We are really happy that we chose UP Surf Coaching! Andrew was great and he was really good in teaching is how to surf in 3 days. He also told us about good surfing spots in NZ, which surfboards we should look for and how to look for forecasts! We'll definitely keep on surfing, it was great!!
Recently went on an up surf coaching trip to indonesia- Andrews coaching was amazing, great attention to detail and very clear. My surfing improved so much. He brought us to a variety of different breaks and went through video footage of us after so we could practice different techniques or else he gave us instruction in the water! Couldnt recommend his surf trips enough- you wont regret it!
Amazing few days. Andrew is very approachable and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him over any other surf schools. Nick
Andrew is an excellent coach. He is very personable, patient and calm and adapts his teaching to your ability level and the conditions. We learnt a lot in both practical and theory. Great value for money and I would have no hesitation recommending him to others of whatever age and ability.
Brody did an awesome job at communicating the basics, so I feel comfortable to keep making progress on my own in the future!
I had the 5 days beginners course with Andrew and I can recommend it to 100 percent! I didn't knew anything about surfing before and now I feel like hireing a board and practice for myself. Andrew is a really friendly and calm guy and even offers to answers questions (I want to buy a board or wetsuit but don't know what to buy) after the course. It was really nice. Thank you,
Ragnar from Germany :)
Great guy, friendly and patient. Helped me learn new techniques in a positive friendly atmosphere. Great waves in Raglan, starting with white water then onto green waves. I had lots of questions prior to our visit and Andrew answered quickly and accurately. Thanks matey.
Great surf lessons in Raglan - small class sizes mean you can really improve and great price too. Would look no further for great surfing experience.
I learned a ton. It was not your typical just stand in the water and watch lesson. Andrew really pointed out a lot of weak points that I would have never realized I had. If you are taking the time to learn its worth the money to catch the extra waves and not develop bad habits
I couldn't recommend Andrew enough! I came with no surfing experience at all, and left after 5 days with enough experience and practice to now go out by myself. Andrew went above and beyond, answering any questions and advice for moving forward in the future. The small groups are also so ideal for surprisingly quick progress and trying the surf out back in no time (without feeling pressured too far out of my comfort zone!). An awesome introduction to the sport, in a safe, fun, professional learning environment. Go with UPSurf- you will not regret it!
It was such a great chance to do the 4 days course for beginners with UP Surf Coaching Raglan ! Andrew and Brody were incredibly patient, kind and supportive, gave us a lot of tips and did their best to make us feel confident on the boards. They also explained us some theory, how to read swell forecasts for surf and which equipment we should start with. Every day with Andrew and Brody was full of useful info and fun practice in water. I will definitely continue to surf by myself and hope to do more lessons in the future with you guys
By far the best surfing course I've ever done. Unlearned all my past bad habits and techniques that I had been taught. Brody was a fantastic teacher, really knowledgeable and encouraging. Finished the course feeling confident in the water and surfing. There was only 3 on our course and ever time we looked over to other teaching organisations there was at least 20 people out there and it looked like insanity. Would highly recommend Andrew, Brody and the team
Attended the 5 day course with Brody, and could not of had a much better time! got great feedback on how to improve, soon as i got to Auckland got myself a Board and am working on getting better, definiitley look forward to doing another session sometime with you guys!
Cheers Andrew and Brody!
Having recently completed five days of surf coaching with Andrew (UP Surf Coaching) I couldn t recommend it enough!
As a teacher Andrew is both knowledgeable and patient but most importantly he has a natural ability to translate and communicate this knowledge into practical advice.
And not to mention the way he can stand out in the surf with you, being walloped by waves and still give clear and constructive tips, definitely deserves five stars.
In terms of the structure of the five days Andrew has managed to find the perfect balance between both the practical and the theory both equally important is you are wanting to continue progressing!
On reflection, one of the main reasons that I believe you should choose UP Surf Coaching is down to the approach and teaching style that Andrew takes. As he explained to me, amongst the most common reasons for why people give up on surfing is that they start off by taking group lessons, really enjoy it, go home, buy a board and then due to whatever reasons can t find any surfing companions to head out with unfortunately they also tend to lack the confidence to go out on the water by themselves. To help prevent this from happening Andrew spends the five days encouraging and giving you the skills to become an independent and confident surfer. I believe this is priceless.
Since being out at Ragland I ve loved taking my board out and trying to spend as much time as possible on the water. I can t wait to return in a few months time to receive some further coaching from Andrew and his team!
Chelsea
If you want to give surfing a go, then UP Surf Coaching is a must. We chose the 5 day course and couldn't recommend it highly enough. Andrew was an excellent coach (ably assisted by Julia), providing a mix of practical and technical advice tailored to individual needs. As you progress you will learn about wave formation, efficient paddling, surfing etiquette and surf forecasting. After 5 days we were completely hooked on surfing!! Thank you UP Surf for making our first visit to Raglan so enjoyable.
Andrew is an excellent surf coach. He scheduled a 3 day group session for myself and two others to accommodate our short stay in Raglan and gave really detailed lessons, while still making the surf extremely fun! He was very attentive and spent just enough time with each of us, correcting our mistakes so we don t form bad habits early on. We were all able to stand and catch a wave the first day which I know doesn t always happen- his coaching skills definitely contributed to this. Andrew also spent time going over important information in regards to surf forecast and equipment, and answered so many questions so I will be able to plan sessions myself and pick the right board. I was able to go out with friends later that week and ride a few good waves! I will definitely keep surfing and will hopefully be able to take more lessons with UP surf coaching in the future to improve my skills. Thanks Andrew! :)
I've been surfing for a number of years, but was having trouble in a couple of areas, within half an hour Andrew was able to pinpoint what my mistakes were and I was able to fix what I was doing wrong and started riding more (and better) waves straight away! The thing that impressed my about Andrew (other than the rapid insights) was the way he highlighted what I need to do differently, I never felt like I was being talked to like a beginner - it was more like, "you might try" which made the whole experience easy, informative and a lot of fun.
Daniel
I just finished a five day surfing course with UP Surf Coaching. I'd had one surfing lesson elsewhere previously and I now realise it wasn't a surfing lesson, it was just aimed to get me standing up on a board. After five days with Andrew I am confident to get out surfing with my friends and build on the technical skills Andrew taught me. I came away with a solid understanding of techniques associated with surfing and am confident I will progress. The breadth of information taught was excellent and offered in logical stages. The lessons where structured with plenty of time in the water. In the water, Andrew provided continual refinements, feedback, and assurance in a friendly coaching style, which provided a fun learning environment. The five day course delivered everything it stated and exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend UP Surf Coaching if you are serious about learning to surf or improve your skill levels. I am certainly considering further lessons with UP Surf Coaching in six months time after a period of consolidation and building on the solid base Andrew provided.
Up Surf Coaching Raglan were absolutely epic to deal with - from first reading the blog, to contacting them to enquire about a 3 day coaching package, booking in, doing the sessions... right through to the awesome photos we received at the end... I couldn't recommend Up Surf Coaching more highly, the coaching was professional, accessable, non-pretentious, technical skills were cut up in to digestable chunks with loads of practical feedback and time in the water practicing everything we un-learnt and re-learnt :) again, I couldn't recommend the team at Up Surf Coaching more highly ...
We spent the five days course in Raglan in November, with my partner Benoit. As beginners, our goals were to start surfing with the correct technique, acquire the knowledge to read the weaves, weather, etc., correctly, and be confident in the water while practicing independently, without having someone holding the board (like it happened with other teachers I had in the past). And we have to say that we reached all these goals thanks to Andrew! He is relaxed, patient, knowledgeable, have an eye for details and also respectful and encouraging everything we could expect from an excellent teacher we found with him. And thanks to Rod whit whom we spent one day. The quality of the material is here as well, top wetsuits and boards. And +1 for the photos and videos. We loved the course, and those five days that put us on track to carry on with our surfing. We will come back to check on our progress! Thanks a lot!
I can only recommend taking the course if you want to get into surfing. I constantly felt like Andrew actually wanted us to learn something and the combination of theoretical and pracitcal tips we received also left me with a good feeling about progressing further in the future.
UP Surf Coaching absolutely deserves their exclusively five-star ratings!
I recently participated in the three day 'Become a Surfer' course and could not be happier with the teaching! Andrew is detail-oriented and teaches you how to surf - not just how to stand up. Within 10 minutes in the water Andrew had pointed out several areas that I needed to work on. This feedback loop allows you to quickly iron out mistakes in your technique.
I feel significantly more confident going out and catching green waves after the course, and my pop up is noticeably better and smoother. I would highly recommend attending the 3 or 5 day beginner course if you're looking to get into surfing as a hobby; it's much more comprehensive than other one off courses. The small group size also gives Andrew plenty of time to work on each students' technique.
I'll definitely be going to UP Surf Coaching for any future lessons! Thanks again Andrew! I went out a few times this weekend and caught some decent chest-to-head height waves at Te Arai.
5/5 the best teacher and coach. Started from scratch and on the 3rd day on the 3 day course, catching small green waves. Learned everything needed and more to go practice surfing myself now.
Brilliant weekend in Raglan with Andrew. It was my first time on a surf board and Andrew helped me exceed well beyond my expectations. Andrew provides a safe, patient and relaxed atmosphere to learn in. The information he provides is easy to understand and he is continually giving you corrections to improve your form and make sure you progress as much as possible with the time he has with you.
Can't wait to get back in the water!
Being a total novice, I really wasn't sure what to expect from the 5 day course. Andrew exceeded all of my expectations. He was knowledgable, patient and constantly gave individual advice and encouragement. We also had the smallest student to teacher ratio amongst all the surfing schools, with only 3-4 others in my group. On the last day, Andrew sat down with us and walked through analysing surf forecasts, how to find appropriate waves, what kind of gear we should look into etc etc which was extremely helpful to take away with us. Thanks a lot and hopefully I'll see you again for another course!
Five day beginners surf camp. Andrew was awesome and leant heaps. Throughly enjoyed it. One day back home and already having surfing withdrawals! Highly recommend to anyone!
My daughter and I had a 2 hour surf lesson from Andrew. She went from complete beginner to catching waves during the lesson and I think Andrew's coaching had a lot to do with that. I have surfed about a dozen times and already have been picking up some bad habits that Andrew was quickly able to identify and have me implement change during the lesson.
There are plenty of options for surf coaching in Raglan - I think it is unlikely you will not get the kind of personal attention that Andrew provides with other groups.
Just had the most awesome weekend of surfing with Andrew in Raglan. He truly is "the professor" when it comes to surf coaching. We had two one-on-one sessions and he gave me lots of useful suggestions on how to improve my stance and turning on the wave. Many of his points were reinforced when I got to review the video footage of myself surfing over the two days. Thanks so much for your help Andrew. I look forward to putting what we discussed into practice and hopefully have some progress to show next time we meet!
I really recommend this course!!
I didn t have any experience in surfing when I came to Raglan, but Andrew got all of us up and standing on the board in a day! He s really approachable and takes the time to guide every person in the group, he identifies and explains everyone s individual mistakes and gives you all the tips to fix them right away. If you really want to learn how to surf and understand the details this is the place to be!
Now, I really feel confident to go out and practise by myself, which I don t think would be possible in any of those other really huge groups I saw on the beach. I think there are just way to many people to have an eye on at the same time for the coaches. But in Andrew s group it almost felt like you get private lessons! Andrew and Lugo really cared about us progressing and improving, and that we really understand what we are doing!
Thank you guys for an awesome time! It was so much fun! I ll definitely see you again and book another lesson when I m getting back to New Zealand one day!
The best surf course you could ever choose to take part in! Andrew and Brody were both kind, patient and humorous. Additionally you actually learn how to surf incredibly fast. I would always do it again!
Andrew is a fantastic coach - knowledgeable, patient, and personable. He took time to help us all individually, and by the end of our four days of lessons we were confident in the smaller waves. Highly recommended!
I just had an awesome weekend doing a 3 day course with Andrew. He is a great teacher and I finally made some real progress with my surfing. I highly recommend him as a teacher
and can't wait to keep working with him on my techniques.
I could not recommend Andrew and this course enough! I came in with little to no experience and left feeling positive and am now looking at a board to go out and practice by myself. I managed to stand and ride quite a few waves after a lot of guidance, patience and encouragement from Andrew and Lugo. The groups are kept small and you get a lot of one on one time with the coaches which is so beneficial. All the other groups on the beach were huge and I don't think I could've gotten out as much as I did if I was in one of those groups. Definitely take this course if you want to learn, you will not be disappointed!
Excellent surf course, Susan learnt a lot. The difference with this surf course is that you are taught skills that will help improve your surfing and you can then build onto these skills in your own time. Andrew also helps with general surfing knowledge that will help you to get out surfing more. For example, what to look for in the surf conditions and the weather that would be good for a beginner. Susan highly recommends this course to any beginners or even surfers who would like to learn more skills or improve their surfing. Thanks Andrew.
Wow, what can I say except that Andrew is an absolute legend. If you are looking for someone to take your surfing to the next level, this is the guy. I have been surfing a few times and have caught a few green water waves but really not consistently... I don't do it enough. I really lacked an understanding of where to position myself, how to negotiate the drop of the wave, and just how to stay on! Andrew spotted exactly where my bad habits were holding me back and has given me invaluable advice that I keep hearing over and over in my head. He has taught me that half the waves I am going for are simply just too big. His tips --from how to choose the right wave, where to look down the line, where to hold the board and my own body on it, to how to actually read the sea and the surf reports that go with it -- have meant that I feel so much more confident in the sport as a whole. It's such fun! Not only that but literally a month after the beginners course, he is still answering my questions and has even spontaneously sent me a link to a surfboard this week which I have now bought. You won't get that kind of amazing one-on-one help from a traditional surf school. Definitely going to get a private lesson or two as well once I have practised a bit more. Thank you, Andrew!
After being stuck in the whitewash on my own whenever going for a "surf" I decided to sign up for a course to upskill, and Andrew really helped nailing my pop up and adjusting my stance with immediate improvements. Small group size so heaps of individual coaching and gained heaps of knowledge, and feel I know have the tools to progress surfing on my own, and would love to come back or sign up for an overseas surfing trip once I am solid on the green waves. Rod was awesome too even when conditions were rough he kept spirits up. Thanks guys !
if your serious about learning how to surf, the guys at UPSurfing are the guys to go to. They were really patient and answered all our questions and they were a wealth of knowledge. I will have to keep learning the basics and will eventually do the intermediate course as well
Andrew of UP Surfing is a born teacher with a passion for surfing. Andrew has thoughtfully created a course of steps that build the fundamental skills and technique each learner needs to advance their surfing ability. By the end of three days I went from fumbling on a surf board in white water to paddling out the back seeking green waves. More than just a cheerleader, Andrew has given me confidence and practical knowledge about surfing and surf conditions which will enable me to continue to advance, and more importantly, have fun, well beyond my lovely 3 days in Raglan. If you want more than a one-off surf experience this is the way to go!
Highly recommend UP surf coaching. Andrew and Rod were both encouraging and relaxed instructors. We took a group course and benefitted from the overall instruction and from personal feedback. Everyone in the group got one on one teaching and both instructors were focussed on giving one piece of feedback at a time so I was never overwhelmed with too much to think about. Really solid teaching, safety and good equipment. Best of all, our surfing progressed past the mere beginner stage, after 10 years of off and on surf lessons, I finally feel like I could venture out on my own with some success! Take at least a 3 day course with these guys, 5 days would be even better!
I'm really glad I found UP Surf, Andrew is an incredible instructor. Teaching great tecniques that allowed me to progress from never surfing before to being comfortable finding green waves and catching them early. Leaving Raglan after just 3 nights, I didn't just have the knowledge needed to find great spots and appropriate surfing conditions, but I'd also been given an inner spark of real interest for surfing. Thank you very much for that!
Such an amazing and well organised surf course, Andrew is so helpful and an absolutely amazing coach. We did a 4 day course (meant to be 5 days but we lost one day due to bad weather) and it was incredible. We were lucky enough to work with Andrew as well as trainee coach Brody and they were both great teachers. Got so much out of the experience, learnt more in 4 days than I would've thought possible and fell in love with surfing all at the same time! Totally worth the money and our whole group were so sad that it had to come to an end.
Thanks Andrew, had a blast!
I cannot recommend Andrew highly enough. I definitely feel like I left at the end of the 3 days with some clear individual pointers to work on and more confidence to go out to the green waves by myself. I can't wait to get back out there!
For what it's worth a few people who have taken surf lessons elsewhere told me not to bother with them and that they didn't get much at all out of the lessons! I definitely learnt a lot on this course. Highly recommended!
Went down for a girls weekend and we could not have had a better time! We were all at slightly different levels and Rod ( and Andrew a few times even though he was coaching a different group) made sure to help each of us progress in our surfing abilities. We all left being able to surf a lot better than when we had started. Thanks guys!!!
Andrew is a great guy. My group of four were at a range of levels with their surfing. Andrew made sure that the coaching was tailored to all levels, without becoming boring for the more experienced surfers.
I also appreciated that he'd give one thing at a time to focus on, while providing lots of encouragement.
For anyone thinking they'd like to give surfing a go, UP Surf Coaching is the place to go.
Just did a one on one with Andrew to regain confidence in the waves. He was great in booking, looking out for a day with good surf conditions to fit my needs and asking the right questions in order to assess my skill level and intentions. Upon meeting, he provided a board and wetsuit and his initial assessment and instruction were clear, encouraging and helpful. He took the time to watch and understand my current surfing abilities and where we could use the time wisely to improve. He offered great tweaks that made a difference in a way that felt encouraging. Andrew also answered my 1million questions very patiently which helped. If I were here longer, I would have made me take me out again.
Had an absolutely phenomenal experience with Andrew. As a beginner I went into it quite nervous about being in the water and if I'd even be able to stand up or enjoy myself at all. However I was blown away by how totally thrilling the whole experience was. Right from day 1 Andrew got me surfing and made me feel totally safe. It was wonderful to see the improvement of everyone in my group each day, and Andrews supportive and targeted feedback always made a world of difference. Incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and supportive, 10/10 would recommend. The photos/videos of us surfing he got to us at the end of it were an awesome bonus. Thanks so much Andrew for a fantastic experience!
Had a great 5 days! Last 3 were way better when we got to go out the back. Andrew is an awesome teacher. Definitely recommend!
Andrew is a very talented surfing coach, whom I highly recommend to surfesu of all levels. He has a very personalised feedback oriented approach to coaching, which we all found extremely useful. All 4 of us improved significantly after the 3 day course! Thanks again Andrew!
As above, I was so thrilled to see my sister up surfing who had never stepped on a board before. Andrew shared a wealth of excellent knowledge with us and helped me overcome bad habits too. Our three days in beautiful Raglan was incredible value.
Everything from communicating and coordinating to lessons was super easy! Andrew gave very helpful tips custom to each person in our group after a watchful eye on our opportunities for improvement. I highly recommend and will definitely come back for more lessons next trip to New Zealand!
Absolutely amazing experience! The small group sizes combined with Andrews knowledge and teaching skill mean you make real progress and leave excited to get surfing! Cannot recommend the courses highly enough! Enjoy!
upsurfcoaching.co.nz
