87 Andrew Goodman - Surf Coach

Think you're too old to learn how to surf—or stuck as a frustrated intermediate? What if the key to better surfing isn't fitness or board size, but how you read the wave?

In this episode, surf coach Andrew Goodman shares his powerful coaching insights, from teaching an 86-year-old woman to surf to running retreats across the Maldives, Costa Rica, and Europe. Whether you're struggling with confidence, wave selection, or etiquette, this conversation shines a light on the real obstacles most surfers face—and how to overcome them with intention and awareness.

• Hear the inspiring story that launched Andrew's surf coaching career and transformed his purpose

• Learn the biggest mistakes beginners and intermediates make (and how to fix them)

• Discover practical balance and wave-reading tips that immediately improve your surfing, no matter your age or skill level

Tune in now to gain the clarity and confidence you need to level up your surfing and finally catch the waves you're aiming for.

Key Points

• Andrew Goodman's introduction to surfing came from growing up in a beach-centric lifestyle in Cape Town, South Africa, influenced by his father, a surfer, and his mother, a beach enthusiast.

• Andrew transitioned into surf coaching after a serendipitous encounter in California in 2008, where he offered to teach surf lessons on a trial basis and eventually taught an 86-year-old woman to surf, sparking his passion for surf coaching.

• Andrew discussed his background in the film industry as a grip, a role that involved rigging and building set pieces, which instilled in him a forward-thinking approach that has contributed to his surf coaching.

• Andrew shared his strategy for dealing with clients who experience seasickness during boat trips, emphasizing the importance of preparation and offering practical solutions such as providing medication.

• Michael highlighted the importance of vision and vestibular training for surfers, suggesting that it can improve balance, vision, and overall surfing performance, and recommended resources like Z-Health for further learning.

• Andrew discussed common mistakes made by beginner and intermediate surfers, such as transitioning to smaller boards too soon and misunderstanding wave dynamics, and emphasized the importance of understanding wave behavior over mere physical fitness.

• Andrew and Michael discussed the challenges of surf etiquette and the importance of teaching new surfers about ocean safety and behavior, contrasting this with the limitations of surf schools in providing comprehensive education on surf etiquette.

• Andrew explained the concept of competence hierarchy in surf culture, emphasizing that respect and priority in the lineup should be based on surfing ability rather than physical fitness or seniority.

• Andrew shared his experience surfing in wave pools, noting the unique challenges and the increasing accessibility and popularity of wave pools, despite their high cost per wave.

• Andrew provided information on how to find out more about his surf coaching trips, including his Instagram handle and website, and mentioned an upcoming trip to Costa Rica with a returning group of 11 participants.

https://www.instagram.com/andleo__/?hl=en

https://www.andrewgoodmansurfcoach.com/

https://www.facebook.com/andrewgoodmansurfcoaching/

www.surfmastery.com

For the passionate surfer—whether you're a weekend warrior, a surf dad, or an older surfer—this podcast is all about better surfing and deeper stoke. With expert surf coaching, surf training, and surfing tips, we'll help you catch more waves, refine your paddling technique, and perfect your pop up on a surfboard. From surf workouts to handling wipeouts, chasing bigger waves, and mastering surf technique, we're here to make sure you not only improve but truly enjoy surfing more—so you can get more out of every session and become a wiser surfer. Go from Beginner or intermediate Surfer to advanced.