Coaches

Martin Connolly is a level 4 BSA coach. Martin is a top rated British surfer with 11 years experience as a BSA 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 BSA level 3 coach with 5 years coaching experience. Luke resides just a few minutes from Challaborough, Bigbury and Bantham and as well as being Discovery Surf School's Head Coach, will be taking the new BSA Surf Coach courses new in 2010.

Annika Connolly helps to run the surf school as well as running around after 1 year old Sebastian.  Formerly a successful competitor, Annika is also a coach with 8 years experience.  Here Annika is surfing on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Rich Simcock recently achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Maths from the University of Plymouth and has worked as a coach at Discovery Surf School for 3 years. Rich has also worked a season as a RNLI lifeguard at Bigbury. 

Rosy Ellis is currently studying at Exeter University and has worked for Discovery Surf School for 3 years.  Here she is surfing at Uluwatu, picture taken from her travels in 2009.

Ollie Stogdale has been a coach with Discovery Surf School for nearly 3 years.  Ollie recently achieved a high 2:1 degree from Oxford University and after another season of coaching will be off on his travels before studying further to become a doctor.

Harry Bennett is one of our newest coaches, although he's been part of Surf School for several years - before qualifying as a coach he helped out washing wetsuits and surfing with at the Surf Club. 

Ben Price has been coaching with Discovery Surf School for 4 years and is a Level 3 Surf Coach.  Ben is currently in his 1st year at Cardiff University studying photography.

Tim Price, sibling to Ben, is new to the Discovery Surf School team, though has got a good bit of coaching experience under his belt already.

Russell French is one of Discovery's full time coaches and has recently returned from travelling, having spent several winters in Australia

Matz Ginman-Trout has been part of Discovery Surf School for many years and this year he's come back specifically to drive our Elite Surf Club, where he'll be coaching the groms to the highest level.  Matz is a very talented surfer having appeared in many surfing magazines over the years.

Ben Howey is new to the Discovery Surf School team, but has 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. 

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.  2010 is her first year coaching having got all of her qualifications at the same time as sitting her GCSE's.

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