Our Coaching
24 Years Coaching Experience
Our Coaching Aims To Empower You!
Our goal for our coaching is to help you learn and improve your surfing in a way that feels good! What this means is we won't repetitively tell you that your doing something wrong, instead we come up with solutions and exercises that change the habit that is letting you down in a way that won’t make you feel frustrated! (Surfing is a frustration rollercoaster we cant promise you wont feel it but we will equip you with ways to get over and deal with the frustration).
We truly believe that your surfing improves when in a fun, empowered non pressured environment. That's what we are aiming to provide.
We've thought critically about all aspects of our coaching and created something that shows positive improvement.
Catering For Different Learning Styles
We understand everyone learns differently! Some can hear and understand what to do where as most need pictures, videos & demos and most need to learn the movements! We have this covered and more with our coaching. We want to make sure that everyone understands and nobody is left in the dark. We focus our surf sessions on certain exercises which improve skills.
Gather & Glide is operated and
owned by the Coaches
Our Coaches
Unlike many schools, you will have the same instructors for the duration of the course, with both or either Sam or Allannah leading the course each day who together have 24 years coaching experience between them.
100% of our staff are passionate, experienced female surf instructors. Over the years we have formed amazing friendships in our local surf community here in Newquay and it's our goal to inspire and empower other women and to share our love of surfing.
All our coaches understand the ocean and will never take you out in dangerous conditions. We find the best conditions for you.
Feel Good
We teach in ways that make you feel good and keep you focused on the next task instead of whats not perfect.
Adaptable
You will learn everything on our courses curriculum but we keep the structure loose to accommodate the conditions.
Encouraging
Always Laughing and smiling we love being in the sea with you! If you catch a good one its like we've had the wave with you. We get so much joy watching you succeed and improve.
On Land Practical &
Theory Sessions
We have developed many on land theory classes tailored to the course you have chosen, which will show you technical breakdowns, including body movement, surfboard flow, wave mechanics and so much more - you will have to join in to find out!
We usually teach 1-2 on land theory sessions a day, either before the first surf session in the morning or during the lunch break, so that you can put the theory into practice during the next surf.
Sometimes if mother nature isn't playing ball or everyone is feeling surfed out, we will swap 1 surf session during the course for an in depth on land theory session.
We want you to leave the course buzzing and motivated, filled with new information that you can't wait to put into practice in the following months, feeling like you have a greater understanding of the ocean, feeling and being even more confident in the surf.
Video Analysis
This crucial in terms of progression. We can watch and slow mo everything to show you whats happening. Honestly its tough sometimes (for all levels) as we can all be super critical on ourselves.
We keep it on an individual basis.
We make the experience positive by setting achievable goals and thinking forward to create ways for you to get to the next step in surfing. We like to set small exercises for you to focus on to get through what your working on and lose the bad habits without focusing on the bad habits.
Video Analysis
This crucial in terms of progression. We can watch and slow mo everything to show you whats happening. Honestly its tough sometimes (for all levels) as we can all be super critical on ourselves.
We keep it on an individual basis.
We make the experience positive by setting achievable goals and thinking forward to create ways for you to get to the next step in surfing. We like to set small exercises for you to focus on to get through what your working on and lose the bad habits without focusing on the bad habits.
On Land Surfskate Drills
Progress faster with our surfskate drills!
Surfskates allow us to practice surf movement repetition and are one of the best on land tools to help you level up your surfing.
We have developed drills and techniques for beginner & intermediate surfskater’s for you to practice at your own pace, so you can enjoy the sessions and have tons of fun!
Featured on all of our courses!
We Keep Track of
Your Progress
Our coaches track your progress during and after the course has finished (which gets kept in our Protected files) Your photos and videos will be kept so that next time you come back we have your progress and goals on hand to see what we can work on next!
We Swim
We are right next to you every step of the way, like your personal little friendly seals. We utilise fins and will swim in certain courses to help you catch waves while your improving your arm strength (or if the waves are particularly weak) On Level 1 and 2 Progression Courses we generally always have at least 1 coach swimming.
Why Swim and use Fins ?
Its less dangerous to push and help you catch waves and we focus 100% on you. You get smashed we get smashed. Were all in it together!
Progression Path
We have created a pathway of our courses that can guide you in the right direction. We start our courses at the start where you begin and grow up through into higher specialised courses focusing on Longboarding and Shortboarding.
This pathway is a guide, everyone learns at different speeds. We recommend practising between courses to improve the skills you've learnt in the previous course as we cover a lot more than what you will be able to perfect in one week of surfing.
Learning to surf isn't just learning how to stand up on a surfboard
Neap Tides
Our Progression Courses, Longboarding and Shortboard courses are run around neap tides (this means small tidal movement). We have chosen these times so that we don't have to stress or worry about the tide moving too quickly (getting too high or too low) and we can have maximum time to work on our surfing. Don't Understand what this is yet ? Don't worry we cover it in our courses!
No Time Limit On Surf Sessions
We don’t have a time limit to our sessions, we may surf for 3 hours when the surf is epic or we may surf for 1 hour if its not so beneficial. We also listen to how everyone is feeling. Why ? Ultimate freedom! We don't have to get out if its EPIC or your having the best time ever!
Same Group All Week / Weekend
Maximum 10
Students
Per Course
Our Maximum number or participants on a course is 10 with Three Experienced Coaches. We want to give you a great experience and a chance to make new friends in a personal friendly environment. With only ten participants we can really tailor our coaching to fit your needs and help you improve. We will also allocate a coach to you, so that one coach will always be watching out for you and be connected to your progress, this coach will also do your individual video analysis session. This doesn't mean that you will only be taught by one coach as each coach has their own strengths and weaknesses and may see things in a new way.
We Are Mobile
We go to the best locations for the day.
Our surf school is mobile! Which means our base is our lovely van! We will always go to the best beach for the conditions within our permissions. Our favourite local is Watergate Bay, and we have all spent a long time working here (it is our home beach). We love it because it is quieter than inner Newquay beaches, with good vibes in and out the water. Sunrises and sunsets are Incredibly special here.
