ISA Surf Coach & SLSA Course, 8 Days, France

The Surf Coach Courses

By completing this course successfully, you become certified to teach surfing to beginner surfers worldwide. There are two parts to the course: The ISA Level 1 Surf Coach Certificate and the SLSA Surf Coach Lifesaver Award.

These two qualifications are both recognized by the ISA (International Surfing Association).

We organize these courses each year.

Part 1: SLSA (Surf Coach Lifesaver Award)

The SLSA course counts as 40 hours and is a mandatory part of the surf coach course. The course starts with a fitness test. So, this means participants need to be fit. Besides CPR and first aid, you will be taught several different rescue techniques at sea with and without a rescue board. The exam on the final day is conducted by English speaking SLSA-examiners.

Part 2: ISA Level 1 Surf Coach

The entry requirements for this course are the achieved lifesaver award (part 1) and at least 2 years of surfing experience. The second part of the ISA surf coach course lasts for 3 days and includes both theory and practice. It further elaborates on teaching to beginners, teaching methods and skills, and safety while teaching both on the beach and in the water. During the week there will be several tests:

• Showing the minimum required surf skills: bottom turn (frontside and backside) and safely and controlled surfing of a wave
• Teaching a beginner surf class
• Presenting a surf-related topic (in English)

Part of the course is to complete a 20-hour internship. We can assist in finding a suitable place for you to complete this.

After achieving part 1 and 2 you are the proud owner of the surf coach certificate of the ISA and receive your ISA instructor card. After two years you will need to complete a refresher course to keep your certification valid. Of course, we’ll be happy to help with that also.

Location: Mimizan Plage, France

The best way to prepare for your career in surfing is by hitting the water and getting as much time surfing as possible. We definitely encourage you to surf before and after each days classes.

Luckily, you have great beach breaks right here in front of you. The winter storms create the sandbanks that produce these great beach breaks all up and down the coast of this prime surfing region.

It’s going to be a busy week with the first aid classes, exams, teaching practice, and free-surfing. Luckily you have the surf lodge to chill when you have some quiet time.

The Surf Lodge

Our lodge is set among green surroundings on a nice quiet spot in Mimizan, France. The beach is just five minutes away. Behind the lodge there is a pretty river, which also has it’s own beach. Here we also give yoga and SUP lessons.

The Surf

Mimizan is a well-known surf spot in the southwest of France right on the Atlantic Ocean. Europe’s most beautiful waves roll in here all year round. Mimizan is the perfect spot for beginners because the waves break on sandbars just offshore.

But also more advanced surfers will enjoy themselves in the green waves further outside. Even in the high-season, we can surf beautiful waves without any crowds. With our bikes, we can quickly cycle to a good surf spot among the beautiful nature.

It’s one of those spots where you can easily have one of those “moments of total happiness”

The Nightlife

If you’ve still got energy Mimizan is also lively in the evenings.

Along the boulevard (and in the village) you can find many cozy bars. There is something for everyone; a wine bar where you can drink a nice wine, a pub with all your favorite beers on tap and, of course, our own lodge bar where you can go for a dance, or to watch a relaxed surf movie. Or why not just have a little drink sitting in the dunes while the sun goes down? It is all possible.

Getting There

By Air

Bordeaux is the nearest airport. Also, Biarritz Airport is nearby. If you’d like a transfer from Bordeaux or Biarritz just let us know when making your booking. We’ll let you know what’s possible.

By Train

The TGV (fast train) stops in Bordeaux. If you’d like a transfer from Bordeaux just let us know when making your booking. We’ll let you know what’s possible.

By Car

If you’d like to come by car. We are about an hour and a half south of Bordeaux. You can park your car for free right in front of the Lodge all week.