Newquay Activity Centre has launched an intensive, 3-week long surf instructor course in Cornwall.
The 21-day programme provides surfers of all abilities the opportunity be taught by leading industry experts in the UK’s surf city – Newquay. Pupils will become surf instructor qualified, attain their Surf rescue qualification and essential coaching skills from leading tutors in the industry. This course offers the chance to receive paid work as soon as the course is completed.
Now recognised as an Olympic sport as well as a favourite activity or leisure pursuit for many, surfing continues to grow exponentially, accessible for all ages and abilities. Now surfers can take their passion and turn it into a profession in only three weeks.
Included in the course is the International Surfing Association (ISA) Level 1 Surf Instructor Award which is the industry standard for teaching surfing and is recognised around the world. The course also includes the Surf Lifesaving Great Britain, Surf Coach Safety and Rescue Award which enables instructors to be signed off as ‘safe’ to deliver classes.
The bespoke course launched this February is part of the new Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy which is an offshoot business of the Newquay Activity Centre. The course is delivered by industry experts including three-time British Surf Champion Alan Stokes. Stokes commented,
“We’ll be sharing important surf coaching skills that we’ve gained from many years in the business.” He continued “We’ll be using the latest video analysis coaching and cutting-edge training techniques that haven’t previously been taught in the UK, we’re looking to create the best instructors in the industry.”
Over the course of three weeks the students will also gain the soft skills needed to effectively instruct new students and to be a successful professional starting out in this fast-growing industry. This comprehensive course will allow students to support, teach, encourage, and adapt their future lessons to suit the needs of their own students in a safe and insurable manner.
An outdoor activity instructor training course or intensive surf coach course can offer an immediate gateway into the industry. For many people, the pandemic has given them time to reflect on their career choice and this course is proving to be a popular option to live a more outdoors lifestyle. Not only do students receive training, upon completion of the course each pupil will have an interview with Newquay Activity Centre for paid work. There are strong opportunities for immediate employment within the many outdoor activity companies in Cornwall and abroad.
Newquay boasts seven, excellent surfing beaches and can accommodate all surf conditions, which will enable the students to be challenged throughout the three-week course. Pupils will build great beach break knowledge and excellent surfing experience.
Traditionally, for trainee instructors it has been hard to gain ‘shadowing hours’. This intensive course eliminates this problem as shadow coaching is part of the qualification. So upon successfully completing the course, you’re ready to work. Whereas previously, gaining these hours can take months to achieve.
Newquay Activity Centre, Director, Rob Barber says,
“Surfing has become a really accessible sport, participation has grown exponentially since the pandemic. Surf lessons have been at the very core of Newquay Activity Centre’s offering for years, as such we have developed a fantastic training programme to create the best instructors in the industry. It is from this that our intensive programme has been borne. We’ve identified the headaches that trainees have experienced in the past and ironed out the creases in the qualification process, this is the quickest way to get the most in-depth training available in the UK, all delivered on the beautiful beaches of Newquay”.
As well as the opportunity to pick up work in the UK, the course will connect pupils with their international network of surf schools in locations that include Morocco, Portugal and New Zealand.
To find out more about the Intensive Surf Instructor Training course at Newquay Activity Centre or call 01637 877722
