04/04/2025
What Makes a Good Surf Teacher/coach?
There are so many types of surf teachers out there, it is important that students know what they are getting. I’ve realized that when it comes to surf teaching/coaching a lot of people are getting ripped off. Sometimes it is almost depressing. Because for the surf student it's hard to tell the difference between a good teacher and a bad one when they all appear to be better than the student!
So, what makes a good teacher?
What is a surf Teacher?
This is such a vague term… like such a vague term. Some teachers use certificates to justify their credentials… like international surf Associations or National Training Certifications etc... Unfortunately, this doesn’t make them good teachers.
What makes a good surf teacher?
A good surf teacher can see beyond what is directly in front of them and can create methods and pull out the best from their students.This quality is actually very hard to find.
A good surf teacher usually is someone who can inspire an entire class, while concentrating on the individual needs of each student, a good surf teacher is someone who has dedicated quite a bit of time and energy on their craft of teaching. Usually, these teachers are specifically focused on technique.
Eyes: A good surf teacher has a keen eye for body movements, coordination, technique and can find minuscule errors when a surfer is performing.
Good Ears: A good surf teacher listen and understand his students.
Educated: A good surf teacher understands the sports, physiology, and technique.
Experience: A good surf teacher has experience within the professional world of surfing. It is important to have these experiences so you can help guide students into the professional world.
Connected: A good surf teacher is still plugged into the professional surf world, so they understand what is happening and what the industry is needing, wanting and demanding.
A good surf teacher can demonstrate what he teaches. If he can not, he has to find someone who can. Sometimes demonstrating a skill works much better than talking about it.
So, This is my sincere opinion about what makes a good surf teacher.😉