Coaches

Martin Connolly is an ASI (Academy of Surf Instructors) Master coach. Martin is a top rated British surfer with 12 years experience as a coach and a lifeguard, on Australian and local beaches.  Martin is from Plymouth and has grown up surfing South Devon and North Cornwall’s coastline as well as travelling around the world.  Martin is the Producer of the 110% Surfing Techniques franchise, coaching DVD's, which are sold around the world.

Luke Cunningham is a coach with 6 years coaching experience, and has been part of Discovery Surf School since he was a grommet. Luke resides just a few minutes from Challaborough, Bigbury and Bantham and is Discovery Surf School's Head Coach.

Annika Connolly helps to run the surf school as well as running around after 2 year old Sebastian.  Formerly a successful competitor, Annika is also a coach with 9 years experience.  Here Annika is surfing on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Tim Ayres is new to Discovery Surf School for 2011, and has already made an impression as a very promising and popular member of our team. Tim is also a professional musician and was once in the signed band The Days.

Rosy Ellis is currently studying Politics at Exeter University and has worked for Discovery Surf School for 4 years.  Here she is surfing at Uluwatu, picture taken from her travels in 2009.

Jon Parlby has been a qualified Surf Coach for over 5 years and is a new member to the Discovery Surf School team for 2011.  He brings with him a wealth of experience, not only in the water, but from an organisational perspective, and has been helping us to set up the new Discovery Surf Camp, as well as managing the surf school on a daily basis.

Harry Bennett is an established member of the team, and has been part of Surf School for several years - before qualifying as a coach he helped out washing wetsuits and surfing with us at the Surf Club. Harry will now be working with us full time and running Surf Club and Discovery Surf Camp.

Ben Price has been coaching with Discovery Surf School for 5 years, and this year he's putting a bit of time into helping us at our Challaborough Surf Shop.  Ben is currently in his 2nd year at Cardiff University studying photography.  When he's not studying or coaching Ben has been travelling with his surfing and working as a professional photographer at music events.

Tim Price, sibling to Ben, is in his 2nd year with Discovery Surf School, and brings a wealth of coaching experience to the team.  Having gained superb A Level results, Tim has been travelling around the world surfing this year and has been back in time to get stuck into the summer season before heading off to university.

Ed Stogdale has been part of the Discovery team for a while - the last couple of years as a photographer, and this year he has donned the red vest and joined the coaching team.  Ed is a talented local surfer and after his A-levels did a bit of surf travelling, and after the summer will be taking up a place at University to study photography.

Barny Williams is new to the Discovery team for 2011, and has been an asset to the team throughout the summer, proving to be a popular and accomplished coach.  Barny brings with him many years of surfing experience as a well known local surfer, and is partial to the lefts at Challaborough.

Matz Ginman-Trout has been part of Discovery Surf School for many years and this year Matz is back with us as Manager of our Venus Riders operation at Blackpool Sands, where he'll be coaching SUP and offering kayak, bodyboard and SUP hire, as well as the latest addition, the Water Roller.  Matz is a very talented surfer having appeared in many surfing magazines over the years.

Ben Howey been a stand out long boarder in the South Hams for many years and is ranked 13th in Europe.  Ben has also Lifeguarded in the area and is currently studying at University. 

Callum Arnold is also a new member of the team for 2011, and has settled into the team brilliantly, becoming an accomplished coach.  A local surfer from Kingsbridge, Callum recently achieved exceptional A Level results and after a season with the Disco team is heading off to Oxford University to read Chemistry.

James Borne has also joined the team for 2011 - one of the graduates from our first ASI Surf Instructor course.  James was brought up in the area and can often be found surfing at Challaborough, James has loads of surfing experience and has travelled around the world in search of waves.

Jess Harvey has been part of the Discovery Surf School team for many years - she first started coming along as a pupil when at Holbeton Primary School, and has grown into a talented surfer.  Jess is a fantastic coach and is in her 2nd year with us.  Nick-named Super Jess!

I would just like to drop you a quick line to say thank you on behalf of myself and my two sons for an extremely

enjoyable series of lessons with Luke last week - so much so that we are looking into coming down to Bigbury at the end of October for another session.

Thank you again,

Adam