, energetic warm-up – specially formulated for surfers – it’s time to hit the waves.

Learning important surf theory

The warm-up!

“Usually the one thing we can’t control is the waves,” says James. “Here, it’s like a surf instructors’ dream.” Originally from Scarborough (“hence the slight northern accent”), James has taught surfing in Portugal and Devon, before moving to Bristol for the job at The Wave.

He has the reassuring air of someone laid back from a life outdoors, but one who knows what he’s doing in the water. He is also the most encouraging person you could meet.

I catch the first wave in, lying on the board to get used to the feel of it. It is an exhilarating ride of pure joy that is over all too quickly.

The real beauty of this inland surf lake is that the waves, set at around three feet high today, keep rolling in, rhythmic, regular and perfect for practising coaxing my awkward limbs into cooperating with the instructions in my head.

There are few elements that compare to the wild freedom of the coast, but add an eight-foot long solid board, a few rookies and scattering of impatient pros into the mix and surfing in the sea can get easily get dicey pretty quickly.

The Wave offers the perfect opportunity for beginners and seasoned surfers to hone their skills in a safe, fun environment.

“Go for this one,” says James, giving the back of the board a quick shove to help me on my way as I clumsily spring to my feet. His exuberant shout of encouragement from behind follows me down to the shoreline.

There are plenty of spectacular wipe-outs along the way, some serious lack of coordination and more fun than you can imagine on a Monday morning – or any day of the week for that matter.

James patiently continues to coax my wayward feet into the right position (crucial to avoiding said wipe-outs). “You just need to loosen your limbs and go with the flow,” he coaches. “That’s why surfers all look so chilled.”

I may look stiff as the board I’m on, but inside I’m soaring high with endorphins and energy.

Without the unpredictability of the sea to contend with, there’s no fear factor, just the sheer, refreshing pleasure of being out in the elements and attempting to master a craft that’s so much more than a sport for many.

Time to hit the water

The waves start to roll in

Here goes nothing

Nailing the drowned rat look

It’s working – sort of!

“There’s one thing they said to us in training that really stuck with me,” says James. “They said, if this becomes a white, middle-class playground then we’ll have failed.”

I hope they stay true to their words, because it is an experience that everybody should be able to benefit from.

An hour and a half has flown by and I’m told I can get just one more wave before reluctantly heading back to dry land. After wrestling the wetsuit back off goose-pimpled limbs (harder than getting it on), it’s back inside for a much-needed hot drink.

“How was it?” Asks one of the surf instructors with a wide smile. No matter what level you’re at, the camaraderie and friendliness at this new attraction seem totally genuine. As for me, after a morning here, I’m about ready to conquer the world.

The Wave is the first of its kind in the world

Read more: The Wave: from pipe dream to reality