Call us on 07 825 8140 or email office@raglanarea.school.nz

Surfing Academy

Raglan Surf Academy

The Raglan Surf Academy is the only surf programme of its kind in New Zealand, offering elite coaching and training to talented young surfers.

The Academy is part of Raglan Area School and is a component of the non-profit sport sector in New Zealand. Deane Hishon founded the Academy in 1998 after he noticed there were many talented surfers leaving school to pursue their dreams of becoming professional in their sport. Deane knew that many of these students were school leaders and that it would benefit the school and the community if they stayed enrolled. Through introducing surfing as a physical education subject in 1998, Deane observed that these students began to achieve higher academically.  A few years later, once the Academy was firmly established, surfers were staying in school and the Academy was producing key role model students, including a school head boy and girl.

 

The Academy positions are limited to 16-22 students per year in years 11, 12 and 13. The surf academy course is offered as a subject to students who are in attendance at Raglan Area School. Entry into the Academy is unrestricted geographically. That is, any student from around NZ or internationally, may be given the opportunity to take the course and homestay accommodation arrangements can be made. The course is restricted to highly motivated students with a high level of competence in surfing, who have a strong desire to succeed at surfing and schoolwork.

Key Goals of the 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.