Rob Wood -Graduated TTRide South Africa course March 2008

We caught up with him in Jeffreys Bay South Africa where with the help of TTRide Rider Recruitment service he secured the dream job as a surf coach at the world famous Jeffreys Bay Surf School for the duration of their prime time surf season!!!!


1) What have you been up to since finishing the TTRide South Africa course in March 2008?

Since March 2008 I have been surfing lots!!! I surfed through France until I ran out of money. I have just finished my first year studying at Bangor uni and have been trying to surf a lot there, although the water is icy cold!!!

2) Have you used your qualifications?

Yeah I have used my surf instructor qualification! I worked a season for Animal surf academy in Polzeath, summer 2008 whilst living in my van which was cool. And now I am working in South Africa at the Jeffreys Bay Surf School, (in J-Bay obviously!) which is amazing. Even though it is winter here, the sun still shines most days, and the waves are pumping!!! I am really happy at the moment and could see myself spending alot of time here!!!


3) Where have you predominantly been surfing since graduating from TTRide?

Cornwall, North and South Wales, France, and South Africa!

4) What has it been to go back to South Africa as a surf coach?

It's really fun coming back to SA as a coach. It gives you a whole new perspective on things. But I’m still learning, and am really enjoying working here and gaining more surfing experience.

5) What would you say is the most valuable thing you took from your TTRide South Africa experience?

The most valuable thing I took from TTR is obviously a ticket into the surfing world, which to me is endless fun, but apart from that it has showed me that there is so much out there to discover through traveling if you are willing to take a chance and go on an adventure!!!

6) What next after South Africa?
Err... I suppose I better go back to study :-( but I hope to travel and work again in my time off, I've been offered a job teaching in Oz which could be cool, and will definitely come back to SA some time soon!

Thanks for everything guys, I know it sounds cheesy but ticket to ride really has changed my life. Surfing is my world now and I couldn't imagine living without it!!!!
Rob


Rob is not the first TTRide Graduate to return back to South Africa to work in one of the surf schools involved in our TTRide South Africa programs. To date we have had 3 Riders return to Jeffreys Bay Surf School. 2 Riders have returned to the Kahanu Surf Academy in Cape Town.

The majority of TTRide South Africa graduates that return home with both the South African Level 1 Surf Coaching award as well as the South Africa Surf Lifesaving award use TTRide Recruitment to find work down in the South West in some of the UK most prestigious surf schools.

Polzeath Beach (North Cornwall) is fast becoming know as a the busiest learn to surf beach in the world with 2 of the UK’s larger surf schools pushing each other to be the best there is. This year we have a total of 7 Rider graduates coaching on Polzeath beach, some in their first season, others in their third.

Helping past Riders find work as surf coaches is a service that we offer all our past Riders as it is just another way for TTRide Graduates to continue living the dream long after their adventures with Ticket to Ride Worldwide Surf Adventures.

For more information on our TTRide South Africa Surf Instructor programs - Click Here

For a copy of the TTRide Brochure and TTRide South Africa DVD - Click Here