Course Overview

You’ll be able to teach:  competition surfing and elite-advanced level surfing

Teach:

• Manoeuvres: Top turn, bottom turn, cut back, fade, stall, roundhouse cut back, snap, re-entry vertical re-entry, floater, tube riding, linking manoeuvres with speed and power

• Plus: other essential surfing skills and knowledge at ASI Surf Wise Level 10 elite-advanced surfer

• Plus: competition coaching skills and strategy

In the following conditions:

• Surf over 6ft (2 metres)

• Green peeling waves

• Any type of surf break – beach, point, reef, river mouth

After completing the course, you can:

• Run safe, structured coaching sessions

• Assess surfing ability including use of video analysis

• Coach both individuals to enhance their surfing and competition performance

With your Level 4 qualification, you can work as a surf instructor or surf coach:

• At surf schools around the world

• In tourism and adventure sport programs

• At surf camps and holiday resorts

• As a freelance high performance surf coach

• At surf clubs, that hold competitions

• At your own surf school.  Apply to become an ASI Accredited Surf School, allowing you to operate your own professional surf school business under ASI’s global standards.

ASI qualifications are internationally recognised, giving you the freedom to work and travel.

This course covers all essential skills for teaching elite-advanced level surfing, including:

Risk Management & safety: At the elite-advanced level - ASI guidelines, identify and assess risks, strategies to minimise risk, conducting location and dynamic risk assessments, emergency response

Logistics planning:   locations, equipment, back up, student types

Session planning:  structuring elite-advanced level sessions, preparing individualised long-term surfing competition training programs, goal setting progression, ASI Surf Wise programs level 10

Client management:  communication, client supervision

Client instruction:  elite-advanced level surfing mechanics,  factors affecting performance, drills and skills, competition skills and strategies

Client assessment:  ASI elite-advanced level surfing criteria, evaluating and modifying coaching programs based on performance, testing and measuring

Professional standards: coaching practices, styles, legal and ethical responsibilities, industry expectations

To enrol, you must meet:

Minimum age: 18 years

Surfing experience: 2,000 + hours of surfing

Surfing knowledge and skills: equivalent to ASI Surf Wise Level 10 Advanced Surfer

Surfing ability: perform and link  elite-advanced level manoeuvres with power and speed, in surf over 6 ft surf. (top turn, bottom turn, cut back, fade, stall, roundhouse cut back, snap, re-entry vertical re-entry, floater, tube riding, linking manoeuvres with speed and power)

Surfing instruction certification:  Hold ASI Level 3 Surfing Coach certificate

Surfing Instruction experience:  minimum 10  years

Note: for Surf Wise Level 10, you only need to state on enrolment form you have these knowledge & skills.

Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below:

Personal Surfing Ability: 
Demonstrate ASI Surf Wise Level 10 -Elite-Advanced surfing ability.  Perform and link all advanced level manoeuvres with power and speed, in surf over 6 ft surf. (top turn, bottom turn, cut back, fade, stall, roundhouse cut back, snap, re-entry vertical re-entry, floater, tube riding, linking manoeuvres with speed and power)  

Knowledge & Practical: 
Develop two fully individualised long‑term competition programs, of at least 6 months, for 2 different athletes, competing at a minimum of regional level.

Submit Required Certificates:

• A current surf rescue certificate Acceptable Rescue certificates

• A current senior first aid certificate Acceptable First Aid certificates

Time to complete :  12 months

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete some of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.

• Face to face (in-person) training.

• Duration:  2 days

• Preparation and work on coaching project

• Video submission: surfing ability  

• 2 free video assessments

Level 4 Master Surfing Coach manual & assessments (paper copy)

Online access to:

• Learn to Surf for Beginners Manual

• Learn to Surf Intermediate Level Manual

• Learn to Surf Advanced Level Manual

Plus:  ASI membership for 12 months.

ASI’s E-learning Platform 
Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:

• Surf clothing

• Fibreglass surfboard to demonstrate ASI Surf Wise Level 10 surfing skills

For your coaching project:

• Two surfing students competing at regional competition level

• Fibreglass board

• Video camera or mobile phone (to record student’s surfing ability, and video analysis)

In addition:  

• Computer or device to access ASI e-learning platform  

• Video camera or mobile phone for own surfing video

ASI Level 4 Master Surfing Coach 
(valid for 12 months)

You can continue your surf coaching development with:

• ASI surf rescue training

• Attending ASI Air Retreats (conference)

• Blue Health Skills for Watersports Instructors

• Globally recognised surf coaching qualifications

• Industry‑leading safety and coaching standards

• Flexible online and in‑person training

• Clear career progression

• Trusted by surf schools and clubs worldwide

READ: 10 Reasons to Become an ASI Instructor

FAQ’s click here