New Regional development Coach Hired to Progress British Surfing

Source: British Surfing Association -www.britsurf.co.uk-
Press release sent on December 14, 2007

The British Surfing Association (BSA) has found its new Regional Surf Development Coach for the South West following the announcement of the crucial funding which created the new career opportunity in September.

The position funded by Sport England in collaboration with the BSA has been developed to strengthen the quality of surf coaching available across the region and build the surf club structure which is integral to the growth of surfing as a regular sporting activity amongst people of all ages.

Following an intensive interview process 42 year old Andy Sturt from Newquay was selected and will begin his three year role with the BSA in January. He was chosen because of his impressive portfolio of experience.
Andy recently left the RAF as a Sergeant leading a helicopter-engineering shift. Throughout his career, and in his leisure time Andy was responsible for organising sporting and personal development activities ranging from inter squadron sports, adventurous training activities and the introduction of surfing courses for RAF personnel from all over the U.K.

Andy helped set up and develop the Royal Air Force Waveriders (RAFWRA) a group which was later given recognition to form as a sporting body and within this role he was the Safety and Training Officer responsible for organising and maintaining the training & qualifications of all the surf coaches, lifeguards and judges.

Andy’s experience and knowledge will now be shared with all surfers in the South West as his new responsibility is to take grass roots surfing to the next level. With over 500,000 surfers in the UK and over 52% of this residing here Andy has a large pool to draw from and begin the build to a new networked surf coach and club community.

The South West has also been a key area for surf development because as many as 95% of Britain’s top surfers either come from the South West or have chosen to reside there.

Whilst there are already a number of successful, strong surf clubs currently in existence, in recent years this important part of the UK sporting structure has eroded and the new three year position will see Andy dedicate time and passion to the redevelopment of this area and a continual building of the style and quality of surf coaching that is available for people of all ages throughout the region.

Andy says, “I have a whole raft of ideas as to how I am going to develop surfing in the South West and I am eager to discuss these ideas with surf clubs, surf schools, educational bodies and local authorities to push these plans forward. There is so much talent in Britain and it is definitely time that someone dedicated the required time and funding to take it to the next level.
I am naturally very excited that I am going to be a part of this major programme that has so much glaring potential.”

Andy will be based in the BSA’s headquarters at Fistral Beach, Newquay, however he will also have to travel the length and breadth of the South West to examine the current structure and build a strong, new system.

Andy will be working in consultation with the BSA National Director, Karen Walton, to write and deliver an agreed strategic development programme to create and maintain an active surf club culture and network in the South West and to subsequently increase grass roots participation numbers in surfing.

Karen Walton says, “We received some very impressive CVs and we narrowed it down and carried out a very intensive interview process. Andy was a clear stand out from the start because of his fantastic experience at the RAF and we look forward to him starting his post in the New Year.

This is an exciting time for this project and British surfing in general as it has been over ten years since the BSA received any significant form of government backing. This new Sport England funding is a great opportunity for us to begin to build and strengthen the current structure and take the standards of surf coaching and local talent to a new level.”

Jim Clarke, Sport England Regional Director says, "We are delighted to be supporting the BSA with this exciting new position which will help to enable the development of surf coaches and coaching across the SW region. We agree that Andy is the right man for the job and we look forward to seeing the progress."


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