I WAS bobbing up and down on the water when I heard the gentle rumble building up behind me.
Looking backwards, I could see a growing wall of water, topped with white foam, closing in.
As I steadied myself on my surf- board, Ross, my instructor, floating about five feet to my right in a bright red wetsuit, shouted out: “Remember, when it hits your feet, I want you to give it four more mega-paddles.”
Seconds later, the thunderous wave was upon me and, like an aquatic rocket, propelled me forward with a mighty force.
The water roared, engulfing me as I battled to ride the torrent.
This wasn’t the mighty surf of Hawaii or Bondi or even Cornwall, but instead the world’s first inland artificial lagoon on the outskirts of Snowdonia.
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And this was my very FIRST, and very wobbly, time on a surfboard.
Swept along by the rush of water, I attempted to stand but, just like that, was thrown off my board and submerged.
Gliding elegantly ahead of me, Ross turned back and yelled by way of encouragement: “You nearly had it. Just 90 seconds until the next one.”
So off I waded and splashed, back to our starting point 30ft away, ready to go again.
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Filled with Welsh rainwater, the bracing lagoon at Adventure Parc Snowdonia is a feat of engineering that ensures precision waves every minute and a half.
With the newly opened Hilton Garden Inn hotel conveniently located just nearby, this is the perfect base for an adventure-filled trip on the outskirts of the ever-glorious Snowdonia national park.
Guests in this Welsh wonderland are treated to premium comfort — when not up to their neck in the surf.
Slick modern rooms and 31 chic glamping pods which sleep up to four people, are ideal for those who want to feel close to nature without losing the mod cons.
There’s also the Zephyr Bar & Grill on site that serves up hearty comfort food such as Welsh-reared sirloin steaks and surfers’ burgers served with fries.
It is all much appreciated after spending an afternoon being battered by those waves, or a day hiking the nearby peaks.
After my first day on the surf, I decided to give my sea legs a break and headed instead for the mighty mountains.
The Cwm Idwal trail, about a 40-minute drive from the hotel, has some of the most stunning scenery I’ve ever laid eyes on.
GO: Adventure Parc Snowdonia
STAYING THERE: A mini break for two starts from £315, including an overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia, with breakfast, choice of 55-minute treatment each and dinner for two at Zephyr’s Bar & Grill.
See adventureparcsnowdonia.com or call 01492 353123.
The three-mile hike takes you around a small lake which nestles between soaring cliffs which are blanketed by clouds.
It takes around three hours and is not the easiest of treks, with stony paths and rocky peaks and troughs, but the dramatic views make it all worth the effort.
Once I’d drunk in the scenery, my muscles craved a relaxing afternoon at the hotel’s Wave Garden Spa, which is sure to soothe even the most aching of bodies.
This tranquil haven has views overlooking the lagoon and nearby hills, and has an outdoor deck so you can watch the surf as you soak gently in the heated pools.
A glass of Prosecco in hand, I made my way straight to the spa’s waterfall pool and a luxury Himalayan salt sauna — making sure to polish off my tipple before entering.
But it’s the spa’s outside area that really stands out — with a warm hydrotherapy pool, loungers, relaxation pods and firepits to keep guests cosy during even the wettest of Welsh days.
Opening just last year, the spa uses chemical-free water while promoting cleansing and purifying treatments, along with Welsh-grown herbs to aid relaxation.
As a treat, I opted for a hot wave massage which uses warmed ceramic pods scented with lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary to slowly ease stiff muscles.
The waves outside may not have been a match for those in Australia, but if every surfing session here ends with a soothing back rub, I’ll take Adventure Parc’s lagoon over Bondi Beach any day.
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