Winner of Surfer's Path Travel Operator of the Year 2007 - Shortlisted for Cornwall Tourism Leisure Pursuit Provider of the Year 2007 - Nominated for Sustainability Awards 2007 - Highly Recommended by the Fat Face Guide 2007 - Official Sponsors of Surfers Against Sewage environmental campaign group

Global Boarders Policies

Global Boarders › Surf Vacations › UK › Policies

Requirements to join

• All packages are open to solo travellers, groups and families of all levels of surf experience and all ages. Children and adults must be able to swim 25 metres.
• No prior surf or yoga experience is needed.
• Guests must be confident swimmers, in good health, in good physical condition and free of injuries.
• Guests must be 18 or over (except when accompanied by an adult/s).
• There is no maximum age limit!
• All Global Boarders guests must read and agree to the terms of our 'Release of Liability and Assumption of All Risks' (link will open in a new window) form, prior to their vacation. The Release form is available via download from our website, or we will gladly e-mail or post you a copy.

Booking Policy

It is advisable to make your reservations as early as possible. Upon initial sign up and inquiry a tentative booking is made and held for 7 days. Your reservation is secure once we have received 50% deposit. This deposit is fully refundable unless you cancel your holiday less than 10 weeks before your arrival date. The balance is due not later than 10 weeks prior to your arrival date (we will notify you of this date closer to the time). If payment is not received by this date your vacation will be deemed as cancelled and your deposit will not be refunded.

Booking less than 10 weeks in advance - Full payment will be due upon booking and there will be no refund available should you wish to cancel.

Optional extras - these must be booked and paid for no later than 4 weeks prior to your arrival date.

Payments

After any payments have been received you will be notified and confirmed by e-mail.

We accept major credit and debit cards, personal cheques and bank transfers in GB Sterling. Rates listed are per person and are subject to change, however, your price will not change after your vacation has been booked and paid.

Travel and Flight Information

Please book your travel to arrive on the confirmed arrival date after 16:00 hours and to depart on the confirmed departure date before 13:00 hours. The free transfers to and from the accommodation are from Penzance Railway Station or Newquay airport only. Other transfers are available by prior arrangement and subject to extra costs.

If you have arranged transfers with us, our driver will be there to meet you and take you to the Global Boarders accommodation.

Global Boarders is not responsible for missed transportation that is provided for you for any reason including flight delays, earlier or later departure, etc... Transportation via shuttle or taxi will be at your own expense.

Global Boarders provides excellent surfboards, but if you bring your own, contact your airline or transporter first to confirm if there is any additional baggage charges. Global Boarders are not responsible for any of your own equipment which you bring with you; please make sure that you have adequate insurance for this.

Global Boarders is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled trips, such as airline tickets, or for costs incurred due to travel delays, flight cancellation or illness. You are responsible for purchasing travel protection insurance at the time you book your flights. Exceptions to our policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies and illness, political incidents or natural disasters. Payment to Global Boarders indicates agreement with this cancellation policy.

Accounts to be settled

Everything which is included in your package is clearly stated on the itinerary which you will receive on booking. Please settle all other bills direct with the appropriate establishments.

Cancellation Policy

If we cancel... (and we have never cancelled to date!)

If Global Boarders must cancel a vacation or surf lesson, payment will be refunded in full.

However, Global Boarders cannot be responsible for the weather and we will only cancel a surf session if the weather and conditions are deemed detrimental or dangerous i.e. if the red flags are out! No part-refunds are payable if surf has to be cancelled due to the weather.

Your deposit is fully refundable unless you cancel your holiday less than 10 weeks before your arrival date. The balance is due no later than 10 weeks prior to your arrival date (we will notify you of this date closer to the time). If payment is not received by this date your vacation will be deemed as cancelled and your deposit will not be refunded.

You will be fully refunded if you have paid for any optional extras which for whatever reason are cancelled by Global Boarders. There is no refund available if you choose to cancel optional extras at any time.

All guests must provide personal information and a signed Release Form before transfer to the Global Boarders accommodation. Failure to comply will result in cancellation and no refund whatsoever will be made.

Food Policies

We endeavour to use locally sourced and produced organic food where possible. We also support Fair Trade and environmentally friendly products. However, it is not always possible/feasible to supply some of these products and substitutions will be made where necessary.

Groups/Responsibility

Global Boarders accept responsibility for the welfare of the group whilst they are travelling in our vehicles or when taking part in the surf lessons. The group leader must accept all responsibility including financial, for the group outside of these periods including any offensive behaviour or damage to a third party (person or property).

Noise pollution/offensive or damaging behaviour

Global Boarders reserve the right to cancel a guests' vacation at any time if they are found to commit any offensive behaviour or damage to a third party (person or property) as deemed by Global Boarders staff. There will be no refund whatsoever and, for the sake of the rest of the party, the guest will be invited to leave the accommodation. All damages will be collected immedietely, directly from the guest's credit/debit card via a mandatory pre-signed credit card slip.

Pre-signed credit / debit card slip

All damages will be collected immediately, directly from the guest's credit / debit card via a mandatory pre-signed credit card slip which Global boarders will ask to be signed on arrival at the accommodation.

Surf instructors and transfer staff

Global Boarders Surf Instructors and Transfer Staff will put safety before all other concerns. If they deem a person unfit to surf or travel in the vehicles then the client will be responsible for making other arrangements to suit the situation.

Weather and Surfing conditions

Global Boarders are not responsible for the weather or surfing conditions and will only cancel sessions if safety is a concern. Otherwise they will adhere strictly to the British Surfing Association guidelines.

Non Smoking policy

All of the Global Boarders properties are non-smoking.

Normal and Emergency Operating Procedures
Our Code of Conduct

Preparation For A Surfing Session

• Before the commencement of the surfing session it is the responsibility of a member of Global Boarders (usually the instructor in charge), to collate all relevant information which will include any relevant medical concerns and information which could prove important in the event of an emergency.
• If you bring your own equipment it must be in top condition and safe and suitable for the purpose intended. Global Boarders accept no liability whatsoever should you use any of your own equipment. The equipment provided by Global Boarders will be in good condition and safe and suitable for the purpose intended. Before the commencement of each session the times and locations will be checked and confirmed for suitability.

Normal Operating Procedures

Instructor specific

• All instructors actively working for Global Boarders will be fully qualified BSA coaches.
• As part of this qualification they will hold the relevant life saving/beach lifeguard qualifications.
• All instructors must behave in a suitable manner and adhere to safe practice at all times; quality coaching will be adopted as normal practice allowing for a quality experience.
• All instructors whilst active on behalf of Global Boarders will be punctual, friendly and wear appropriate clothing at all times.

Meeting / instructing / supervising the guests

All lessons must be met with punctuality, and all guests are to be made to feel welcome and looked after.

• Guests' ability levels must be assessed and the appropriate boards allocated, wetsuits if required will be sized appropriately and allocated.
• All participants are to be briefed on acceptable codes of behaviour, health and safety requirements, and environmental issues and above all of these safe operating guidelines.
• The safety and welfare of both guests and instructors is of high importance, all safety points, procedures and their function must be adhered to.
• A positive, friendly and enjoyable atmosphere must be maintained throughout every session.
• The Global Boarders' instructor must NEVER let the behaviour of an individual compromise the safety and wellbeing of the group or themselves. All disputes will be dealt with firmly and quickly according good practice and sound operating procedure.
• All incidents, accidents and emergencies will be dealt with appropriately and recorded and reported in the Global Boarders' accident report log book.
• Sufficient time must be allowed at the end of the session for debriefing and discussions with Global Boarders guests.
• All equipment issued to the guests must be checked for damage / repaired and cleaned as appropriate.
• All Global Boarders' instructors are to leave the beach environment in the state they found it taking into account environmental issues.

Emergency Action Plan

• The senior member of staff will take control in an event of an emergency.
• The second in command will, if needed, be designated in case of an emergency.
• There will be pre arranged emergency signals for all guests to adhere to that will not conflict with the lifeguards and cause potential unsafe conditions.
• All Global Boarders guests will be withdrawn from the water during an emergency where a head count will then be conducted.
• Guests will be used if necessary to assist in an emergency e.g. crowd control and obtaining assistance etc.
• In the event of a water rescue another instructor / pupil will be sent to contact the relevant emergency services whilst we enlist any suitable help to:
  
  (i) Effect the rescue of the patient - without putting the instructors' and guests' lives at risk.
  
  (ii) Remove the person to a safe area (victims of a spinal injury should not be moved unless absolutely necessary).
  
  (iii) Diagnose the extent of injury and shock.
  
  (iv) Follow appropriate action with reference to previous training.
  
  If there is a land based incident and Global Boarders' instructors are attending then all guests are to be withdrawn from the water.

If an instructor in charge, is injured or becomes incapacitated during the operations of a lesson:

All surfers in the group to remove themselves from the sea and gather away from the water's edge in a safe and secure position - THEN CARRY OUT THE FOLLOWING:

(i) If on a lifeguard beach, seek assistance from the lifeguards on duty.

(ii) If there are no lifeguards seek assistance from another instructor and / or appropriate person on the beach.

After any incident there will be a debrief and the emergency action plan will be assessed and re-structured if needed.

Child protection / vulnerable adults

All Global Boarders staff have been screened by the Criminal Records Bureau. Global Boarders operates to a strict child protection practice.

• Global Boarders' instructors must be aware of their relationships with, and attitudes to, young people and adults who are deemed vulnerable. The code of conduct must at all times are appropriate to the age and gender of the individuals and groups concerned.
• Global Boarders' instructors conduct (formal and informal) and contact (physical, visual or verbal) must at all times be of a professional manner and must not give rise to undue comment or detrimental speculation.
• Global Boarders' instructors must at all times be aware of their legal, social and emotional responsibilities towards the guest in their care. As a code of good practice these guidelines will be adhered to at all times.

Instructing to a basic level

• All Global Boarders' instructors are to ensure that all explanations, appropriate skills and demonstrations are clear and precise.
• Close quarter monitoring should at all times be used allowing for the guests to ask questions.
• The strengths and weaknesses of each guest will be identified and advice will be given on ways to improve their surfing skills and ability.
• Each session of surfing tuition will follow step by step progression as outlined by the national governing body.
• All Global Boarders' instructors will aim to promote confidence, motivation and safe enjoyment of surfing with each of the guests.

Lesson specific

• All equipment to be used by Global Boarders' guests is to be in a condition which is safe and suitable for the purpose by which it is to be used i.e. boards, wetsuits etc.
• Instructors carrying out surf tuition for Global Boarders must wear a clear and recognisable brightly coloured rash vest for ease of recognition.
• All Global Boarders' guests are also to wear a clear and recognisable rash vest in order to highlight good visibility for the instructor allowing for safe surf tuition.
• At the commencement of each session, Global Boarders' EAP will be explained to all guests, this will include the location of such things as:
  Telephone
  First aid box
  Lifeguards etc.
• No more than eight guests to one instructor in the water at any time.
• The Global Boarders instructor will not participate in the art of surfing unless it is for demonstration purposes and the benefit of the coaching session.
• The ability and suitability of each Global Boarders guest will be analysed before the session will begin allowing for the correct allocation of surfing attire and equipment.
• The format of the coaching sessions will take the approved A, B, C, method as outlined within the BSA guidelines.

The health and safety of all guests entering the water is of the utmost importance and all safety guidelines must be adhered to.