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Former RAF Sergeant selected by BSA
by George Mojo
15/12/2007:// A former RAF Sergeant is the new Regional Surf Development Coach for the South West - a post created following funding by Sport England.
Andy Sturt selection by the British Surfing Association will aim to strengthen the quality of surf coaching available across the region and build the surf club structure which is integral to the growth of surfing as a regular sporting activity amongst people of all ages.
The 42-year-old, from Newquay, starts his three-year-role with the BSA in January.
Sturt was chosen because of his impressive portfolio of experience which included leading an RAF helicopter-engineering shift.
Throughout his career, and in his leisure time Sturt was responsible for organising sporting and personal development activities ranging from inter squadron sports, adventurous training activities and the introduction of surfing courses for RAF personnel from all over the U.K.
He helped set up and develop the Royal Air Force Waveriders (RAFWRA) a group which was later given recognition to form as a sporting body and within this role he was the Safety and Training Officer responsible for organising and maintaining the training & qualifications of all the surf coaches, lifeguards and judges.
Sturt’s experience and knowledge will now be shared with all surfers in the South West as his new responsibility is to take grass roots surfing to the next level.
With over 500,000 surfers in the UK and over 52 per cent of this residing in the South West region Sturt will have a large pool to draw from and begin the build to a new networked surf coach and club community.
The South West has also been a key area for surf development because as many as 95 per cent of Britain’s top surfers either come from the South West or have chosen to reside there.
Whilst there are already a number of successful, strong surf clubs currently in existence, in recent years this important part of the UK sporting structure has eroded and the new three year position will see Andy dedicate time and passion to the redevelopment of this area and a continual building of the style and quality of surf coaching that is available for people of all ages throughout the region.
“I have a whole raft of ideas as to how I am going to develop surfing in the South West and I am eager to discuss these ideas with surf clubs, surf schools, educational bodies and local authorities to push these plans forward within the South West, " said Sturt.
"There is so much talent in Britain and it is definitely time that someone dedicated the required time and funding to take it to the next level. I am naturally very excited that I am going to be a part of this major programme that has so much glaring potential.”
Sturt will be based in the BSA’s headquarters at Fistral Beach, in Newquay, however he will also have to travel the length and breadth of the South West to examine the current structure and build a strong, new system.
The roll will include working in consultation with the BSA National Director, Karen Walton, to write and deliver an agreed strategic development programme to create and maintain an active surf club culture and network in the South West and to subsequently increase grass roots participation numbers in surfing.
“We received some very impressive CVs and we narrowed it down and carried out a very intensive interview process. Andy was a clear stand out from the start because of his fantastic experience at the RAF and we look forward to him starting his post in the New Year," said Walton.
"This is an exciting time for this project and British surfing in general as it has been over ten years since the BSA received any significant form of government backing. This new Sport England funding is a great opportunity for us to begin to build and strengthen the current structure and take the standards of surf coaching and local talent to a new level.”
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