ASI was created and established in 2003 by Tania Nesbitt and Nigel Hutton-Potts at Bondi Beach, Australia. In response to the lack of recreational education and safety standards in the surfing industry, Potts & Nesbitt decided to set up ASI that would identify surfing standards and create and publish learn to surf books. 

They were then asked to create surfing instruction qualifications and accreditation standards in Australia, by surf school owners, who were disillusioned by the current sports association’s educational standards.   

People around the world heard about ASI, wanted to be part of ASI and wanted to be trained by ASI.  Stand Up Paddle standards were created by ASI in 2008 and bodyboarding in 2010.  

What originally started as a hobby by Nesbitt and Potts, producing some learn to surf books, has developed into an international organisation, known for its professionalism, innovation and quality. 

Nigel Hutton-Potts (Founder and Director)

Nigel is a co-founding director of ASI and is well known and highly regarded in the Australian surfing community, as an elite free surfer, committed to the surfing lifestyle and promoting the sport.  He grew up surfing at Bondi Beach, Sydney Australia and spent considerable time in Bali, with fond memories of surfing Ulu’s on a single fin, with only him in the water.  

Nigel lives in Bondi Beach Australia and has travelled the world surfing and has lived in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.  He also, speaks Japanese and Indonesian.  He holds trade qualifications in both carpentry and landscaping, as well certificates in financial management, Japanese language and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.   

Nigel is the author of the ASI Learn to Surf manuals (beginner, intermediate and advanced levels) with no other such publications in existence. They are still worldwide best sellers.  

Tania Nesbitt (Founder & Director)

Tania is a co-founding director of ASI.   She is a qualified accountant (CPA), holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Economics, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.   Tania has extensive expertise in business systems and controls, troubleshooting for businesses and setting up compliance regulation for training organisations.  Prior to starting ASI, she was a director of a corporate training company specialising in sales and management training and previously worked for one of the big 4 accounting firms. 

Her first love is the ocean and when she is not in or on the water, she is not far from it !  Tania is based in Bondi Beach Australia and has travelled the world extensively, lived in the UK and Italy and has followed the sun in pursuit of the ultimate endless summer.  

ASI has a team of highly qualified people working across the world.

ASI Partners & Licencees
ASI has partners and licencees in different regions or countries.
Partners are appointed as ASI Licencees and are approved to deliver ASI training, school accreditation and monitor industry standards for that particular country.
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ASI Trainers
ASI trainers employs a team of trainers located around the world. They have extensive expertise in their sport discipline area and hands on instructing and operational expertise.
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ASI Management & Administration
Behind the scenes is a team of highly competent and customer focussed management and admin staff.

Education Committees
ASI education committees are established for each sport disciplines. They are responsible for ensuring ASI training is relevant to industry and employer needs and creating and reviewing industry standards.
The committees comprise ASI trainers, other staff and specially selected industry experts.

Professional Membership for Instructors and Schools.

Instructors
We represent our instructors’ member interests by providing them with the resources to professionally and safely deliver activities - including leading edge training courses and career progression, standards guidance, qualifications, renewal and annual accreditation certificates.

Schools
We represent our schools member interests by providing them with the resources to professionally and safely operate a school / activity centre  - including comprehensive operational systems with written policies, procedures, risk management, safety and operational forms, insurance, access to the ASI Sports Wise training programs and manuals with educational pathways from beginner to elite level, marketing guidance and profile, annual auditing and accreditation certificates. 

ASI is a dedicated training organisation, with training programs aligned to educational guidelines and outcomes.  

ASI is at the forefront of education within the outdoor recreation sports sector and is continually investing in education and accreditation standards to ensure we meet the needs of this fast growing and changing industry.

All training courses and training products are reviewed annually to ensure the most up-to-date and relevant content is provided. 

We source information from ASI schools, instructors, government agencies and education departments around the world, to ensure ASI training programs are relevant to all countries.

As an RTO, a government endorsed training provider, ASI is audited regularly to ensure training programs, training delivery, assessment processes, trainers experience, student records and administration is of a high standard. 

Australia

Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

ASI is a Registered Training Organisation, (private education college, endorsed by the Australian Education Department) and issues Nationally Recognised Training Certificates.
RTO ID 91496  ASI Registration Information

Other

• NSW National Parks Accredited Training Provider for Eco Pass. Accreditation Information
  NSW Tourism Department, recognised surf school tourism accreditation provider (covers operational and safety standards) 

• Recognised by all councils that have accreditation and instructor permit requirements.

• NSW Maritime recognised provider for Stand Up Paddle waterways permits.

Portugal

DGERT Training Organisation
ASI Portugal (ASIP) is a DGERT Certified Training Organisation in the area of Sport, issuing EQF (European Qualifications Framework) certificates.  
Endorsed by the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT) who are responsible for management of the Training Entities Certification System in Portugal.  ASIP Registration Information

IPDJ Approved Training Organisation

ASI Is approved to deliver Surf Grau I and II courses in Portugal. We are the only international training organisation that holds the approval.

Philippines

ASI is the only endorsed Department of Tourism provider for surf schools and instructor training. 

United Kingdom

NVQ
ASI Australia RTO status is equivalent to the UK Awarding Body issuing NVQ qualifications.

AALA
ASI is endorsed by Adventure Activities Licencing Authority (AALA)
A government agency sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions set up so that children are not being exposed to avoidable risks of death or disabling injury at activity centres.  High safety standards and correct training process are in place.    AALA Information  

Other

• Cornwall Council (England) WAVES surf school licence scheme recognised provider

• Broads Authority (covering Norfolk and Suffolk, England waterways) recognised SUP training provider

• Partnered with Community Action Sports  (government funded initiative) to develop the Urban Surf program for youngsters from challenging backgrounds and currently delivered through ASI surf schools.  Urban Surf program awarded Inspire mark under the ‘London 2012 Inspire’ programme.

2003: ASI developed the international standard for instructors and school accreditation, and was the FIRST and only organisation offering international training and accreditation. 

2008: Published a 450 page research report into Council (local government) permit and tendering requirements for Surf School operations in Australia

Surfing 

• Identified and created the learn to surf skills framework for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels and covering 10 levels of progression skills. There was NO identified surfing skill levels previously.

• Created and published the complete set of learn to surf manuals for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, sold worldwide

• Created 4 levels of surfing instructor qualifications and career pathways.

• Created the ONLY Traditional Surfing Judge criteria and judges certification (covering loggers, timber and pre 78 surf craft)

• ​Created the world’s FIRST instructor qualification for teaching improver-intermediate skills. 

Stand Up Paddle  

In 2008, ASI was contacted by Jamie Mitchell, (world renowned paddle boarding champion) for insurance. As a result, and together with Will Anido and Darren Borg (associates of Mitchell and elite paddlers), ASI created the world’s FIRST stand up paddle qualifications, educational SUP terminology, framework and school operating standards.   

ASI offers an extensive range of SUP qualifications, educational courses and career progression. Recognized as the world’s best and caters for flat water, exposed waters, SUP surfing, downwinding, SUP rescue skills, SUP surfing judging, race skills, technical SUP skill analysis criteria suitable for video analysis, yoga and fitness. 

2014:  Created the Leash Up for SUP campaign.  This was in response to paddlers in many countries unaware that leashes were an essential safety aid.   The campaign was highly successful, with government agencies and sports associations following the ASI lead and promoting mandatory use of leashes when paddling. 

Bodyboarding 

2010: Created the world’s FIRST bodyboarding accreditation standards for learn to bodyboard levels, instructors and standards for bodyboard school operations.