The Popularity Of Surfing
Surfing is a sport that has seen a huge rise in popularity over the past few years. What was originally perceived as a past time for ‘beach bums’ it is now one of the fastest growing sports on the planet.
In the UK alone the Learn to Surf industry has grown by over 500% in the past 12 years, and is now a significant contributor the Cornish economy, as well as the domestic UK economy.
12 years ago it was hard to find a company to learn to surf with, but now you can take your pick between a selection of surf schools offering surf camps, surf courses, surf lessons, and surf holidays. It’s all available.
Opportunity To Travel
One area that has seen a particular boost is the Gap Year sector, and the opportunity to go off and travel the world whilst learning to surf. Ticket to Ride ran their first surf gap year course in 2007, and we give people the chance to learn to surf, get involved in community projects, and travel South Africa, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
“I’ve been working as a surf coach for over three seasons now with the qualifications I gained on my Gap Year. It’s been great work, and I’m now a senior instructor and getting paid well. The social skills I’ve learned, and the experience gained has really given my CV a cutting edge” said Alistair Frost, who qualified with Ticket to Ride on the 13 Week Surf Instructor Course and Adventure.
Enhancing Your CV
This vocational element is becoming an ever more important part of gap years with students facing the a rise in tuition fees. Going off and seeing the world, experiencing a range of new cultures, whilst enhancing your CV at the same time is a mouthwatering prospect for many young people.
“I will definitely be taking a Gap Year, it means I can have a year out of education, do something I’ve always wanted to do, and as I’ll be getting qualifications I’ll be giving my CV a great gloss to help put my head above the crowd when I graduate from University.” said Philip Crossover, a college leaver who’s not liking the sound of the current fees for tuition.
It’s a difficult decision for people deciding whether or not to take a gap year, but we remain confident behind the principle that going off and seeing the world, whilst gaining vocational qualifications is not only going to be something you will treasure for the rest of your life, but also something that will give you a cutting edge against your peers.
Whether you do a Gap Year Surf Adventure in South Africa or our 10 Week Surf Academy in Sri Lanka we can guarantee you’ll have the trip of a lifetime and upon completion of your ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor certification, we will set you up with a job interview (we currently have a 100% success rate in creating jobs for our graduates), so you can get saving for those tuition fees…