Introducing ASI Surf Instructor, Ian 'Freddie' Warwick

Introducing UK based ASI elite-level advanced surfer, Ian ‘Freddie’ Warwick. An exceptionally adventurous life centred around surfing, Freddie grew up in Western Cornwall before travelling with world with the Royal Marines, now sharing his knowledge with new budding surfers as a certified ASI coach.

Freddie shares his perspective and the remarkable moments that make this the best job in the world. Read on to find out how Freddie coached a 56-year blind man onto his first wave!...

What is your background?

I started Surfing at about 14 years of age at Godrevy/Gwithian begging and borrowing boards (local Lifeguard would lend us big old rescue longboards, “learn to control that, then you can use something smaller” was said several times! We swam a lot!).

Left Cornwall to join the Royal Marines in March 1987 served 21 & 1/2 years traveling and working around the world (not always in the most favourable countries or environments) - managed to surf during weekends, leave periods and R&R on tours globally.

The Royal Navy/Royal Marines board riders club was formed and there was a requirement for instructors, so I took a course and qualified. On retiring from the service, I was approached by Tyson at GAS about working as a coach, I did, and we fitted.

How did you become involved in surfing?

Growing up in Camborne in Cornwall as a youth there seemed to be a couple of options, hanging around the town or the beach, the beach and outdoors appealed to me more, swimming and body/bellyboard surfing being the norm and it didn’t take long until surfing was the next level to move on to, see above by way of encouragement by the local lifeguards Pete and Russ!

Why did you become an ASI instructor?

My life as an instructor started with our old BSA (British Surfing Association) during my service career. The BSA folded so did our qualifications, the process of transferring to ISA and the new “Surfing GB” was insulting to say the least to our experienced coaches, having to attend a lecture on how to deliver a lesson before you could transfer over.

At this time ASI was moving into the UK and Gwithian Academy of Surfing (GAS) became an ASI accredited surf school. We as the coaches transferred over and studied the changes to implement them in our coaching. Over the years I completed more ASI courses to expand my knowledge and experience.

What is the day to day working life of an ASI Instructor in your experience?

My mornings start with ten to fifteen minutes over a coffee on the headland for an eyeball surf check (unless it is really good surf when the day starts earlier with a surf!) starting my dynamic risk assessment for the day, then down to the surf school to find out what lessons are allocated to me for the day.

Kit up the clients and take the short walk to the beach, stopping as we pass over the final rise to the beach for our (their) first look at the beach, safety brief and orientation is done here before we move to my selected lesson point on the beach that day (tide, conditions, group experience dependant)

Conduct the lesson, debrief and return to the surf school for a short lunch break then repeat!

After work is normally an unwind surf on a Longboard, shortboard or SUP dependant on conditions. It’s good to swop around to prevent skill fade!

What are the best things about being an ASI surf coach?

For myself it is great to have a qualification that crosses borders (including Portugal and Bali), access to instructor retreats and manuals etc

What is special about your location/s from a surf perspective?

It is (arguably) the most stunning beach in the UK (Gwithian and Godrevy), we have surf for all levels of student and natural visual aids for teaching. 

Do you have any interesting, memorable or positive stories that have happened to you whilst instructing?

Being tasked with completing a bucket list wish for a 56 year old blind man who’s wish was to ride a wave, with a good coaching ethic, some thought on the matter at hand and his heightened hearing we managed to help him achieve his goal and at the end of his session he could catch a white water wave and ride to the voice of the inshore second instructor, his sense of achievement could almost be physically felt!

If you could offer someone considering a career in surf coaching one piece of advice, what would it be?

Take a good instructor’s course, find a very good school to conduct your training hours and use that time fully to gain the best experience you can.

Strive for excellence in yourself, improve your surfing basics and understanding of those basics, keep your instruction fact based, watch yourself doing demos, mirror/video a picture paints a thousand words your students will emulate what you show them. Learn to use simple methods to assess your students from start to finish and tailor your coaching accordingly.

Are there times you feel like you have the best job in the world?

When the sun is shining, and we have perfect teaching conditions surrounded by keen happy students.

What is one thing they never tell you about surfing when starting out in the sport?

For me the most endearing and frustrating part of the sport is the fact we are never going to master it fully, we’re always learning! 

About ASI
ASI is a professional membership and training organisation and international governing body for instructors, coaches and schools in the outdoor recreation industry for surfing, stand up paddle and bodyboarding.
ASI Accredited Schools abide by the high international standards for operations, training and safety.
Travel the world with ASI.
www.academyofsurfing.com