Surf Schools are all too often branded with the same ‘just for learners‘ label that far too often makes those who already surf feel like they have no choice but to go it alone. Just yourself, your board, the ocean and a whole head of dreams that could, with a little help, quite easily become a reality!

Donning a brightly coloured rash vest whilst jumping around on the beach like a lunatic, arms flailing with 20 other people you’ve never met in a so called ‘warm up’ is less than appealing when you’ve already put some hard graft in and call yourself a ‘surfer’ – but deep down you’re really wondering what you’ve got to show for all your hard work? It’s a situation I see all to often, in fact, something I see every day when I’m out on the water. I end up asking myself why is it that all surf schools are tarred with the same brush when it comes to the surfer’s view on tuition, and why aren’t all these people out with me enjoying the waves really making the most of what they could be doing??

‘Tuition’ in any sport is something we use to improve upon our techniques that we may already have gained, brush up on skills and weaknesses in our technique and learn new things that will enable us to push ourselves to a higher ability level. Players and athletes in any sport of any level will more than likely be involved in some sort of training or coaching to help them improve. Why is this not the case with surfing??

Are there are far to many surf schools offering lessons aimed only at beginners? Is it that once we’ve learnt the basics and jumped into the sport feet first that we’re not willing to go crawling back for more help without feeling like a failure? Is it that we don’t know if tuition is really going to work or that you’re going to have to spend £500 for someone to tell you there’s no hope?

Take it from me, an experienced surfer (grown up by the beach, surfed all my life and a successful international competitor) that I am also a surfer has ‘Tuition’.  I can say with 100% confidence that without the coaching, training and direction I have sought to help me improve my surfing that there’s no way on earth my ability and understanding of the sport would be so high. To this day I continue to get tuition as with surfing you’re always learning something new. I realise how far I’ve come, especially in my longboarding which I only started a few years ago and i can definitely say that so much of this is down to the tuition I have had. So with all these things in mind, I’ve put together some things that may help you decide which path to take when it comes to coaching…………

Join a Surf Club: Here at the O’Neill Surf Academy we’re starting a new and exciting Boardmasters Club for 2012. You’ll be able to sign up  for an entire year and in return there’s coaching and tuition available, regular club events and fun competitions. The best bit about the club environments is meeting other surfers. You’ll learn so much from other people that even if you don’t want to join in with everything – just by immersing yourself in the social web of surfing you’ll learn a lot more than by going it alone. You don’t need to be an amazing surfer to be part of a boardmasters club! Clubs also help you maintain a regular pattern to your surf time, designating space in your diary for a bit of extra surfing! Most coastal areas have local surf clubs or boardriders clubs….get involved, it will only cost a small membership fee and a bit of your time….not a lot to invest for a huge reward!

Take part in a specialist coaching day or weekend: You’ll find that many of the top surfing schools and academies offer specialist coaching days or weekends. There aren’t there for first time novices – they’re there for you! Things like longboarding clinics and weekends and shortboard days are never going to be subscribed with soft surfboard riding beginners. If it’s on offer then its always worth taking up – these courses take huge amount of time and effort to put together on the surf school’s part. They’re great sessions tailored to your particular area of the sport too so whether you ride a longboard or a shortboard there’s normally something for everyone. If you’re not keen on being part of a small group then seek out a professional instructor for a bit of 1-1 tuition. Some of the great coaches around offer video and photo coaching too se you can see for yourself your improvements however big or small. If you’re not sure about the coach, or session give the school or academy a ring and ask to speak to the coach in question – this shouldn’t be a problem if they run a professional and tight ship – if it’s not possible look elsewhere!

TIP: If you’re not sure on your coaches credentials a simple google search will always give you a lot of information about their coaching past, present and future!

Book yourself some coaching So, you’ve already spend nearly £500 on a board, a couple hundred on a suit, far too much in fuel checking the surf and back and forward to the beach – however, you’re still at the same level, that perfect wave is still a dream and surfing seems like a constant uphill struggle? From a coaches perspective most of the common problems I see with people surfing are pretty basic things that with a bit of an explanation and a few words of encouragement are pretty easy hurdles. If you’re going to invest all your spare time and spare money chasing that wave of a lifetime, seek a bit of advise and it may be closer than you think – us instructors aren’t out there to tell you how rubbish you are and that you should be doing better. We’re here to look at your fundamentals and from a completely objective point of view and give you some expert advise to help your surfing improve.

Watch some surfing…. I asked some local kids who surf  the other day if they’d seen this new surfing movie. They looked at me puzzled, shrugged their shoulders and carried on as though it didn’t exist. I got me thinking – when I was growing up surfing, surf videos were the lifeline between the surfer you were and the surfer you wanted to be. Hours spend intently watching your heros ride waves you could only dream of. Not only are surfing movies inspiring, they’re educational!  A lot an be learnt by watching surfing – its very rare that any of take the time to have a really good look around us at what other people are doing out in the water, and even down to the basics of understanding how a wave breaks it’s all there right on the screen in front of you. . Most people learn a huge amount visually, so a bit of extra input on that front will go a long way in helping you understand surfing and trying new things in almost a copycat style. With the development of the internet there are so many surf films out there you can stream online for free, thousands of clips on youtube and a variety of surf movies available to download on itunes! Next time you’re browsing the web take a couple minutes to watch a bit of surfing – it may be well over your head to start with but over time you’ll begin to understand, and slowly but surely things will develop out in the water too!

Here at my surf academy I try to make sure we’ve got a wide variety of coaching and tuition on offer for surfers of all level …you can book a lesson as a complete beginner and similarly book some coaching and tuition time as an advanced surfer. Whether you want some advise on buying a board, ordering a custom board , improve your techniques, find out anything to do with surfing – or you may even want to become a professional surfer….we’re a surf school for all ages – and all abilities. That perfect wave is closer than you think!

Ashleigh