AIR - ASI Instructor Retreat in Dingle, Ireland

The AIR Retreat is held at the charming small village of Annascaul. Just 15 minutes drive from Dingle.

It is easy to get around with the AIR retreat venue, accommodation and pubs are all with walking distance from each other.

There is parking at each of the venues.

Friday 10 October 2025 – Meet Up for Drinks
For those arriving early. Meet up for drinks and networking.
Dan Foley's Pub
Main Street, Ardrinane, Annascaul, Co. Kerry, V92 YH2H
https://www.facebook.com/danfoleysannascaul/

Saturday 11 October 2025 – AIR Retreat
9am to 12pm: Guest speakers
1pm to 5pm: Activities: SUP, Surf, Bodyboarding
6.00pm: Meet for drinks.
7.00pm: Guest speakers and dinner.
10.00pm: Finish

Venue Morning session:
Inch Community Centre
In the town of Inch on the R561
Approx 12km - 12 mins drive from Annascaul
Google Coordinates. 52.153864506156545, -9.906898444121104

Venue: Evening session:
The South Pole Inn
Main Street Lower Main St, Ardrinane, Annascaul, Co Kerry.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthPoleInn/
Free street parking available.

Sunday 12 October 2025
ASI Accredited School owners/manager meet up, updates
9.30am to 12pm.
12pm to 1pm. Complimentary lunch

Introduction

The AIR retreat opens with key updates from ASI and recent shifts in the outdoor sports industry. We’ll then examine the tragic SUP incident in Haverfordwest, Wales, where 4 stand up paddlers died —and the criminal charges brought against the instructor, what this means for instructor accountability, risk management, and the future of outdoor education. A vital conversation for anyone working in the industry.

Topic:  Seasonal Success: Building a Watersport Business That Thrives Year After Year

Guest Speaker: Gina Bradley

Gina will share hard-earned lessons from 15 successful years running Paddle Diva (as ASI Accredited SUP School) in East Hampton, NY USA. From launching a women-focused SUP brand to expanding into inclusive instruction, tours and ocean awareness coaching, Gina has built a thriving seasonal business that continues to generate strong revenue and community impact.     

She is the author of Paddle Diva: Ten Guiding Principles to Finding Balance on the Water and in Life, is an ASI SUP Instructor with extensive past watersports instruction experience, including roles as a fitness instructor, windsurfing coach, and PADI-certified scuba instructor.    

Drawing on years of hands-on teaching and business leadership, Gina shares practical, field-tested strategies to help fellow instructors grow and strengthen their own watersport business. Her session blends entrepreneurial insight with a deep commitment to empowering others through paddleboarding and water-based experiences.
Paddle Diva website

Topic: Following the Sun: Building a Career Without Borders

Speaker: Liam Ahern

What does it take to build a surf career that spans continents and seasons?  Liam Ahern, an Irish surfer and long-time surf school manager at Inchydoney Surf School in Co. Cork, shares his journey of creating a life around surfing and instructing.

For over 20 years, Liam has followed the sun—spending summers in Ireland and winters instructing in Mexico at Puerto Escondido and Lombok, Indonesia.  An elite level surfer with experience surfing all over Ireland and Mexico and other countries, Liam has been a qualified surfing instructor since 2005, a surf school manager for over two decades and trains others to be ASI Surfing Instructors. 

In this inspiring session, Liam explores the core skills that an instructor needs and how to tap into international opportunities in the industry.  If you are looking to expand your horizons, Liam’s talk provides a down to earth look on how to build a career around surfing, instructing and travel.

Topic: From Mat to Board:  SUP Pilates and Applying Wellness Concepts Across Disciplines

Speaker: Sophy Aykroyd

Sophy Aykroyd, from the UK, presents the new ASI SUP Pilates Instructor course, how it supports physical and mental wellbeing, and how instructors can integrate wellness principles into their teaching, regardless of the discipline. 

Her session offers practical insight into building a sustainable, engaging practice on water, incorporating wellness techniques—perfect for those looking to expand their skills, connect with clients in new ways, and bring more balance to their professional journey.

Sophy brings over two decades of experience in movement, wellness, and paddleboarding. With a background in professional dance and theatre, Sophy discovered Pilates as a powerful tool for recovery and lifelong wellbeing.   She has built a thriving Pilates and SUP Pilates practice in South West London, blending anatomical expertise with a fun, client-focused approach. She holds extensive Pilates certifications across matwork, reformer, studio equipment and clinical Pilates and holds multiple ASI SUP qualifications since 2013 including ASI SUP Technical Coach.  Combining her love of pilates and SUP, Sophy has been instrumental in creating the ASI SUP Pilates Instructor course.

Topic: Surf, SUP, and Starting Up: Lessons from Dingle

Speaker: Ed Lacey

Ed Lacey, from Ireland and co-owner of Wild SUP Tours, is helping host this year’s ASI Air Retreat. Drawing on his deep local knowledge, Ed will introduce the Dingle Peninsula, the local identities and share how growing up surfing its breaks led to a career in surf and SUP instruction.

He’ll outline the transition from surf coaching to co-founding Wild SUP Tours—an ASI-accredited school based in Dingle—and speak about the challenges and rewards of setting up a business in a remote coastal town.  An advanced-level surfer, Ed has years of coaching experience, including time as head coach at a surf school in Sligo. He’s been stand up paddling since 2015 and knows the local surf breaks and waterways inside out. 

For instructors, it’s a chance to hear directly from someone who has a deep connection to the local area and the joy of doing what you love the most.

Topic:   Adventure with Purpose: Creating Safe & Memorable SUP & Surf Holidays

Speaker: Paul Byrne

Join Paul Byrne for a practical and engaging discussion on creating surf and SUP holidays that blend adventure, education, and community.   Whether you're planning a weekend escape or a multi-day international trip, this session explores what makes a travel experience truly memorable.

Paul will share examples from past experiences—from the right mix of activities, skills instruction, and downtime to the importance of safety, logistics, local knowledge, and those unexpected moments that make it all worthwhile. Perfect for instructors and school owners looking to expand their offerings and take their community beyond the local break.

With over a decade running IRISHSUP in Dublin and a lifetime immersed in ocean sports, Paul has led SUP trips within Ireland and to Maldives, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia and beyond.  Paul is a registered PE teacher and holds multiple outdoor certificates - PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, ASI Master SUP Surf Trainer & Tech Coach.

Some accommodation options include:

There is parking onsite.

Inspiration House
Main Street, Annascaul, Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, V92 R623
(450 metres to South Pole AIR Venue,  6 min walk)
Website: https://www.inspirationlodge.com/

Brackloon House
Main Street, Annascaul, Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry, V92 R623
(450 metres to South Pole AIR Venue,  6 min walk)
Website: https://www.brackloonlodge.com/

The Old Anchor Inn
Main Street, Annascaul, Dingle Peninsula, Co Kerry.
Across the road from Dan Foleys Pub and 6 min walk to South Pole AIR venue)
Website: https://www.oldanchorinn.ie/

Ardrinane House
Main Street, Annascaul, Co. Kerry, Dingle V92 F792. 
Across road from South Pole Inn – AIR Venue.
Website:  http://www.ardrinane.com/

Optional: Activities available on the Saturday afternoon include:

• SUP tours, SUP fitness

• Surfing / Bodyboarding Surfaris

• Explore the local tourist attractions

SUP equipment is supplied.  Or you can bring your own gear.
Surfing / bodyboarding – bring your own boards.

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

Farranfore, Kerry Airport
(with direct flights from Dublin, London, Faro Portugal, Alicante Spain and Berlin Germany).
56kms / 1 hour drive from Farranfore Airport to Dingle.
Available at airport:  Car rentals or taxi.
Bus to Tralee or Killarney, with connecting buses to Dingle.

Cork Airport
152kms / 2 hr 15 mins drive from Cork airport to Dingle.
Train from Cork to Tralee (2hrs approx.)  then bus to Dingle.

Dublin Airport
350kms / 4 hrs 15 mins drive from Dublin airport to Dingle.
Train from Dublin to  Tralee (4hrs approx.)  then bus to Dingle.

CLOSEST TRAIN STATION

Killarney, Farranfore and Tralee are the nearest train stations to the Dingle Peninsula.  Then bus to dingle.

FERRY FROM UK TO DINGLE

Take a ferry from Holyhead in Wales to Dublin, then drive to Dingle.
Take the ferry from Pembrokeshire in Wales to Rosslare,   342 kms 4 hrs 15 mins drive

Annascaul, on the Dingle Peninsula, is a quiet village rich in heritage and natural beauty, best known as the birthplace of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean.  Surrounded by hills and valleys, the area offers scenic walking trails like the Dingle Way and Tom Crean Walk, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

Nearby attractions is the famous Inch Beach and Annascaul Lake.  Artisan producers add to its charm. With cozy, affordable accommodation and a welcoming community, Annascaul is an ideal base for exploring the wild landscapes of Kerry.

The Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry is one of Ireland’s most breathtaking regions, stretching about 30 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Known in Irish as Corca Dhuibhne, it’s a place where dramatic cliffs, rolling farmland, and rugged mountains meet a coastline dotted with sandy beaches and ancient stone ruins.

The peninsula is rich in culture and history, with deep roots in the Irish language and storytelling traditions. It’s home to the vibrant town of Dingle, famous for its music, food, and harbor, as well as quieter villages like Annascaul, which offer a more peaceful, authentic experience.

Visitors come for scenic drives like Slea Head, hikes along the Dingle Way, and views of the Blasket Islands.  Hiking and cycling trails crisscross the hills and coastline.

Surfing here is something special. With three coastlines within half an hour of each other, the Dingle Peninsula offers waves in almost all weather conditions. From the world-class reef break at Inch Beach to the forgiving beach breaks of Brandon Bay, there’s a wave for every skill level.  And the backdrop—craggy cliffs, golden sands, and endless ocean—is unforgettable.

Stand-up paddling (SUP) adds another layer to the water experience. The calm waters of Dingle Harbour are ideal for beginners, offering a safe and scenic setting to learn the basics. For the more adventurous, guided tours explore sea caves, cliffs, and even the headland of Ceann Sibéal, with chances to spot seals, dolphins, and seabirds along the way.