Surf’s up! Participation Regimes and Motivations for Surfing in Wales Jon Anderson Katie Jones June 2008

3. Surf Schools in Wales

In continuing the theme of formal surfing practices, this section looks at the surf training available in Wales through a focus on surf schools. The findings in this chapter are based on interviews with representatives from 14 surf schools across Wales. The chapter begins by providing a typology of surf schools across Wales, before moving on to consider the role of the BSA in terms of regulating surf schools and accrediting surf coaches. The following sections look at the type of surf training provided in Wales and the socio-demographics of those receiving training. The location of beaches and facilities needed for surf training are considered, before looking at the financial viability of surf schools and initiatives some are using to increase revenue. Finally the chapter considers the benefits of surf training from the perspective of both schools and surfers themselves.

Through the methodological techniques outlined in Chapter One, the research identified 23 businesses that provide surf training in Wales. These businesses range in size and impact from smaller scale operations, such as mobile surf schools (run from the ‘back of a van’ with no physical base) or those attached to surf shops (where the provision of surf training, equipment and clothing are combined), to bigger outdoor adventure centres, usually with residential accommodation, that offer surfing as part of an activity package. The surfing database identified:

• 
  10 regular surf schools - either ‘mobile’ or attached to a surf shop, with their own in house instructors providing only surf training;
  
• 
  3 establishments providing surf and other water-sports training such as sailing, kite surfing or wakeboarding;
  
• 
  8 outdoor pursuits centres where surfing was offered alongside a range of other outdoor activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, gorge walking and sailing; and
  
• 
  2 businesses that sub-contracted surfing instruction to local instructors or other surf schools contained in this report.
  

To avoid overlap and double-counting, this report will focus on the 21 surf schools who provide their own surf training, rather than including the 2 businesses who sub-contract their surf training to other schools. Basic information about each of these schools is included in Appendix VI.

3.2 Regulation of surf schools

As explained in Chapter Two, the British Surfing Association (BSA) is the recognised National Governing Body (NGB) for surfing in Britain and the Channel Isles. In 1990 the organisation introduced the British Surfing Association’s Approved Surfing Schools Scheme to help the public ‘obtain better value for money and greater safety whilst being taught to surf’ (BSA website, accessed June 2008). Surf schools can apply to become BSA approved and must fulfil various requirements. Schools are then given an approval rating from 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest. It is not a requirement that every surf school be BSA approved, however, in Wales the following schools all have BSA accreditation:

• 
  Gower Surfing Development, Swansea – BSA Level 4
  
• 
  Outer Reef Surf School, Pembrokeshire – BSA Level 3
  
• 
  The Simon Tucker Surf School, Porthcawl – BSA Level 3
  
• 
  Progress Surf Academy, Swansea – BSA Level 3
  
• 
  Preseli Venture Surf School – BSA Level 2
  
• 
  Welsh Surfing Federation Surf School – BSA Level 2
  
• 
  West Coast Surf School – BSA Level 2
  

Each BSA surf school is a designated level of qualification depending on:

• 
  The qualifications of the instructors
  
• 
  The coaching resources they offer
  
• 
  The types of surfing courses the school is qualified to offer
  

Approved Surf School Level 1

• 
  Provide recreational ‘Starter-Beginner’ to ‘Lower Improver’ surfing courses
  
• 
  Coaches are qualified Level 1 and at least 1 qualified at Level 2
  

Approved Surf School Level 2

• 
  Provide Level 1 programmes
  
• 
  Provide recreational higher ability surfing from ‘High Improver’ to Intermediate’ Level courses
  
• 
  Coaches are qualified Levels 1-2
  

Approved Surf School Level 3

• 
  Provide Level 1-2 programmes
  
• 
  Provide ‘contest and competitive surfer training and recreational ‘advanced surfer’ programmes
  
• 
  Coaches are qualified Levels 1-3
  

Approved Surf School Level 4

• 
  Provide Level 1-3 programmes
  
• 
  Provide a local ‘community resource’ programme (e.g. ‘kids, grommet and cadets’ club etc)
  
• 
  Provide an ‘advanced surfing development programme for elite squad training
  

Source: BSA website [www.britsurf.co.uk accessed June 2008]


In order to become a BSA Approved Surfing School, an applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

• 
  The Surf School/Activity Centre must be covered by public liability insurance for claims by 3rd parties for injury or damage arising out of the operators business of giving surfing lessons.
  
• 
  Soft skinned surfboards must be available for novices to use.
  
• 
  All surfing instructors must be BSA Level 1 Accredited Coaches, which includes an open water lifesaving qualification. Trainee / Assistant coaches must be supervised by an accredited instructor.
  
• 
  An Instructor must be responsible for and in control of no more than 10 pupils in the water at any one time.
  
• 
  All surfboards must have suitable leashes (ankle straps).
  
• 
  Each instructor will have a suitable life saving aid near at hand whilst pupils are in the water.
  
• 
  A first aid kit must be available at the beach.
  
• 
  The names of accredited instructors at the school will be sent to the B.S.A. prior to the start of the season.
  

Source: BSA website [www.britsurf.co.uk accessed June 2008]

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