ISA and AS Surf Instructor Level 1 France

Our goal is the training of competent surf coaches with the relevant surfing skills and knowledge to be able to independently instruct surfers at beginner to intermediate stage in surf schools as well as assist the head coach / Level 2 Instructor in doing his tasks in surf camps (where special skills are requested).

The course consists of the ISA L1 surf instructor course plus extra modules developed by AS to cater for the special needs of surf camps. This combination has established our coaching program as the most requested one in surf camps in Europe and worldwide.

Your advantages: 

  • The included ISA accreditation is the only accreditation globally recognized by the ISA.
  • The included Austrian Surfing accreditation has the advantages of a European accreditation, especially in Europe.
  • Austrian Surfing is recognized by the ISA (International Surfing Association), the ESF (European Surfing Federation), and our National Sports Organisation Sport Austria (and thus also federally recognized). 
  • Flat Water SUP on lakes and river arms is used more and more often as an alternative for days with no / small / too big waves.  We have created a special 1 day module for our Surf Instructors who are interested in getting their ISA Flat Water SUP accreditation. Please click here for all info!

Events

12.04.2025 - 19.04.2025
Still places available
Online-Registration
23.04.2025 - 30.04.2025
Still places available
Online-Registration
14.05.2025 - 21.05.2025
Still places available
Online-Registration
13.09.2025 - 20.09.2025
Still places available
Online-Registration
24.09.2025 - 01.10.2025
Still places available
Online-Registration

Course Overview

Level Level 1
Location Vieux Boucau, France
Duration 7 days
Language English*
Check-in 15:00
Course Start 15:30
Course End 13:00
Costs € 949,00
Licence / course content download

* The course will take place in English language only

included Services

  • 7 days course, course manuals and workbooks (AS and ISA as PDFs), worksheets, beginner boards, examination fees. The only fee to be paid on the spot is the "taxe de séjour", a French tourism tax that is always collected by the accommodation provider and goes straight to the authorities.
  • 7 nights accommodation in the Atlantic Surf Lodge
  • Full board: Rich breakfast buffet, beach snack, dinner
  • AS GREEN ROOM: thanks to our partner VERIVAL BIO we can offer almost all food in organic quality (depending on the availability of the bread we have to buy in France) - this results in more energy for surfing and is also better for mother earth :)
  • ISA membership (1 year)
  • Name appears in ISA Surf Coach Online Register for one year
  • L1 accreditations
  • AS job service: We are in contact with many surf camps and forward their job offers to 'our' instructors. It is our endeavour to not only provide one course, but also try to help you find a job and your way of life as a surfer and a friend of AS.

As we have been receiving quite a few requests lately: Please understand that it is not possible to do the course without food and accommodation for organisational and logistical reasons. We are happy to have an appropriate location for the definitely demanding course, as a result of its infrastructure we can run the course as smooth and time efficient as possible!

Accomodation is in the Atlantic Surf Lodge - check out www.atlantic-surflodge.com. The Atlantic Surf Lodge stands for the highest standard in surf coaching and is therefore the perfect location for our courses.

Contact number: +33 5 58 48 31 37

Getting there

Train (for cheap train fares check your national railroad companies and for early-booking-specials check www.tgv.com or www.voyages-sncf.com) to DAX, car (please use our special Facebook group for car-pooling), Rip Curl Express or plane (to Biarritz, from there by bus to Vieux Boucau: www.chronoplus.fr).

From Dax you take a bus to Soustons: http://www.rdtl.fr  and then to Vieux Boucau les Bains: www.mobimax.fr  

As you are experienced surfers and travellers we just want to remind you of the most important things: Surfing gear:

  • board, leash, wetsuit, wax etc.
  • Sport / jogging shoes
  • Pen and paper!
  • Travel insurance, vaccinations, first-aid-kit (if you are not sure what to bring please consult a travel medicine center)

Registration

  • Complete the registration form incl. the course date with all required fields.
  • Your registration automatically (and FOR FREE) makes you an Austrian Surfing 1 - the 1st Austrian Surfing Club community member, which is a prerequisite for participating in the course and being awarded the accreditation
  • Wait for the OK for the date from our office. ATTENTION: THE WEBSITE IS UPDATED BY OUR OFFICE AND CAN WRONGLY SHOW FREE PLACES! EVEN IF THE GREEN OR YELLOW COLORS ARE DISPLAYED, THE COURSE CAN ALREADY BE BOOKED UP. THE OK HAS TO COME FROM OUR OFFICE PER EMAIL!
  • Payment of course fee to reserve a place
  • You are receiving the invoice, the course manuals, etc. as soon as (and only if!) you have made the payment AND registered; the invoice is also the reservation of your place!
  • ISA Introductory Online Course: This course has to be booked and paid for worldwide directly at the ISA. As soon as you are fully registered for our Level 1 course you will receive a discount code and the ISA Introductory Online Course is available for 50US instead of 100US.

Relevant surfing skills (on board type of your choice):

  • Controlled surfing in beach breaks up to 1.5m faces
  • Basic front- and backside bottom and top turns while
  • Surfing green waves
  • If the necessary surfing skills cannot be shown during the course, the participants can send in a video (2-3 waves frontside and backside) by 1 year after the course. Please note that in this case the Level 1 accreditations cannot be issued before we have received the videos. However, you will receive a document stating you have participated for use in the tax office, employment center etc.

Other prerequisites for being awarded the ISA accreditation (NOT for participating!):

  • Surf Coach Lifesaver Award: The surf instructor course can be done without a lifesaving certificate; however, please note that in this case the Level 1 accreditations cannot be issued before we have received the lifesaving certificate (up to 1 year after the course). It is possible though to receive a document stating you have participated for use in the tax office, employment center etc.
    We are offering lifesaving courses right after our instructor courses - the lifesaving course starts on exactly the same day the instructor course ends - this is the perfect combination :)
  • 4 weeks practical in a surf school / surf camp: see below at "practical training". The surf instructor course can be done without pre-course practical training; however, please note that in this case the Level 1 accreditations cannot be issued before the practical has been done (up to 1 year after the course). It is possible though to receive a document stating you have participated for use in the tax office, employment center etc.

An 80 hours practical is a prerequisite for being awarded the accreditation. Compared to other sports, surfing - as a sport characterized by direct interaction with nature, i.e. the power and at times unpredictability of the ocean - and surf coaching need a lot more experience that cannot be completely covered in the course. The practical can be done pre- or post-course, or as a combination of both, however it fits better into your plans. 2 weeks pre- and 2 weeks post-course would be ideal. We do not want to build any bureaucratic obstacles, we just want to ensure the high quality of our coaching programs! 

A pre-course practical also helps you get your first experiences in the daily business of coaching and the surf camp vibes - please click here for our partner schools. We are also accepting practicals done in other schools, but the head coach or surf school manager has to hold either a valid ISA / Austrian Surfing certificate or a certificate issued by an official federation recognised by the ISA (such as FFS, FESURF, FPS).

We only need an email by the camp manager / head coach (sent to office@austriansurfing.at) as a proof of your practical.

The surf instructor course can be done without pre-course practical training; however, please note that in this case the Level 1 accreditations cannot be issued before the practical has been done (up to 1 year after the course).

The practical must not be older than 2 years.

If all prerequisites for participation are met and the examinations have been passed, the licenses are issued.

Validity of the accreditations: 1 year

Renewals:

ISA accreditations:

AS-Licences:

Everyone who is currently registered in the ISA Online register (ISA accreditations) and sends us an email receives the AS licence (with an exact listing of the content and hours needed to get the licence).

Content of the coaching courses:

  • Improving the future coach´s surfing skills (including video analysis)
  • Teaching theoretical subjects
  • Delivery of the practical lesson
  • Freesurfing
  • Fun!

Table of contents (short version):

  • Definition of the term "surfing"
  • Didactics
  • Austrian Surfing and surfing in landlocked countries
  • Equipment
  • The Ocean
  • Dangers and risks of surfing
  • Safety and occupational knowledge
  • First Aid and lifesaving techniques with the surf board
  • Training theory and surf fitness training
  • Surf rules and etiquette
  • Surfing and the environment
  • Surfing Terminology

Exams:

  • Written exams covering all parts of the course manual
  • worksheets and essays
  • Practicals: teaching theoretical subjects and delivering the practical lesson
  • Surfing skills (demonstrating beginner techniques as well as own surfing skills)

Oesterreichischer Wellenreitverband - Austrian Surfing
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
Rathausplatz 2
3100 St. Poelten
Austria
IBAN: AT141200051467026415
BIC: BKAUATWW

Please note "ISA and AS L1 course" in the money transfer!

You are receiving the invoice, the course manuals, etc., as soon as (and only if!) you have made the bank transfer AND registered; the invoice is also the reservation of your place! The payment should be made at least 4 weeks before the course. It is NOT possible to pay in cash on the spot for legal reasons. If the money transfer has not arrived in our account by the start of the course, a 50 € processing fee applies!

Cancellation fees:

  • Cancellation until 3 months before the course start or cancellation due to exceptional incidents (i.e. if Austrian Surfing cannot run the course): Only a 50 € booking fee applies. This booking fee covering our administrative office services (course lists, emails, invoices, etc.) applies for every booking and can under no circumstances be reduced or waived.
  • Cancellation between 3 months and 1 month before the course start: 300 € cancellation fee.
  • Cancellation between 1 month and 2 weeks before the course start: 50% of the course fees are charged.
  • Cancellation between 2 weeks and 2 days before the course start: 80% of the course fees are charged.
  • Cancellation within 2 days before the course start or no-show: Full course fee is charged.
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