First lesson, cold water, borrowed board. I was hooked.
How I came to surfing
My love for the water started long before surfing. As a kid, I’d jump into the sea even in winter when visiting my family in Belgium, and I could spend hours in the pool trying to dive as deep as possible. I’ve always been drawn to waves and open water, so when I first stood on a surfboard at 16 on the Belgian North Sea coast, something just clicked. Some sessions were tough and frustrating, especially when the conditions were rough and things just wouldn’t come together. And yet, after a bad session, I’d still find myself thinking about the next time I could get back in the water.
From Teaching to Surf Coaching
There is something special about watching a child go from feeling stuck to suddenly understanding something that seemed impossible just moments before. During my Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education at Heidelberg University of Education, I found that these moments were what I enjoyed most about working with children. I experienced them both during my six-month placement in a first-grade classroom and in the after-school homework programme at Heidelberg College, where I have been supporting 5th and 6th graders since 2023.
One afternoon, I saw this happen with two girls who were still facing a whole set of maths problems with just twenty minutes left before the programme ended. They had put off their homework for as long as they could and had little motivation left. I sat down with them and worked through the problems step by step, encouraging them to keep going. As we worked through the questions, I could see their faces light up as things finally began to make sense, and I couldn’t help but smile, too. With only five minutes left and two problems still to go, I decided to stay a little longer so we could finish them together. By the end, their initial frustration had given way to relief, happiness, and a sense of pride in what they had achieved. And somehow, this small moment made my day. It reminded me of the feeling I wanted to give others: the confidence that comes from realising they are capable of more than they thought.
Although I loved helping children gain confidence in their abilities, I struggled with the traditional classroom setting. During homework sessions, I often saw children fidgeting in their seats and understood their restlessness all too well. I had never enjoyed sitting still all day myself. This drew me to seminars on play-based and movement-based learning during my Bachelor’s degree, and I eventually wrote my thesis on the subject. I thought I could bring more movement and hands-on learning into my own teaching. Still, I had a feeling that something was missing.
An unexpected answer came during a French literature seminar. I had little interest in the subject until our professor began telling us about the authors’ lives like the latest gossip, showing us historical pictures and sharing the details she found fascinating. Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and before long, her enthusiasm had drawn me in, too. A subject I had barely cared about became one of my favourite seminars. I realised that learning wasn’t just about what was being taught, but also about how it was brought to life.
That stayed with me. I began to realise that, although primary teaching allowed me to explore a wide range of subjects, I missed the chance to dive deeply into one area and share a passion that was truly my own. The kind of learning I was drawn to combined movement, hands-on experience and genuine enthusiasm. Surfing brings all three together with a sport I have loved for years. After completing my degree and starting my Master’s, I realised I wanted to take a different direction. As a surf instructor, I could share my passion while helping others build confidence, overcome challenges and discover what they are capable of.
