Introducing: Kerry Baker, ASI SUP Tech Coach & ASI Trainer, Wales UK

With a passion for teaching and inspiring students, Kerry seamlessly blends her love for education, stand-up paddleboarding, and the ocean to create life-changing experiences for people of all ages.

What is your background?

I live at Barry, Wales, UK.   I have always lived by the ocean and the beach was my playground growing up, I would spend days with my friends exploring the rock pools, building boats of some description, climbing on the rocks, jumping off the rocks and zooming to the beach via some sort of water craft. We used body boards, surf boards and skim boards to try and catch the waves. 

I really fell in love with surfing when I was about 12, I used to beg my parents to take me to our local breaks. 35 years later and I still absolutely love being in the sea, trying to catch those incredible waves.   I have been a keen surfer since the age of 14, spending many years living in Cornwall and travelling around the world - USA, Hawaii, Australia, Portugal, France, Spain, Canary Islands and Sri Lanka. 

Alongside my passion for the ocean, I pursued education. I earned a BA (Hons) in Primary Teaching with Art. I am currently a school teacher at Ysgol y Deri, Wales – one of the UK’s largest special educational needs (SEN) schools - catering to students aged 3 to 19 years with a wide range of learning, physical, and autism-related needs.

What got you involved in the sport?

I moved to Wales from Cornwall in 2010, I purchased a 10' C4 Waterman SUP (my first SUP), thinking I’d rely on paddling due to assumed poor surf conditions.

I couldn’t have been more wrong—Wales has incredible waves and a welcoming surf community, making it a fantastic move for my family and me.

In 2013, I paddled 40 miles from Mumbles, Swansea to Penarth for charity.  This stretch of the coastline has some serious currents (it is the second highest tidal range in the world) we were blessed with beautiful conditions and it is an experience I will never forget. 

That challenge led me into SUP racing, competing from 2014-2018, I met many wonderful people and raced in some incredible locations. I achieved UK Naish One champion 2016, UK 14' champion 2017 and I also represented Wales at the ISA SUP and Paddleboard World Championships 2017 placing 13th SUP sprint. 

Why did you become an ASI instructor?

I wanted to share my SUP skills with my local community here on Barry Island and create a community club that would enable, encourage and empower individuals to take those first SUP steps or that next SUP step. I also wanted to support and inspire our local youth. 

In 2018, I gained my ASI SUP Instructor certification.

I chose ASI, due to their solid surfing background, international status and quality training methodologies.  They also had extensive SUP specific training courses and comprehensive training materials.  

My qualifications now include SUP Instructor for enclosed flat waters, exposed coastal waters, SUP surfing, and SUP technical coaching.

I'm also working on gaining my ASI Level 1 Surfing Instructor certificate, ensuring my SUP and surfing skills fall under the same trusted accreditation.

Additionally, I am an ASI SUP Instructor trainer, training future SUP instructors through ASI, offering workshops throughout the year.

What are you doing now ?

I established Island SUP in 2018, an ASI-accredited SUP School.

Balancing my role as a teacher at Ysgol y Deri with leading Island SUP, I run club nights, weekend events, lessons for beginners, improvers, racers, and SUP surfers, ensuring a welcoming space for all skill levels.

Beyond coaching, I use SUP to raise funds for Ysgol y Deri, (special needs school, where I also work). to purchase sensory equipment like scooters, trikes, and bikes and other equipment to help the students engage with the outdoor environment.

In 2023, I paddled across the across the Bristol Channel which gained wide publicity on BBC news.

In 2024, a 24 hour stand up paddleboarding challenge, where myself and other individuals, paddled  for 24 hours, non stop.

In July 2025, I am planning to paddle from Lundy Island which is just off the coast of North Devon back home to Barry Wales !

What do you like about being an instructor?

Being an educator naturally lends itself to coaching SUP. I love sharing my passion for SUP, and the ocean, and watching others gain confidence as they learn something new.

As an ASI SUP trainer, I also help paddleboarders evolve into accredited instructors, allowing them to turn their passion into a career.

Tell us about an inspiring story about your student(s) or memorable experiences,  you've had while instructing.  

Supporting individuals to learn to SUP and SUP surfing is incredibly rewarding. Seeing the happiness, laughter, fun, excitement, fulfilment, and a sense of well-being to so many individuals and families through something I love so much.  

I understand the importance of spending time outside and the impact it has on our health and wellbeing.  It makes such a difference to many people.

Supporting the youth club through the pandemic was incredibly rewarding, to witness how happy they were during sessions and what joy, skill and friendships were made was really special. It was, and still is, a really difficult time for some of our young people. 

About ASI
ASI is a global leader in training and accrediting instructors, coaches, and schools for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and bodyboarding.  ASI instructors and schools ensure world-class training, safety and operational standards. Whether you're learning for personal enjoyment or to establish a career in the industry, ASI opens the door to new skills, global opportunities, and adventure.
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