Our story

The people and the philosophy behind WaveRetreat.

Rich Lacey, founder of WaveRetreat, with his surfboard
Our Founder

Meet Rich Lacey

A passionate surf coach on a mission to change lives through surfing and yoga.

It was during his time skateboarding and training for competitions that Rich learned to quieten his mind, overcome fear and reach his goals. He founded WaveRetreat to help others do the same — pairing world-class surf coaching with the calm and focus that yoga brings.

From a first whitewater wave to elite performance, Rich coaches every level with patience and stoke — and as a qualified yoga teacher, he weaves breath and movement into everything WaveRetreat does, both in Cornwall and on retreat.

ISA Level 2 Surf Coach International Beach Lifeguard 200-Hour Yoga Teacher
The Crew

Meet the team

Qualified, safety-first surf coaches and experienced yoga teachers who live the WaveRetreat philosophy.

RL

Rich Lacey

Founder & Head Coach

Surf coach, international beach lifeguard and 200-hour qualified yoga teacher. Rich blends performance coaching with breath and focus to help everyone progress — in the water and out of it.

ISA Level 2 Surf Coach200-Hour Yoga Teacher
AR

Alicia Ray

Lead Yoga Teacher

A 500-hour experienced yoga teacher, Alicia leads our daily practice on retreat — guiding flexibility, balance, breath and calm for surfers of every level.

500-Hour Yoga TeacherExperienced
Trust the vibes you get

Our Philosophy

“Follow your dreams. Inspire. Help others and the next generation understand the importance of wellness of body and mind. Change is not something we should fear — it’s something we should welcome. For without change, nothing in this world would ever grow or blossom.”

— Rich Lacey, Founder

What We Stand For

Our values

Care

Safety first, always. We look after each other and every guest in the water, so you can push yourself and progress with total confidence.

Growth

From your first whitewater wave to elite performance, we help you progress in the water and find calm and focus out of it.

Community

Solo traveller, surfer, yogi or pro team — everyone is welcome. Our small, dedicated crew shares the stoke at every step.

Come with us

Adventure is worthwhile. Join the crew for a lesson in Cornwall or a retreat somewhere extraordinary.