Introducing ASI Surf and SUP Instructor Sam Christopherson

UK. SCOTLAND. Introducing ASI Surf and SUP instructor Sam Christopherson, addicted to waves Sam has been surfing, bodyboarding and paddling for decades. After spending some time travelling, Sam settled with his family in Dunbar and set up his school Coast to Coast Surf School. Sam is also an ASI Surfing Instructor Trainer, authorised to deliver ASI Surfing Instructor courses. 

1.  What is your background?

I’ve been surfing, bodyboarding and paddling for four decades now. I’m reminded how old I am when I bodyboarded for Scotland in the European surf champs in 1993 over a decade before some of my current team of instructors where born! I’ve always loved the ocean, learning to catch waves in Cornwall on family holidays before exploring Scotland. As a competitive swimmer it was a really fun way to enjoy the water and I had two keen brothers and a small crew of keen friends eager to discover. In the 90’s our friends went all over Scotland, finding new breaks. Competition and student holidays allowed travel in Europe and Africa and when I finally settled down, I realised I wanted to have a life with my new young family by the sea, moving to Dunbar in 2004 and setting up Coast to Coast Surf School. 
 
2.   What got you involved in the sport?

Confidence in the water and addiction to waves. Living on the east coast of Scotland we have very fickle surf, so this makes you even keener than the average surfer and you have a lot of time, especially in the summer, to get the froth up for the next swell. Living by the sea I now spend hours in it, surfing longboards, grovellers, shortboards and SUP’s - anything to have fun!
 
3.   Why did you become an ASI instructor?

I was introduced to ASI in 2011 through their SUP courses. Simply put they were the best courses available! And I’d say they have led the way ever since!
 
4.   What are you doing now?

I run Coast to Coast Surf School, a family based Scottish Adventure company. I have a team of wonderfully enthusiastic staff - “a real family team” and we run surf, sup, bodyboard, skate and coasteering on the east coast and tours around the north and west of Scotland. 
 
 5.   What do you like about being an ASI instructor?

It allows me to do my job which is the biggest positive. The ASI is always improving and whenever possible I try and upgrade my skills. As a presenter it is a real pleasure to help new instructors with real life tips and advice to make the best future coaches!
 
 6.   Has COVID changed what you do?  How?

Respect for the environment. It was amazing in lockdown hearing the birds and living each day admiring nature, slowing down and getting to skate and cycle on empty roads with my friends and family. It was also amazing to see it is possible just to stop and care for others and also watch politicians find money and drive to change things radically at a national level when for decades we have been told there is no money! Post lockdown I made some commitments and this year the surf school planted 220 trees on behalf of our customers, a small positive step forward.
 
 7.  Tell us about funny or interesting or nice situation that has happened to you with instructing?

In my job you get lots of memorable situations. I think one of the best was an American opera Singer, coming on one of our Outer Hebridean tours. We set up camp in the middle of nowhere. Surfing on empty beaches daily and socialising in the evening, on the last night we had a camp fire under the stars on a wee island with just our group and he gave us an amazing rendition of “carmen" and then sang happy birthday in an operatic style for my 7-year-old girl. Turns out he had performed to large audiences in New York, London and Paris that year - was a special moment in life for us and not something that happens every day.

Photo Credit: Mike Guest

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About ASI
ASI is a professional membership organisation and international governing body for instructors, coaches and schools in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
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