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: Accredited Level 1 Surf Coach and Stand Up Paddle Coaching Certificate. Diploma of Graphic Art and Visual Design.
Achievements: Competed successfully 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

Cindy 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

Scott Huchinson

Age: 25
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.

Brendan Leckie

Info coming soon