The Innocent Family
Our goal has been to break away from the traditional surf school mold, so instead of hiring just regular surfers as instructors, we have the world's best teachers of surfing. If you've ever been taught to drive by a member of your family you'll know the difference between being good a doing something and being good at teaching it.
We have hundreds of applications every year from experienced surf instructors wanting to come and work for us from all over the world. Few get to become Innocent Surf Instructors because remaining a small operation is vital for the necessary levels of daily communication to happen between the coaches as students progress.
All applicants must have up to date CPR, first aid and open water rescue certification as well as having ISA and BSA International Surf Coach awards and an international beach lifeguard award. They also must be qualified as a teacher outside the field of surfing or hold a university degree in ocean sciences or communications.
These qualifications are the highest required by any surf school worldwide and that's all before they begin the weeks of training with us to ensure that all innocent surf coaches teach using the exact same methodology: clear, specific, concise instruction. It is these high standards that make innocent surf lessons a lot more enjoyable than learning to surf at a traditional surf school. More than that though, over the last few years the innocent instructors have become more like a family than just a team of surf coaches: surfing together, traveling together and coaching each other. So here's the friendly folk who make life at Innocent Surf School so much fun...
Alex is a legend. Of the scores of surf coaches Ru had worked with over the years, Al stood out as the best and so when we opened Innocent, Ru hounded him repeatedly to come out to Costa Rica and teach with us. Al insisted on finishing his Master's Degree first, (which officially makes him "The Clever One") so when the phone rang to say he had finished his studies and was on his way, we could not have been happier. When Al isn't in the water (which is rarely), he can usually be found at a yoga studio, being bendy or behind the smoothie maker coming up with some greeny colored concoction. Al is a BSA Level 3 Surf Coach, a passionate teacher and a gifted surfer.
Every surf school falls down when the person scheduling the lessons isn't in constant communication with the coaches. As students progress at different rates and surf conditions change, it is Becky who coordinates all the lesson plans and who will be working with whom that day. Becky spent years working for Google in London but decided to trade the big smoke for the warm waters of Nosara. We're going to try hold on to her as long as we can before she goes on to do great things.
Sam is the newest addition to the Innocent team, Sam joins us from the chilly waters of the North East of England where he charged the many slabs and points of the icy North Sea coast. Sam has a real passion for teaching and delivers surf lessons with good humor and enthusiasm. A former graphic design entrepreneur, master of business administration, school teacher and snow boarder. Sam brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Innocent team. When Sam's not in the water, you'll find him rustling up something unbelievably tasty to eat, mixing banana smoothies or trying to explain cricket to someone.
Harry is a true waterman and is as happy sailing alone thousands of miles from land as he is riding waves just a few meters from it. His ability to effortlessly articulate maneuvers and techniques makes him a great teacher. Harry's unassuming, friendly lessons always make him a very popular instructor with innocent surfers. Over the last decade his passion for surf coaching has only been rivaled by his passion for travelling the world. When Harry's isn't sailing yachts across the Atlantic he can be found charging the barrelling French beach breaks on his retro fish.
Gem got the surfing bug bad and decided that she wanted the sport to be more than just a hobby. So she sold her 3 restaurants on the Cornish Riviera, swapping her saucepans for surfboards forever. Whilst most surfers train for years to surf the shallow coral reefs of Indonesia, Gem went there to learn. Once you get to know her this doesn't come as a surprise. Gem also spent five years living and snowboarding in the French Alps, where she organized vacations. Gem's pre-surf yoga sessions and feminine surfing style always go down a treat.
Ru is one of a handful of people in the World to be awarded BSA Level 4 coach status. He has coached young kids to become European Champs, trained the National Team and is co founder of one of Europe's largest boardrider clubs. In the off season, he can usually be found charging the heavy reefs of Indo or Hawaii. Despite these high accolades, Ru does not take himself too seriously. Recently, he could be spotted surfing along, doing a headstand... in the nude, for a charity calender (picture, thankfully not shown here).
In June 2007 we started the innocent Boardrider club. We were really surprised when we moved here how few local kids were surfing but they had no boards and no one to teach them. We started giving them free lessons every Sunday and collecting old boards for them to use but it wasn't until Francela came along to help that the club really took off. She is so great with the kids and gives her time and energy to them tirelessly. Although not an instructor (Francela has her own massage business called Buddha Massage) she is a cornerstone of everyday life at Innocent Surf School.
