An 80 hours practical is a prerequisite for being awarded the accreditation. Compared to other sports, surfing - as a sport characterized by direct interaction with nature, i.e. the power and at times unpredictability of the ocean - and surf coaching need a lot more experience that cannot be completely covered in the course. The practical can be done pre- or post-course, or as a combination of both, however it fits better into your plans. 2 weeks pre- and 2 weeks post-course would be ideal. We do not want to build any bureaucratic obstacles, we just want to ensure the high quality of our coaching programs!
A pre-course practical also helps you get your first experiences in the daily business of coaching and the surf camp vibes - please click here for our partner schools. We are also accepting practicals done in other schools, but the head coach or surf school manager has to hold either a valid ISA / Austrian Surfing certificate or a certificate issued by an official federation recognised by the ISA (such as FFS, FESURF, FPS).
We only need an email by the camp manager / head coach (sent to office@austriansurfing.at) as a proof of your practical.
The surf instructor course can be done without pre-course practical training; however, please note that in this case the Level 1 accreditations cannot be issued before the practical has been done (up to 1 year after the course).
The practical must not be older than 2 years.