Meet the Coaches
Meet the team
A variety of qualifications and experience makes our team interesting to meet and surf with. We can offer you quality surf tuition at all levels, at fantastic beaches with top facilities, with courses tailor made to suit your needs.Ashleigh Bennetts
Ashleigh Bennetts:Academy Owner - BSA Level 2 Head Coach. Kids Dept' & Club Coach.
Ashleigh has high standards and great confidence when it comes to coaching, able to command the attention of a large group. With 4 years experience at the O'Neill Surf Academy and previous years with club and lifeguard experience Ashleigh is a very valued member of the coaching crew. Ash has just completed her BSA Level 3 coaching course, and ISA judging course and is looking forward to coaching high level competitive surfers in the coming year, and judging at regional contests. 2008 will see Ashleigh competing in the British Women's Longboarding events.
SEE MORE PICTURES OF ASHLEIGH >>>
Dan Rawsthorn
Dan Rawsthorn aka "Tractor": BSA Level 2 Senior Coach.
Dan first met us whilst joining West Coast Surfari on a surf tour to Morocco. His passion for surfing grew into the area of coaching and he has now been coaching for 4 years. Dan is lucky enough to run all our West Coast Surfari Tours to Morocco, J-Bay, Australia and France. In between his busy schedule of surfing the world's best waves, Dan can be found at Watergate or on the golf course. SEE MORE PICTURES OF DAN >>>
Adam Griffiths
Adam Griffiths: BSA Level 2 Coach and West Coast Surfari Sponsored Rider.
Adam is a successful competitior on the Longboard circuit, with great results behind him he is aiming to achieve the position of European champion for the future. Adam has been coaching for 3 years, his first experience coaching was whilst on work experience with us.
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Tom Butler
Tom Butler: Level 2 Coach & Sponsored West Coast Surfari Rider.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TOM ON WINNING THE BRITISH NATIONALS - MAKING HIM BRITISH SURFING CHAMPION FOR 2008!! Tom joined the academy in 2006 to coach in between his busy schedule of competing. He will be helping to coach all the groms that come through the academy again this year, passing on his valuable skills and knowledge. Tom will be also at the academy daily throughout the year coaching both surf school and Private Lessons. Tom is a brilliant coach and a valuable member of the O'Neill Surf Academy team. Tom will be competing in many British and European surf competitions this year....GOOD LUCK TOM!
SEE MORE IMAGES OF TOM >>>
Karl Fice-Thomson
Karl Fice-Thomson: BSA Level 1 Coach. Kids Dept' & Club Coach.
Karl joined the team in Aug' 2007. He is an extremely valued member of our crew, always with a smile on his face. He has great enthusiasm for youth education and development. When he's not busy teaching nippers at the academy, Karl runs his own freelance lecture business teaching childcare to the grownups! He will be running our kids surf club in 2008 along with many new activities such as Rockpool Safaris, Snurfkling, Eco-Coasteering and his infamous Pirate Parties!Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips: BSA Level 2 Coach.
Jack is local to Newquay and has coached at Watergate with us for 3 seasons. He is a keen surfer, great coach and enjoys travelling in his free time. Recently, Jack has been to Canada and achieved his Level 2 Snowboard Instructor Award. Jack is continuing his travels and can now be found in the tropical climate of Costa Rica gaining some valuable coaching and travel experience! Hopefully we will see Jack back at the academy when he returns to sunny England!
SEE MORE IMAGES OF JACK >>>
Jack Sykes-Wood
Jack Sykes-Wood: BSA Level 1 Coach. Kids Dept' Coach.
Currently studying at Uni in Leeds to become a P.E teacher, unfortunately Jack won't be joining us this season at the O'Neill Surf Academy, but we are sure he will visit us over the summer for a surf at Watergate.SEE IMAGES OF JACK >>>
