Welcome to our Tutorial Series!
One of the best things about surfing is you can always improve! So we are going to help you on that journey with our series of helpful informative videos.
Our first is ‘The Eskimo Roll’
The Eskimo roll is flipping your board upside down with you on it, allowing the wave to roll over you. Sounds easy, but its a little bit trickier than you expect. Press play on the photo and our instructor Brad will show you how!
Hi, My name is Laurie, I am from France and want to tell you about my time as an intern at LGS!
I am in my second year of Business school and needed to do an internship, so after months of intensive research, I decided to go to Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia! I have been welcomed by Lets Go Surfing (LGS) over their Summer, the busiest and most exciting time to be at a Surf School.
Why Bondi Beach?
This choice was obvious for me, Bondi beach is the most famous beach in the world. It was “ the place to be” and a perfect spot to start with. Not only because of the amazing surfing conditions, golden sands and crystal waters, but also because of the funky beach vibe, fun bars and restaurants, urban-style shops and excellent markets.
My Internship
I spent the first week getting to know the staff, where I would be working and what I would be doing.. It wasn’t long before I realized that surfing in Bondi isn’t only an outdoor activity but also a way of life! One of the first people I met was an ex intern who was lucky enough to get a job working in the LGS shop, Julie. She gave me a piece of advice that I will never forget: “dive in” at first I didn’t understand but it didn’t take me long to understand what she meant.
At the start of my internship I thought LGS only provided beginner surfing lessons, however it didn’t take long to realize they provide sooo much more, including but not limited to; kids lessons, women only courses, intermediate lessons, corporate team building activities, day tours, walking tours, tours including history about Bondi that include lunch and so much more! It was a lot to learn, but exciting also.
Some of my roles and responsibilities were: taking photos, walking customers to their lessons, working in the check in center. At the start it was really challenging due to my limited surfing knowledge and it was so busy. I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t answer all of the customers’ questions however I took Julie’s advice and “dived in”… I did what I knew I could do and helped out the LGS staff as much as possible, watched what they did and did the same. Marty (my internship director) saw the initiative I was taking and started to give me more responsibility. I was learning everyday and everything was becoming a lot easier, I started being able to answer a lot of the customer questions and felt really happy with what I had achieved.
In my second month of the internship, I had the opportunity to be involved in the Marketing department. I attended a 2 day sales event at a local university, which at first was a little uncomfortable, but I once again ‘dived in’ and had a great experience talking to students about surfing and encouraging them to buy a lesson. I also worked with the Marketing Manager on some blogs that were published on the website. I really enjoyed this type of work.
Reflection:
Leaving France in order to work abroad for three months is not a common adventure: I needed to be prepared to live in an unknown place. But I have to say this adventure was the best according to my other professional experiences. It was great to practise my English, also being able to work with colleagues from different countries and learn their way of life was so wonderful. My colleagues and internship director helped me feel at home very quickly.
I did notice that in Australia, the working method is very different than in France. In fact, it is frequent to feel like we are a “family” with the team work. My colleagues gave me little nicknames like “buddy and mate”. A positive and chilled mood is present every day. It doesn’t mean that they didn’t work with motivation: Australian people grant a big importance to working and they never will be shocked or upset to work more than five days a week. What I notice again is the fact that my colleagues always stayed calm at work: They prefer to take their time in order to perfect their tasks. They are not shy people and there was a sense of high team spirit, I loved this type of atmosphere !
After spending three months at LGS I have learnt a lot. I acquired new professional experience, improved my self confidence, improved my English skills and experienced a new way of life, one that is by the beach! This internship was more than enriching on the professional point but on the personal point too. I do think I would work in a surf school in the future because employees are living their job as a part of their life.
Thank you LGS!
Finally, I would like to thank the LGS team, showing me a new way of life, teaching me to surf and welcoming me into the LGS family. I really appreciate it and it was an experience that will enrich my life! Looking forward to coming back to visit.
When I first started as an intern at LGS I had never surfed in my life. I was a complete beginner, but very excited to start my journey!
I took a couple of lessons to make sure I had the right technique and learned more about the ocean. This part is really important. Getting up on a board is one thing, reading the waves, learning about currents, being in the right spot is another thing. This is the part that has been taking me the longest to learn, because the conditions are always changing. If you’re thinking about learning how to surf I recommend taking some lessons as this is really important to not get in trouble in the water, go to the best spot on the beach and surf the best waves.
Practise, practise, practise. That’s what all the coaches at LGS kept telling me, so that’s what I did. I tried to go out for a paddle at least 3 times a week. After the first two months I was able to paddle into my own waves instead of standing next to my board and jumping on when the waves were approaching.
It was important to start small and build my way up to some bigger waves. After getting caught in the wrong spot multiple times and experiencing a nosedive once in a while I can say I am much more confident than I was at the beginning of my surfing experience. After 4 months of surfing I learned how to get up, I am starting to turn, I am catching my own waves without a push. I can confidently go out on my own every time.
If you are a beginner my one piece of advice is: Do not give up! There will be days when you feel like quitting. (I definitely had them!) It’s important to not give up, because the reward of catching a wave all the way to shore is bigger than anything else and will leave you stoked all day!
Blog written by Julie Van Eccelpoel (2019 Intern)
As part of my degree in Belgium (Office Management with a specialization in Event Management) I needed to do an internship and I thought where better than in Australia on one of the world’s most famous beaches.. Bondi Beach! When I was accepted, I packed my bags and left mid winter Belgium to peak Summer Australia… wow what a difference!
During my internship I learned a lot about the daily running of a company and a team. I even learned more about customer service, booking systems, agents and business marketing. A typical work day existed of preparing surf lessons, taking photos of lessons, answering phone calls and helping out in the check-in-center.
One of the main perks about working at LGS is that you get to enjoy the beach on a daily basis. You are out and about all day taking photos, assisting on a lesson and running around. I had the chance to work in a company where everybody is passionate about what they do. I learned a lot about surfing, the surfing community in Bondi and the ocean. Everybody at Let’s Go Surfing loves to share their knowledge with everybody that wants to listen! After my Internship I can say I learned the in’s and out’s about all this. I’ve broadened my skills in so many ways and not to forget: and best of all I learned how to surf!
Going out on my lunch break or after work with the coaches and other staff to catch that wave of the day was amazing. These are some of the moments I will never forget in my life. Changing lives one wave at a time, that’s what it is all about. It definitely changed my life!
I had an amazing 4 months with Let’s Go Surfing. I was welcomed into their team straight away and they made me feel part of it. I got to know so many new amazing and passionate people that taught me more about surfing, the Australian lifestyle and life in general. I want to thank them for the past months and I will always remember: you never regret a surf!
Surfing is something that you should try at least one time in your life. Unfortunately, many people who want to pick up surfing are afraid that they will get out on the water and embarrass themselves or get hurt.
Don’t let these fears stop you from getting out in the water! Instead, follow these top 7 tips for beginners surfers and you’ll be on the right path to surfing with ease and confidence.
We always recommend booking a lesson when you are new to surfing, getting a surfer friend to take you the first time is not the best option. Even though they may be able to surf, they may not be able to teach. We really recommend booking a lesson before hitting the waves.
Not only will this help you progress faster, it will also keep your safer from possible injuries.
Too many inexperienced surfers roll out on the beach with shortboards under their arms because they “look cool”. I’ll tell you what’s not cool: flopping around in the water for two hours because you can’t find your balance on a board that is built for experienced surfers.
Instead, use a beginner board. For surfers who are just starting out, I always recommend they start with a soft-top board. Large and long soft-top surfboards provide tons of buoyancy and stability, perfect for getting your paddling and pop-ups down, as well as a softer exterior, which is far safer considering the amount of times you’ll be bailing.
Don’t worry about looking kooky. Ignore the haters and practice your techniques before getting into the water. You’ll feel far more comfortable than just paddling out blind. Rest your board in the sand and practice your pop-ups until you feel comfortable. Think of popping up like a quick push-up. It is controlled, yet fluid. Watch some videos online to get an idea of the correct form.
We also recommend lying on your board and finding your paddling “sweet spot”. You want to make sure that you’re centered on your board. Not only will this land paddling practice help to lock in your form, but it will also get you warmed up so that you don’t tire out too quickly once in the waves.
Do yourself a favor and don’t walk on out to Trestles or North Shore on your first day. You will get pummeled by waves and forget why you ever wanted to try surfing in the first place. Instead, find a beach with consistently small waves that is good for beginners. All it takes is some simple research to find a local beginner spot near you.
Trust me, take some time and get used to these small waves. Surf them again and again and again until it is second nature. That dedication will eventually lead you to surfing larger and larger waves.
You will never be able to avoid wiping out when you begin surfing. You are going to fall again and again. It may be frustrating, but don’t give in. Wiping out is part of the process. Have fun with each wipeout. Analyze what you did wrong or what you could have done better after every failed attempt.
Understanding how to fall, when to hold your breath, and how/when to come back up, is kind of an art. Check out some of my favorite wipeout tips here.
Whether you decide to paddle over a small wave or duck dive under a large wave, it is necessary that you never turn your board parallel to the whitewater. Turning parallel gives the breaking wave more surface area to push back, and will likely send you plummeting towards shore where you’ll have to start all over again.
Think of your board like a knife and cut through that wave head on.
Look, there’s no better advice that I can give you then to stay positive and have fun while you are out in the water. That is the whole point of surfing. No surfer paddles out everyday because they want to kill themselves doing it. They paddle out because each wave that they catch provides a rush of adrenaline, excitement, and fun, that they can’t get from anywhere else.
When you look at surfing as a whole, it’s quite a feat of human ingenuity. The fact that we’ve learned how to harness the almighty power of the ocean in such an exhilarating way is quite amazing.
Surfing provides a feeling unlike anything else, and I highly recommend going out at least one time in your life to see what it’s all about. Make sure to follow our beginner surf tips and you’ll be on your way to surfing like a pro in no time!
Blog written by: Camille Pilar
The first thing I hear when people find out that I manage a surf school, is “Oh that’s cool! I’ve tried it before, but was never good at it”, and my response is always the same. Surfing is a very rewarding but also requires dedication, nurturing and learning.
Here are the biggest mistakes that I normally see in the water with beginners:
Surfing can be super fun and very rewarding if you are equipped with all the tools to succeed, if you don’t know them come down to LGS Bondi, Byron or Maroubra and get some advise and a lesson or three.
Yeeew!