How to Become a Surf Instructor | Turn Your Passion Into a Career
Becoming a surf instructor is a great choice if you want to turn your surfing passion into a professional career. This job will allow you to earn, while at the same time giving you the chance to travel to the best surfing locations in the world. Teaching surfing means living in surf towns where you’ll get to meet and interact with different kinds of people who share the same stoke. It’s about being an inspiration to groms and beginner riders and loving to see how they develop and improve their skills. Are you up for this job? In this post, you’ll learn the basic requirements and qualifications of becoming a surf instructor. We’ll also share with you some tips when applying and the basic skills surf schools look for in their applicants. What is a surf instructor? The primary role of a surf instructor is to introduce surfing to people who want to learn this water sport. Surf instructors must also be able to create a fun and engaging environment for their students. Good surf instructors or coaches allow their students to expand their limits safely by monitoring them constantly and assisting in their surfing lessons. They should possess the basic skills needed for first-aids such as CPR in case of any unfortunate events like drowning. Surf Instructor’s Salary According to Glassdoor, the annual salary of a surf instructor in the United States is USD 58,036. However, this varies depending on the experience, the location, and the employer. In other parts of the world, specifically the ones in Southeast Asia, surf instructors are paid around USD 150 a month, including free food and accommodations. If you’re looking for a higher wage, then you’ll need to apply somewhere in Australia, Europe, or America. But if you’re in it for fun and adventure, then go for the vibing exotic and tropical surf towns. How to Become a Surf Instructor Becoming a surf instructor is a dream job for a lot of people; however, not everyone can be one. It’s a lifestyle career choice wherein employments are seasonal, and you’ll have to travel to places that are often unfamiliar. Dedication to teaching is important, but surf instructors should also be able to endure this job’s physical demands. Like being under the sun’s heat or wearing a wetsuit that’s soaked in wettie warmer all day when the lesson’s pumping. If you’re physically and mentally ready to take on this career, then take a look at the following requirements and qualifications of being a surf instructor. Skill level assessment The question most people ask about surf instructor applications is — how well do you have to be at surfing before you can actually become an instructor? First, you should know that there are different levels of being a surf instructor. Level 1 surf instructors don’t have to shred like Kelly Slater or rip the waves like Mick Fanning. Knowing the basics and being able how to properly surf in unbroken waves is enough to get you through the initial assessments of some surf schools. Meanwhile, Level 2 instructors are the elite and club-level coaches that require intermediate surfing skills. They must be knowledgeable about video analysis, fitness improvement, and the long-term development of their clients. If you’re aiming for a beginner surf instructor, most surf camps and schools will first evaluate your surfing skills such as: How you take off when you’re at the peak of the wave and how you ride it for at least 1 to 1.5 meters; How you surf green waves, including how you trim both left and right; How you control your board when paddling out in high waves; How you paddle out back by duck diving or turtle rolling; How you perform basic top and bottom turns; How you maintain your position in the lineup; They may also test your level of understanding when it comes to surfing etiquette, such as not dropping in on someone and not bailing out on your board. Depending on the employer and position you’re applying for, these assessments shouldn’t take longer than an hour. After that, your qualifications will be reviewed. Qualifications A surf instructor is a professional, similar to how engineers and lawyers. Before you become one, you will need to acquire one or two certifications from any of the following programs: ISA (International Surfing Association) ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors) Surf Rescue Certificate Zero to Hero course International Surfing Association Over its 25 years of service, the ISA has certified over 10,500 surf instructors and coaches worldwide. Their ISA Coaching and Instructing Program Level 1 is the most popular course for aspiring surf instructors because this certification is internationally recognized — hence why it’s best taken if you plan to coach surfing in other countries. This course includes learning basic classroom theories, first aid, CPR training, and drills, as well as physical and written assessments. You will also have to undergo 20 hours of supervised coaching or internship. This can be accomplished either by teaching at surf schools or camps or volunteering in surf clinics. Depending on certain conditions, this course lasts 7 up to 14 days. Academy of Surfing Instructors Another internationally recognized certification you could acquire is the Level 1 Surfing Instructor course of the ASI. Similar to ISA, this one’s also available in various places all over the globe. If you want to check out the list of locations where you can enroll in this course, you can go to their website. The ASI basic course includes theory and beach practicals like learning instruction and coaching methods, evaluating surf lessons, communication skills for the surf environment, as well as creating lesson plans. You will also be required to complete 25 hours of work or internship in a surf school recognized by the ASI. Surf Rescue Certificate Being a lifeguard isn’t a requirement to becoming a surf instructor. The only important thing is you know the basic rescue operations and procedures. That said, having the Surf Rescue Certificate, Surf … Read more