A push for surf instructor training

Local organization starts certification program to help insure that teachers don’t lead their students into danger in the waves.The heat was pumping, the lineup wasn’t very crowded and some decent sets hit the south side of the pier.

For Gary Anderson, 31, it was one of those perfect days to achieve a life-long dream and try surfing in the Pacific Ocean.

In town for a business conference, Anderson decided to use his day off to hire a private instructor and go out for a day’s paddle. After a quick browse on the Internet, Anderson found a few good deals and called one of the phone numbers to set up and appointment.

“When the guy showed up to meet me at the beach, I thought he couldn’t have been more than 16 years old,” Anderson said.

The young man tossed Anderson a foam long board, and soon he found himself paddling into what seemed like unusually large surf. Before long, Anderson noticed he was being pulled pretty quickly -- maybe too quickly -- away from shore. Lifeguards would later tell him he had been pulled into a rip current.

“My instructor just panicked and froze as I was pulled farther and farther away,” he said. “I was pretty scared too.”

It doesn’t take any certification to become a surfing teacher, and the U.S.A. Surf Team is trying to change that. The Huntington Beach outfit, headed by the nonprofit group Surfing America, is introducing a certification program to recognize surfing schools that follow a five-tiered program that focuses on safety, staff-training and environmental awareness.

“There are so many [surfing instructors] our there now, and the public needs help to identify which schools are legitimate,” said Mike Gerard of Surfing America.

Surf instructors advertise their services in classified listings, websites like craigslist and fliers on bulletin boards at local surf shops. Most instructors mean well, Gerard said, but many lack any formal lifeguard training or CPR skills.

“There are so many fly-by-night operations popping up out there; it’s a discredit to all of those who have worked hard to build a solid program,” said professional surfer Jason Seth, the first instructor to receive Surfing America’s certification.

What’s frustrating, Seth added, is that anyone can call themselves an instructor and give lessons. Many surfers grew up teaching their friends to surf and think they make great teachers, he said.

Government agencies are beginning to take a harder look at the bigger academies, but more needs to be done, he said.

Gerhard said schools certified by his program will also need to meet strict environmental standards and ocean stewardship guidelines. He also hopes that certified schools can work with the National Scholastic Surfing Assn. and develop younger surfers.

Schools identified by Surfing America will be asked to participate in marketing and support programs and will be allowed to display a U.S.A. Surf Team logo.

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