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Meet our team of wonderful Surf Coaches and Instructors!

We take huge pride in the quality of instruction at our Academy. When it comes to coaches only the best will do.  All our instructors have extensive surfing, coaching and travel experience and are respected local surfers.  This variety of qualifications and experience makes for an interesting and dedicated team who have the very highest standards in the industry.

All O'Neill Surf Academy coaches hold a Surfing GB/Academy of Surfing Instructors cert, NARS Beach Lifeguard/NARS Surf Coach Lifesaver awards and have cleared all relevant working with children checks. 

Ashleigh Bennetts

Ashleigh Bennetts O'Neill Surf Academy
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Academy Owner, Head Coach

Ashleigh owns and runs the O'Neill Surf Academy and West Coast Surfari.  She's been teaching surfing since leaving school and has been teaching now for nearly 10 years! Qualified to the highest industry standards in surf coaching and lifesaving, she's travelled the world teaching everyone from beginners to elite surfers.

Her talents also extend to her own surfing. You'll see her competing on both the UK and worldwide longboarding stage.  This year Ashleigh ranked 6th in the ASP European Tour for women's longboarding and 2nd in the English National Championships, and has claimed a few great results in other national events.

You can keep up to date with Ashleigh on her Facebook Page and Blog - Don't forget to click the 'Like' button! 

 

Dom Clarke

Dom Clarke Surf
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Academy Head Coach & Ocean Scientist

Dom is one of our top coaches here at The O'Neill Surf Academy. He enjoys coaching alongside his other love in life - Rockpooling! As a qualified Ocean Scientist he has a wealth of knowledge about the beach and ocean environemnt and is our resident wave geek - if you want to know about waves he's the man to ask!

Dom is an exceptional surfer who loves the ocean. He's been lucky enough to extensively travel the world and has surfed some of the best waves on the planet. Dom rides a shortboard with flare and style but will have a go at surfing almost anything that floats.

When he's not teaching surfing you'll find him exploring the shoreline - check out his greatrockpooling lessons:  www.exploretheshore.co.uk

 

Allannah Brown

Allannah Brown
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Academy Level 2 Coach and Kids Only Coach

Allannah back with us at Watergate Bay after a winter exploring the Sri Lankan coast. She's back on the beach every day with us this year and is looking forward to coaching our beginner, intermediate and Kids Only classes over the coming season. Allannah is a fantastic surfer, skilled at riding both a shortbpard and longboard. As a keen competative surfer you'll find her placing highly at many of the UK's biggest surfing events.

 

Alex Kerry

Academy Assistant Coach

Alex is the newest member of our team, joining us for the 201 season. Recently qualifed he'll be spending the year ahead with us here at the academy advancing his surf coaching career. Alex coaches our beginner lessons and is with his extensive surfing experience and many years spent here at Watergate Bay his local knowlege is invaluable. He's also a fantastic surfer who rides a shortboard! 

 

Bojangles

Surf School Dog