SIXTEEN years ago Wayne Hudson made the progression from professional surfer to surf coach.
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Now he has the opportunity to work at what some believe is the world’s best facility for high performance surf coaching and training.
As part of his successful application, Hudson will head to the Hurley High Performance Centre to work with some of Australia’s best surfers and surf coaches.
He will join another seven surf coaches in the country to further their professional development, spending three or four days on the Gold Coast.
Hudson will have the opportunity to do that in July and again in August.
“I am stoked to have been selected and hope to gain some great knowledge from the two mentoring camps,” he said.
“It is exciting for surfers in our local area and gives them the opportunity to access coaches that are at the forefront of the sport, rather than having to travel to Sydney or Gold Coast for training sessions.
“We’ve got the NSW Institute of Surfing here which is an off-shoot of Port Macquarie Surf School that started this year.
“We’re trying to get what the High Performance Centre is doing up there down here on a smaller scale.”
As part of the program, Hudson will learn new techniques surfers are using in the hope he can coach those manoeuvres to the stars of tomorrow.
He was excited about the prospect of furthering his coaching career in a sport that has progressed significantly over the past five years.
“Five years ago you had air or power turn guys, but now everything is mixed in so you have more complete surfers,” he said.
“This program is another way to develop and evolve for me.
“Every business and person tries to improve themselves and this opportunity helps me to improve my coaching career and work on some of my weaknesses which I’m really excited about.”
Technology was the main aspect that had come on in leaps and bounds.
“Now you can use stills and see frame by frame the little movements people make which is amazing,” he said.
“That changes what you’re using to coach the kids so then I can bring that back to coach our regional kids.”
Hudson said Surfing Australia wanted good coaches and role models for the kids.
“That’s a good thing because you’re not just a coach, you’re a mentor which is great,” he said.
“Surfing has gone to the next level with the IOC and the Olympics coming in so it’s more professional sport now.
“It gives me the confidence that my coaching is good and they want to nurture me and help me get better.”
