Become a Surf Instructor in 2019

Become a Surf Instructor in 2019

Being a surf instructor is up there with one of the best jobs you can have as a surfer. Commit to a course and get qualified and in no time you will be rewarded with a job where you get to spend every day on the beach, work in surf camps across the globe and you get to see the faces of super stoked pupils daily. 

 

We asked the people in the know what’s involved in becoming a surf instructor and take a look at courses on offer. 

Q & A

Surf South West

What are the basic surf requirements for becoming a surf instructor?
All level 1 surf instructors need to be able to demonstrate that they can paddle out back by duck diving or using a ‘turtle roll’. Maintain position in the line-up and take off on the peak on unbroken waves. They need to be able to pop up efficiently and be able to trim left and right along the wave, ending their rides with control. They need to be able to show understanding of basic surfing etiquette at all times.

What is the difference between level 1 and level 2?
The level 1 qualification focusses on all the skills required to take complete beginner surfers to the stage where they are starting to take off on unbroken waves for the first time. This is the entry level qualification and all you need to start teaching in the UK. The level 2 qualification is aimed at elite and club level coaches. It covers video analysis, fitness, and long term athlete development.

Are your qualifications internationally recognised?
The ISA (international surfing association) are the recognised governing body for surfing around the world. Their qualifications are internationally recognised.

Surf Coach Academy

What standard of fitness do you need?
You need to be able to swim at least 200 meters and meet the requirements for the surfing assessment.

What standard of surfing do you need to have?
For level 1 a candidate should be able to paddle and negotiate their way out back in surf approx. 1m surf. They need to demonstrate good ocean awareness, wave selection and positioning in the line up particularly relating to maintaining theirs and others safety. Clear demonstration of surfing etiquette, ie not dropping in. When riding waves the skill level required is to be able to take off on an unbroken wave, do a bottom turn, traverse across the wave, demonstrating good trim and as a minimum basic turns up and down on the wave ie roller coastering. The surfer must be able to end their ride with clear control with a kick out the back off the wave or controlled stall. This ability needs to be shown on a consistent basis. The surfer must show they can ride both backhand and forehand. The surfer must be able to return back to shore safely.

Is there a minimum or maximum age limit?
Minimum age is 16 years. No max age. At 16 you can sit the course but will be classed as an Assistant Coach until turning 18. Until a coach turns 18 they are not able to work alone and must work under the supervision of a coach who is over 18.

Stoked Surf Adventures

What qualifications do you need to become a surf instructor?
To be a surf instructor you need an internationally recognised certifications (ISA and ASI are two of the most common options) and also a surf lifesaver certificate. Level 1 of both are the standard for beginner surf coaching and enough to get you started on your surf career.

How long does it take to qualify?
It really depends on your surf skills. The surf competence test involves catching green waves both left and right, paddling out back safely and also controlled dismounts, so that the minimum aim. If your skills are already at that level you can smash out both courses combine in around 7 days. There are some epic “zero to hero” style courses (we offer them in South Africa, Australia, Morocco and Bali) that can get you to that level in 10-12 weeks with barely any previous surf experience. If you’re not quite there there are also options for 4 and 8 weeks too (such as the Bali options we offer)

Do you need lifeguard or first aid training?
You don’t need a full beach lifeguard certification to surf coach but you will need a surf lifesaver certificate. This covers the basics of in water rescue (including paddle boards and spinal drills) as well as CPR and first aid modules. Don’t worry though these certifications don’t require any previous knowledge.

ASI

What are the benefits to the job?
When you become an ASI surfing instructor, you are part of the worldwide network…ASI surfing instructors are professionals, just like accountants or lawyers. As such ASI surfing instructors are trained to the highest standards in the world, with the ability to connect to other members and schools worldwide. You can become an ASI trainer and train other instructors and be sent to locations anywhere in the world.

What are the negatives to the job?
Not many. You can follow the sun, and the seasons. You meet a whole lot of people in countries where you don’t know anyone or anything. Its fun. However, if you are doing too many lessons you can get burnt out. So remember to pace yourself and enjoy !

What are the stages to becoming a surf instructor?
With ASI, you need to know how to surf at least at the intermediate level. You wont believe there are others offering qualifications where you only have to be a basic surfer! ASI has created the worldwide criteria for intermediate surfing level (and beginner and advanced) so you know exactly where you stand or surf. As a professional, you are trained to the highest standards. Attend training workshops, complete practical hours and keep your skills updated by working on the job. See the ASi website for specific details on what is required at each of the surfing instructor levels.

SURF INSTRUCTOR COURSES

Stoked Surf Adventures

Want to plan your perfect surf trip? Whether it’s jumping on an epic surf adventure, training to be a surf instructor or finding the perfect surf camp Stoked Surf Adventures has you covered! With destinations from the Maldives to Bali and South Africa we’ve got something for everyone. We also have the largest range of instructor courses on the internet!

Australia: Year round, £4780
South Africa: Jan and Sept, from £5295
Morocco: Jan and Sept, from £4275
Bali: March, June, Sept & Dec each year, from £2054
Sri Lanka: April and Nov, from £895
UK: April through to Oct, from £300

stokedsurfadventures.com 
[email protected]

Surf Coach Academy

Surf Coach Academy is a professional qualification service provider. We offer ISA (International Surfing Association) surf coaching level 1 and 2 accreditations. These awards are internationally recognised and set the benchmark for surf coaching qualifications worldwide . If you would like a job on the beach then we can get you qualified to set you on your career pathway.

Location: Newquay, Cornwall, England. Fistral beach and Towan beach
Price: £300 level 1, £400 level 2

Dates: 30-31 March, 27-28 April, 18-19 May, 15-16 June, 29-30 June, 14-15 September, 12-13 October, 9-10 November

www.surfcoachacademy.com
[email protected]

Surf South West

The level 1 surf coach course gives new coaches the skills to take beginner surfers into the ocean. This covers surfer safety, venue analysis, specific coaching techniques, communication skills, group management and lesson planning. The course takes place both in the classroom, on the beach and in the ocean, where participants demonstrate their own surfing ability and practice putting their coaching skills into action under our guidance.

Location: Croyde, Devon
Price: £299

Dates: 30-31 March, 20-21 April, 11-12 May, 8-9 June, 6-7 July, 14-15 September

www.surfsouthwest.com
[email protected]

ASI – Academy of Surfing Instructors

The ASI is the world’s leading professional membership, education and accreditation body for surfing, SUP and bodyboarding. Operating in over 20 countries, instructor careers range from Level 1-Level 5 Master Coach with continuing professional development. ASI accredited instructors attain skills and competencies to work in any location throughout the world.

Dates & Locations:
UK: Jan – Nov (L1, L2, L3) – Dunbar Scotland, Pembrokeshire Wales, Challaborough Devon, Bude Cornwall, Gwithian Cornwall.
Australia: Jan – Dec (Apprenticeship, L1, L2, L3) – Noosa Heads Queensland, Scarborough WA, Arrawarra NSW, Ulladulla NSW, Palm Beach Queensland, North Wollongong NSW.
USA: Jan – October in USA (L1, L2) – Hanalei Bay Hawaii, Montauk Long Island.
Portugal: March to Dec (L1, L2, L3) Sagres

Prices: From £240 – £260

www.academyofsurfing.com
[email protected]

King Of The Point Goes off on UK’s East Coast

For the second year running the Secret Spot KING OF THE POINT supported by Rip Curl went down in stellar conditions. After waiting through several ‘amber warning’ swells the signal finally went green late afternoon Saturday. The invited list of surfers scrambled logistics and assembled at dawn on a frosty spring morning. The plan for the day was to run round 1 at an out of the way left hand cobblestone reef. A quick turnaround and blast to a pounding left hand ledge for round 2.

A highlight of the East Coast surf comp scene that involved many of the old legends and an increasing number of younger frothers from the main regions os Scarborough, Whitby, Saltburn, Tynemouth and further afield. After the final horn was blown it was straight to the nearest pub for presentation.

“This was such a great event to be involved with for Rip Curl. A real core event that helps promote the scene in this proud surfing region.” Joel Gray Rip Curl UK

“The original idea was born to bring a group of surfers together from different locations. Rather than have a knock out contest format we wanted to keep people surfing all day. Two rounds with plenty of time in the water with people enjoying the camaraderie of it all.” Scotty, Secret Spot.

“Stoked to pull off another great contest in great waves.” Tomo, Secret Spot.

In the end to cheers from everyone the winner was Saltburn goofy footer Kris Fairest.”I missed the event last year so I was stoked to be able to do it this year. Im really pleased to win and Ive had a great fun day – a good laugh with everyone together. Big thanks to Tomo and Scotty for putting the event on. Everyone had a laugh and hope it’s on next year.”

Results

Kris Fairest 1st Place
Gabe Davies 2nd Place
Joel Gray / Evan Rogers 3rd place
Sandy Kerr 4th place

Best Wave
Joel Gray

Longest Wave
Posh Tom (Tom Wilson)

Raddest Drop
Delboy (Broadbent)

Queen of the Point
Emily Grimes

Grom of the Event
Cade Dickinson

Best Wipeout
Andy Hogg
Prawn (Shaun Thomas)

WSL rejigs the format

The WSL is gearing up for the big league season start in April with the welcome confirmation that they’ve tidied up the way comps work, as detailed above and below. No more long painful Rd2 or random Rd5. This also means if conditions are pumping overlapping heats can be run, maximising waves on offer and shortening event windows.

Championship Tour Format Updates
The WSL CT is the world’s premier surfing series that crowns the undisputed women’s and men’s World Champions at the conclusion of each season. With the goal to improve the competition for both the athletes and the fans, new format updates will be introduced this year.

“As we continue to evolve and improve all areas of the sport, we have made important format updates to the Championship Tour,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO. “Our goal is to further raise performance levels with a surfer-first mentality, while also engaging the fans. We hope that going straight to head-to-head matchups from Round 3 onwards will drive more direct competition while making the format more engaging for viewers.”

The new updates are a continuation from last year’s format changes, which eliminated Round 5 in the men’s event and Round 4 in the women’s event. There will now be linear advancement (bracket) after Round 3 to the Finals, in addition to head-to-head matchups from Round 3 to the Finals. Additionally, all head-to-head heats have the option to ‘overlap’, which means two heats can run simultaneously, giving the events more flexibility to run during the best conditions.

Men’s CT Format Updates

• Round 1 will still have twelve heats with three surfers in each heat. Athletes who place first or second in Round 1 heats will both directly advance to Round 3, which will differ from the previous format where only first place advanced to Round 3.
• Round 2 will now have four heats with three surfers in each heat, as opposed to the previous format of 12 heats with two surfers in each heat. Of the three competitors in each heat, the lowest-placing surfer in the heat will be eliminated in Equal 33rd place.
• Round 3 will now have 16 heats with two surfers in each heat, as opposed to the previous format of 12 heats with two surfers in each heat. The lower placing surfer will be eliminated in Equal 17th place.
• Round 4 will now have eight heats with two surfers in each heat. The lower placing surfer will be eliminated in Equal 9th place.

Women’s CT Format Updates

• Round 1 will still have six heats with three surfers in each heat. Athletes who place first or second in Round 1 heats will both directly advance to Round 3, which will differ from the previous format where only first place advanced to Round 3.
• Round 2 will now have two heats with three surfers in each heat, as opposed to the previous format of six heats with two surfers in each heat. Of the three competitors in each heat, the lowest-placing surfer in the heat will be eliminated in Equal 17th place.
• Round 3 will now have eight heats with two surfers in each heat, as opposed to the previous format of four heats with three surfers in each heat. The lower placing surfer will be eliminated in Equal 9th place.

Also Olympic stuff:

The 2019 WSL CT is the top of the hierarchy in the Olympic qualification system for the world’s best surfers. The world rankings at the end of the 2019 CT season will determine 18 of the 40 places at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (10 men and 8 women). The remaining 22 places will be determined at the 2019 and 2020 ISA World Surfing Games, the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, and a single slot (each for men and women) for the host nation, Japan (if they have not already qualified through the mentioned routes).

The 18 places that are allocated at the WSL CT come with a condition that a country cannot qualify more than two athletes per gender. This means that if Australia qualifies three athletes, only two can go to the Games and the other place is allocated to the next highest ranked.

Following the final CT events of the season (the Hawaiian Pro and Billabong Pipe Masters), the world rankings will determine the first highest 18 eligible qualifiers for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, subject to all qualified surfers meeting the ISA’s and IOC’s eligibility requirements and being selected by their respective National Olympic Committee.

And equal pay stuff:

Last September, the WSL announced equal prize money across all owned and operated events, becoming the first US-based global sports league to do so. It’s an initiative that has been a long-term goal for the organization and one that has come to life after new ownership took over the organization in 2013. Equal prize money was instituted for the 2018/2019 Jaws Challenge, which ran in November 2018, and for the first stop of the revamped Longboard Tour, the Noosa Longboard Open, which ran earlier this month.

Now, the Boost Mobile Pro will host the first CT event to award equal prize money. There will be equal prize money for every women’s CT stop this season and beyond. The opening CT stop in April will also launch a global beachside engagement program for girls, Rising Tides – WSL Girls Program,  which will offer clinics at each women’s CT stop in an effort to inspire the next generation to take to the surf.

2019 will also see the continuation of the Pioneers program, which celebrates female legends, as well as the launch of an international marketing campaign to highlight the women’s tour and increase event viewership and fan engagement as well as a number of other activations that will be announced in the coming months.

The Quiksilver Pro and Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast will open the season on April 3 and run through April 13, 2019. The events will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and Facebook.com/WSL. Also check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.