Rob Barber

British Team Coach, Surfing / Bodyboarding Head Coach

D.O.B: 14/7/76

Years surfing: 26 Years Coaching: 16

Coaching Qualifications and experience:

BSA level 4 surf coach, Coached the British team at the World Surfing Games in Portugal 98, Brazil 00, South Africa 02, Ecuador 04, California 06 Coached the English team at the European Champs in France 00 Coached/managed the English Junior team France 99, 02 and Morocco 09 English Team Selection Committee 2000 - 2012 British Bodyboard Team National Coach, Brittany France 2010 Director of the ESF surf school since 1998 Director of Rob Barbers School of Bodyboarding since 97 Director of Bodyboard-Holidays since 2000

Competition Results:

Bodyboarding Competitions: Represented Britain and England. Won over 25 events including, British Cup Champion, British Bodyboard Club Championship Winner, Threesixty Series Winner, Virgin Cola surf tour Winner, Senior British National Champion (twice). Finished 1995 as the highest ranked European in the World Professional ratings after placing 22nd in World Champs at Pipeline in Hawaii.

Coaching success:

British team 10th place World Championships Ecuador 04 Clare McGowan, 4th place World Surfing Games Ecuador 04 Robin Davies, 7th place World Surfing Games Brazil 00 Joe Hone 1st place British Nationals cadet 05 (after a series of one 2 one coaching sessions). British team 9th place World Surfing Games California 06 Luke Harper 1st place under 14 Division Grom Showdown ’12 (after a series of coaching sessions) Countries Surfed or/and competed in: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey, France, Spain, Portugal, Canary Isles, Morocco, Cape Verde, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, South Africa, Hawaii, California, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Reunion Island, Australia.

External Qualifications: HND in Business and Finance. Diploma in Print Journalism.

Other Employment  Surf media writer. Editorial Assistant for Carve Surfing Magazine and Editor of ThreeSixty Bodyboarding Magazine since 1999.

Best thing about working as a Surf/Bodyboard instructor: Teaching people a new skill in order to get the most out the awesome ocean environment is un-beatable.

Tom Fox

Senior Surf Coach / Coasteer leader

DOB: 09/09/1986

Years Surfing: 14 (6 years coaching)

Countries surfed in:

England, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Barbados

Coaching qualifications & Experience:

ISA level 2 Surfing GB level 2 Ex Pre UKCC BSA level 2 RLSS Beach Lifeguard Indo board trainer certificate I have been coaching for the last 5 years and now into 6th consecutive year. Over that period I have worked at many surf schools including schools in France and New Zealand alongside working in Newquay. I have worked closely with Cornwall college surf academy and the wave project on a volunteer basis and continue to support them. My recent coaching success’s’ include developing surfing Boot camps involving a holistic approach to coaching and delivering the ‘surf practice’ module to surf science students at Cornwall College.

External qualifications:

BSc (Hons) degree in Sports Performance and Coaching FDSc degree in Surf Science and Technology Certificates in disability inclusion, mental health awareness, safe guarding and protecting children.

Competition results:

3rd place at the Plymouth uni surf comp 2008 was my only achievement/attempt. Entering the competitive scene has never been my cup of tea. That’s why I love surfing as you’re able to partake as just a free surfer! However always competing with my mates!

Other employment & interests:

Ex Chef and part time brick layer. In my own time I am a devoted beekeeper and love to take photos and travel.

Best thing about learning to surf:

It’s the ultimate thrill hands down. There is a style/wave/intensity to suit anyone and is the best way to enjoy mother nature at her wildest! Unlike most sports which you have to find time for in your life, surfing becomes your life and you’re left struggling to find time to do anything else!

Karl Fice-Thomson

DOB: 15/10/1975

Years Surfing: 20

Countries surfed in:

Spain, France and the beautiful Caribbean Islands

Coaching qualifications & Experience:

Level 1 from BSA then a further 10 years experience coaching at all different levels Written coaching and teaching programmes

External qualifications:

Qualified RLSS beach lifeguard for 15 years on and off Qualified Aquarist, Emergency first aider, first aid at work first aider, paediatric first aider, F.P.O.S first aider, spinal immobilization (and aquatic). Post 16 certificate in teaching Childcare NVQ level 3 and child care S.M.I.L.E.Y course. Voted best nursery/childcare person 2005 by the NMT awards, London.

Competition results:

Only compete with myself!!

Other employment and interests:

Lead lectures in all elements of First Aid at Truro college. Seasonla lecturer at Cornwall College on the Surf Science degree (Biomechanices) Teaching consultant at St Dennis school. Director and lead lecturer of KFT educational services. Consultant on Flowrider and machines alike.

Education and teaching is a huge passion of mine. Being able to share information or experiences with people so that they may learn is a goal I will always strive to achieve. Whether this be surf instruction, Coasteering or sharing my knowledge of the sea and it's many beautiful and varied creatures with them gives me great peace within.

I also love our beautiful coastline, so any excuse to get involved within it I am there. Whether that be Coasteering, surfing or just walking the beaches I simply adore it with a passion and I will always try and pass this passion and love on to my Children, clients and anyone who wants to share in the experience that is CORNWALL AND THE SEA!

My biggest achievement and interest however, is something that I am still working on and will always try and be the best at. And that Achievement and interest is the creation of 3 beautiful Little People Called OLLIE, AMELIE and MADELAINE with my Stunning wife REBEKAH. Trying to be a good father and Husband to my wife Rebekah and my children will always be my main love, passion and goal in life. AND I DO NOT CARE IF THAT SOUNDS CHEESY AT ALL.

Best thing about learning to surf:

Learning to surf for me personally helped with my own self esteem and confidence issues. It was the only stable thing I had within my life as a young lad that was always there. The whole surfing Ethos has shaped and sculpted my life and the person who I’ve become.

When people ask "What does it feel like to Surf a wave" I often pause and really have to think, as it is hard to put such a feeling into words. Sometimes I simply reply the following " Try and picture in your head what it would feel like to have Tranquillity and exhilaration at the same time, and if you cannot then try and learn to surf"

Shaun (the prawn) Marot

Qualifications/experience: Level 2 ISA qualification , 4 years coaching experience surfing, bodyboarding and coasteering .

Best thing about learning to surf: The feeling you get the first time you surf a wave.(only a surfer knows the feeling haha)

Matt Cole

Surf experience: 8 years in France, Morocco, Australia, South Africa and not forgetting exploring the coast of Kernow!

Qualifications/experience: Surfing GB Level 1 surf coach, RLSS Beach Lifeguard, Coastline Coasteer Lead Guide, Surf Science and Technology Bsc Hons Degree. Coaching for 3 years, leading coasteers for 2.

Best thing about learning to surf: It’s more fun than you can imagine, it keeps you fit and healthy, it’s really challenging but that just adds to the addictiveness! You will never forget your first wave. For me, it’s the people I have met and the places I have been.

Dale Lowe

Surf Experience: 8 years

Qulaifications/experience: BSA Level 2 and coached in UK, Morocco and Portugal Best thing about learning to surf: Is once you’ve caught your first solid wave then you’re hooked, you aren’t ever going back!

Jorrin massingham

Surfing Experience: Bodyboard, paddle ski, windsurf early years, surfing came through in my teenage years now it’s a full on addiction!

Qualifications/experience: ISA level two coaching, RLSS beach lifeguard. Coaching for three years in and around Newquay + foreign countries. Owner and operator of Cornish Wave. Previous coaching experience in other outdoor activities.

Best thing about learning to surf: Learning to surf is the most fun you can have in the sea. It’s challenging, exciting and rewarding no matter what level you’re at or trying to achieve. Equally, teaching surfing is much the same, contending with the day to day conditions and difference in each and every wave makes it constantly engaging to help and encourage new comers achieve their goal.

Sam Bishop

Surfing Experience: I've been bodyboarding for 15years and surfing for 10years I've competed in both disciplines and traveled around the world to surf all types of waves.

Qualifications/experience: I'm fully qualified beach and pool lifeguard, level 1 ISA surf instructor, bodyboard instructor, coasteer assistant, level 2 gym instructor, bodyboard judge. I've been teaching for a year and have 4years of lifeguard experience

Best thing about learning to surf:The best think about surfing is that it's the best feeling in the world a personal challenge between you and the elements with rewards that will make you Feel on top of the world!!!