The Surfing Academy Course will be offered as a school subject to Year 11, 12 and 13 students who will be in attendance at Raglan Area School.  Entry into the Academy is unrestricted geographically.  That is, any qualifying student may be given the opportunity to take the course  The course will be restricted to highly motivated boys or girls who have a strong desire to succeed at surfing and schoolwork, preferably those with a high level of competence in surfing.

 The Surfing Academy coaches and the school Principal will be responsible for the selection of the students who enter the course.  There is a high expectation academically with the NCEA programme offered, where students will be enrolled in 5 NCEA subjects.

 An information pack is sent to the prospective applicants.  Upon receipt of the Surfing Academy Application Form (see copy) the interview panel will have copies of:

The applicants Mid Year Report

The applicant’s letter about themselves and why they want to be in the Academy

Details of an Academic Referee

Details of a Sporting Referee

The interview panel will consider the documentation received with the Surfing Academy Application form and the two referees listed will be contacted.  Successful applicants will then be interviewed by Surf Academy staff.  The Principal may also be present at the interview.  During the actual interview, the Interview Questionnaire will be used by the panel (see attached copy).

 Successful applicants are advised and then are to sign the Surfing Academy Enrolment Agreement which stipulates that the enrolment is for Term One only with a meeting to review progress in April of that academic year.

Aims of The Surfing Academy

1. To provide professional coaching to enable students to achieve the highest level of competitive surfing as possible.
2. To increase the students level of fitness and develop their physical ability to reach peak performance.
3. For the students to successfully achieve their NCEA school qualifications to their highest ability.

Staff

Academy students have 2 surfing coaches/teachers in Larry Fisher and Deane Hishon.

Larry has won the New Zealand Senior Championships twice and has represented New Zealand at the worlds three times in the past. He is also the current New Zealand Junior Team Coach.

Deane has 15 years coaching experience and is the current New Zealand Masters Champion. Deane has also coached New Zealand Junior teams in the past.

Academy students will have specialist teachers for their other subjects.

Accommodation

A Home Stay Coordinator will help establish a support help network for students, student’s families and their local host families. The Coordinator will help find appropriate accommodation for the students. A stable and supportive home environment is essential if students are to succeed at their studies and surfing.

The Bus

The Academy transport is a modified bus for the use of Academy students. It has a large water proofed surf board and wetsuit storage bay that doubles as a changing room. Our five sponsors, Raglan Surf Co, Reef, Volcom, Eversion and Kiwi Surf magazine, have all been generous in their funding support for the running of the bus. Students will be transported out to the point breaks or the surrounding beaches and home again by bus on their surfing days. The bus will also travel to all North Island Circuit Surfing Competitions that fall in the school term.