Meet The Surf Coach Team 2024
Summer is almost here...
The 2024 season is right around the corner and there’s a lot of fresh faces on Surf Coach Team for OA Surf Club, plus some familiar ones!
We caught up with the guys to give you the low down on who you might find at Widemouth Bay on your surf lesson this summer.
From favourite surf breaks to how they came to work as surf instructors, get to know the OA Surf Club 2024 team here:
Rob
Manager, 48, British
Favourite surf break?
"A local break that can’t be named…"
Favourite pro surfer?
"Joel Tudor"
What got you into surfing?
"I grew up spending lots of time in the water on holiday, windsurfing, sailing and surfing."
What's your surf speciality?
"I just like to surf lots of different shape boards, I had 17 in my collection at the last count! Generally you'll find me on a longboard catching too many waves…"
What's a fun fact about you?
"I spend far too much money buying records and DJing at local bars and festivals!"
Tia
Assistant Manager, 24, English
Favourite surf break?
"Shipwrecks, Nusa Lembongan"
Favourite pro surfer?
"Mick Fanning and Lakey Peterson"
What got you into surfing?
"I grew up around North Cornwall and Devon and have always loved being around the beach. That led me into working in the outdoor industry, where my friends taught me how to surf.. and I've been hooked ever since my first wave ❤️"
What's your surf speciality?
"Shortboarding is always my go to, but there's always a time and a place for party waves on a foamy!"
And a fun fact about you?
"I also play Rugby for Cornwall😝"
Hannah
Surf Coach, 27, English
Favourite surf break?
"Arpex for the community, Saquarema for the waves!"
Favourite pro surfer?
"Parker Coffin, but Asher Pacey is a super close second!"
What got you into surfing?
"I actually grew up in the Lake District with no surf at all, but I saw that surf scene in Lilo and Stitch as a kid and thought 'jeez, that looks like fun' and it just sort of spiralled from there. Now I've made it my whole life!"
What's your surf speciality?
"Backhand attack! And I do a fair bit of surf photo/videography in my spare time."
What's a fun fact about you?
"I speak Portuguese and Spanish, arguably better than I do English. And I pick up other people's accents pretty badly!"
Kieran
Surf Coach, 25, Kiwi
Favourite surf break?
"Mahia and Point Annhialation in New Zealand... Also Anchor Point in Morocco!"
Favourite pro surfer?
"Joel Parko growing up, Harry Bryant's new movie (Motel Hell) was pretty sick though"
What got you into surfing?
"I started off as a nipper at my local life saving club, and getting pretty good at knee boarding the natural progression was to start surfing, I've never looked back and it's taken me all around the world!"
What's your surf speciality?
"Surfing switch on foamies, forgetting to use sunscreen, technical advisory of surfboard purchases and twin fin rippin'!"
What's a fun fact about you?
"I do a mean accent impersonation, and if I'm not out surfing you can catch me on my drone filming the guys surfing!"
Joe
Surf Coach, 21, English
Favourite place to surf?
"Ericeira in Portugal."
Favourite pro surfer?
"The GOAT! (Kelly Slater)"
What got you into surfing?
"I went on a lot of surfing holidays with my family growing up."
What's your surf speciality?
"Short boarding and following Nazare's swell!"
What's a fun fact about you?
"I've already travelled to 44 countries!"
Poppy
Surf Coach, 19, English
Favourite surf break?
"I'd have to pick Lazy Left in Mididgama. Sri Lanka fully stole my heart!"
Favourite pro surfer?
"John John Florence!"
What got you into surfing?
"I grew up surfing with my brother and dad in Bude, and I was part of the Nippers and Wave Riders as a kid. Surfing has been a part of my life for my whole life!"
What's your surf speciality?
"Longboarding!"
What's a fun fact about you?
"I'm as Bude born-and-bred as they come. Seven generations of my family have lived here, and I was actually born in the living room of the house I still currently live in!"
Want to know more about our coaches?
Maybe pick Poppy's brain about longboarding; practice your Portuguese with Hannah, or maybe even talk what board to buy next with Kieran?
The team are geared up for the summer and ready to go!
Book a lesson with OA Surf Club now and come meet the 2024 OA Surf Coach team this season!
