Meet the Coaches

We have a wonderful crew of friendly, qualified, skilled Surf Coaches with years of surfing and coaching experience.  Our Coaches are “hand-picked” for there people skills, ocean knowledge, sense of responsibility and reliability.

It takes a special person to be a great Surf Coach

Surfing Services Coach’s possess outstanding water skills and are trained in Surf Rescue, CPR, Advanced Resuscitation and First Aid.  They are all accredited Level 1-2 Surfing Australia Coaches and hold Blue Cards.

With a brilliant attitude towards life

A positive attitude and bright out look from our knowledgeable coaches will be sure to get you pumped for a successful surf session!  Whether you are going for your first surf ever, or are coming along to a weekly high performance training session.  The coaches will patiently take you through all the correct techniques you need to know, to ensure you of personal success.

Mark Richardson
High Performance Surfing Coach


Mark Richardson is a Level 2 High Performance Surf Coach, coaching since 1996.  Mark is the Head Coach for the Australian Junior Team for the 2009 World Junior ISA Titles Ecuador.  He has coached the World ISA Junior Winners - The Australian Team for the past 4 years in Ecuador 2009, France in 2008, in Portugal 2007 and in Brazil 2006 - winning Gold every year.

He has also coached many professional surfers like Joel Parkinson (WCT surfer).  Mark has gained a lot of experience himself as a professional surfer for over 20 years. Throughout this time he has won The Australian Titles 3 times, Queensland Championship Circuits and also won the bronze at The ISA World Titles in 2004 in Ecuador.

Mark has extensive surfing experience not only as a professional surfer and surfing coach but as a surfing contest director, international surfing games consultant and is the president of The Alley Boardrider’s surfing club, (Currumbin,Gold Coast).  Mark aspires to offer his surfing skills, knowledge and vast experience to have a positive impact with all surfers.

 

Rachel Cowley – Head Coach

From: Coolangatta
Surf coaching exp: I first started Surf Coaching in New Zealand 2000, I have been working for Surfing Services since 2005. I have also worked at Byron Bay and in California during their summer in 2008
Education: Diploma of Graphic Art and Visual Design, Accredited Level 1 Surf Coach
Achievements: Successfully competed at High School - These days I would rather free surf!
Goals: Obtain my Level 2 Surf Coaching Certificate, and continue to fine tune my own surfing
Surf travels: California, Costa Rica, Sumbawa, Sumba, Bali, New Zealand
Favorite Waves: Dbah, Sand Pumping Jetty-Fingal, Pavones-Costa Rica, Raglan-NZ
Comments: I’m stoked to lead such a great team of coaches. I look forward to seeing you at the beach

 

cindy1Cindy McCarthy

From: Lived locally for 36 years at Mermaid, Brought up surfing and with Nippers
Education: Diploma of teaching Upper primary Lower secondary PE
Achievements: Mother of 3 wonderful kids, Surfed since 1974
Surf coaching exp: Surf coached for 4 years, mainly kids and women’s coaching
Comments: Love my 9’4 longboard. Love yoga when I can make time.
Met my husband in the surf at Mermaid (I dropped in on him!!) opps

 

Elise Peate

From: Coolangatta
Education: Level 1 Surf Coach. Graduated year 12 at Varsity College andcurrently studying Diploma of Sport Management at Southern Cross University
Goals: Finish my diploma this year and then do a Bachelor of Business, continue travelling to new destinations and experiencing what life has to offer, start training harder and obtaining some decent results.
Surf travels: Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Peru
Favorite Waves: Chicama, Peñascal, Dbah, Lennox
Achievements: Semi final billabong pro junior Wooloongong 07, 2nd Volcom VQS Encinitas California 08, 2nd Surf for breast cancer San Onofre 2008
Surf coaching exp: Surf coached in San Clemente, California during their summer in 2008. I have been working with Surfing Services since Dec 2008

 

Brendan Leckiebrendan-leckie2 

Info coming soon
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Samba Mann

 

 Info coming soon

 

 

 

 

 

Scott Huchinsonhucho-profile-photo1

Name: Scott Hutchinson
Age: 24
From: Currumbin
Education: Level 1 Surf Coach. Also a fully qualified strength and conditioning coach with a Certificate in Exercise Science from Griffith University.
Goals: Continue to learn and study as much as I can about strength and conditioning and expand into training elite level athletes and big wave surfers. Would also like to do some travelling through Europe as well as the United States.
Surf travels: Indonesia
Favorite Waves: The Alley, South Straddie, Padang
Achievements: 1st Alley Boardriders Open B Division 2008.
Surf coaching exp: Been surf coaching for a few years. Mainly focusing on the development of school surfing programs and youth coaching. Also showing surfers the benefits of adding specific strength and conditioning exercises into their weekly routine to boost surfing performance.

 

 

Dave McCarthy - Stand Up Paddle Coach Head Coachdavid

Info coming soon

 

 

 

 

 Greg Howellgregs-dial

From: Originally from down south but lived on the Gold Coast around Currumbin for 17 years.
Education: I was partly educated at school and the rest came with living.
Goals: To keep educating people on the benefits of our oceans, waves and beaches.
Favorite Waves: Frigates Reef – Fiji, Arpoador – Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Currumbin Alley, Australia
Surf coaching experience: I have been coaching for many years and certified for 7.
Comments: I pride myself on being able to show my students how to relax in the ocean and therefore being more perceptible to learning the art of surfboard riding.