{"id":815,"date":"2013-03-31T13:56:24","date_gmt":"2013-03-31T13:56:24","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-10-17T19:19:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T19:19:45","slug":"surf-coaching-lifesaving-and-great-surf-in-durban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickettoridegroup.com\/blog\/surf-coaching-lifesaving-and-great-surf-in-durban\/","title":{"rendered":"Surf coaching, lifesaving, and great surf in Durban"},"content":{"rendered":"
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20th<\/sup> March 2013
\nIt's Wednesday and it's a week away from leaving to our last stop in South Africa, Ballito. We started the day off with a surf at dairy bowl in Durban. It was clean and the crew took advantage by catching lots of waves. Ryan, Tom, Lucy, Lauren and Charlie were enjoying the clean conditions a lot. We then came back to the backpackers for the second day of the theory part of the surf instructors course. A few of the group had a surf in front of the backpackers after class.
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\nOn Thursday we went to dairy bowl in Durban to surf and so the guys could do their surf lesson assessment. They had to do the lessons on each other as if they were teaching them all the basics on learning to stand, paddling and safety in the water. Sarah and Lucy paired up and did a great lesson on each other while Ronan, Matt and Ryan did their lessons on each other and covered everything well. While we are in Durban the Lifesaving South African champs are taking place at Ushaka beach. The group is very eager to see how pro lifeguards compete and we are planning to go tomorrow to show them.
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\nWe woke up early Friday morning to head down to Ushaka beach for a full day in the African sun. We went to Ushaka marine world to start the day. It was lots of fun going on the water slides and relaxing. There are some really fun slides and a lazy river that goes past a shark tank. We then went and had a look in the marine world and saw some awesome sea creatures. The South African Lifesaving champs were at Ushaka beach so we went and watch some of the events. We had a braai to end the day with a couple beers before we went out to a club in Durban.
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\nSaturday we had a chilled day and spent the whole day at Durban beach. The weather was great and the surf was clean and perfect for the group to get some long rides. Ronan, Tom, Ryan, George and Charlie had some good waves. Charlie has been training hard on his surfing and it was very clear how it is paying off. He got some really long rides and was super stoked. The beach in Durban gets really packed on the weekends with everyone wanting to soak in the sun. We then came home that evening and watched some soccer on TV.
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\nWe woke up Sunday to another beautiful day in Durban and too fun waves. We spent the whole day at the beach. The group had a surf and worked on using small waves a little better and positioning in the water. Matt got a few good waves as did Ryan, Lydia, Danielle and Tom. We then had lunch at Wahooz, which is right on the beach. They had a local Durban reggae band playing while we were having lunch which was cool. After lunch a few of the group went for another surf while others just relaxed on the beach. It was a great day to end the weekend and get ready for Tuesdays second last day of the Lifesaving course.
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\nIt was raining for the first time in Durban Monday morning, but that didn't discourage anyone from wanting to surf. We went to the Durban piers and was I stoked with what I saw. Ronan got a really long ride right from the back to the front and negotiated the wave well. Alex got an absoloute cooker of a wave, taking a big drop then doing a turn and making another drop. Ryan got two really long rides, working them from the back to the front and riding them well. A few of the guys have joined on to the Indo surf camp with Ticket to Ride in April, so we went to Clayton and ordered them some new boards to suit the awesome waves that Indo offers. The Indo trip is happening in May, I would do it if I was looking at doing a trip to Indo and looking for coaching at the same time. After ordering the guys new boards we headed home for a relaxed evening.
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\nTuesday was the second last day of the Lifesaving course. The group headed for class at 9am. It was a full day in class. The crew got a run down on marine life and procedures used. They also watched an informative video that was about sharks and their behavior. Three of the girls, Lauren, Lydia and Danielle, weren't doing the course so we took them to watch a movie after they had surfed in the morning. That afternoon the girls surfed again. Danielle had a few nice waves and has been doing really well the past week. She is very stoked on surfing and always has a smile to show it. The group in the course finished around 4 pm that afternoon. We headed back to the backpackers and had an early night to be ready for tomorrow's assessment day.
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\nSo Wednesday was the last day of the Lifesaving course. The group was tested on CPR, signals with hands and flags, spinal board rescue in the sea and got asked what would they do in situation down at the beach when someone needs first aid. Everyone did really well and it was a 100 % pass so we went out that evening to a club in Durban called Roca bar and was it rocking. The group collected their new custom made boards on the way home and were buzzing for a good night out. Some of the group got home to the sun rising and what a great way to say goodbye to the bluff and hello to Ballito bay.
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\nIt's been an awesome stay in Ansteys backpackers and will be missed. We have got two courses done and a load of surfing. Everyone is looking forward to Ballito, our next stop, and can't wait to get in the water on their new boards.
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\nTill next time
\nKlee Strachan
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