Surf coaching is more than just understanding the ocean; it’s about breaking down complex manoeuvres, optimising small wave techniques, and refining each surfer’s performance. Under the guidance of Olympic surf coach Llewellyn Whittaker in a 'Coach the Coaches' course set up by the Irish Surfing Association, I’ve learned a lot that will help us to improve our surf school here on the beautiful north coast of Northern Ireland.
One of the key lessons I've learned from Llewellyn is the importance of deconstructing every surf manoeuvre. Whether it's a basic bottom turn or an advanced layback, each movement requires precise understanding of body mechanics, wave positioning, and timing. By breaking these down into bite-sized drills and techniques, we can help our students master each part before combining them into more fluid surfing.
Incorporating this into our surf school means taking the time to focus on individual manoeuvres during lessons, ensuring that our students not only have fun but also make tangible improvements with every session.
On the north coast, we don’t always get massive swells, so small wave surfing is a crucial skill. Llewellyn emphasised that smaller waves are an opportunity to focus on technique and generate speed efficiently. This involves using the wave's energy more effectively by shifting body weight, maintaining proper stance, and using the right manoeuvres at the right time.
For our surf school, this means we can teach students how to maximise even the smallest surf days, ensuring they still have a productive session by working on their stance, balance, and wave-reading skills.
Llewellyn’s experience in contest coaching taught me that competitive surfing is as much about strategy as it is about skill. From positioning in the lineup to selecting the best waves in a heat, the tactical side of surfing can drastically improve a surfer’s performance.
While not all of our students may want to enter competitions, we can still use these strategies to help them develop their decision-making skills in the water. This will give them more confidence and make their sessions more enjoyable and rewarding.
Perhaps the most transformative tool I've learned from Llewellyn is video analysis. By filming surfers at the beach and reviewing their technique frame-by-frame, you can see exactly where improvements are needed. Whether it's correcting a stance, adjusting timing, or identifying subtle movements that could increase speed, video allows for a deeper understanding of performance.
At our surf school, we can integrate this by offering video feedback sessions. Filming our students and reviewing their technique will provide them with an objective view of their surfing and help them track progress over time. This creates a more personalised learning experience, and students will appreciate the tailored feedback.
By integrating these coaching techniques into our surf lessons, we can offer a more structured, professional, and rewarding experience for our students on the north coast of Northern Ireland. Whether it’s through more focused breakdowns of manoeuvres, enhancing small wave skills, or incorporating video analysis, our surf school will be at the forefront of surf education.
Students will not only improve faster but also gain a deeper appreciation for the sport. With these tools and Llewellyn Whittaker's world-class coaching philosophy, we’re ready to take the surf experience to the next level.
We’re excited to bring these innovations to our surf school and create an environment where our students can thrive in their surfing journey!
Thanks Llewellyn & ISA!
