
The Surf Insight ISA course presenter: Tim Jones
Tim Jones has been surfing for over 50 years and coaching surfing for over 35 years. He has been delivering Surfing Instructor Courses for 26 years. He has held an ILS Beach Life Guard Award since 1979.
He began as a Trainer / Assessor for the British Surfing Association in 1991 and was National Coach for Wales and a member of the GB coaching team. He helped form the Level 1- 4 Instructor Coaching systems in the UK and was responsible for their training videos.
He introduced the concept of soft surfboards for beginner lessons in surf schools in the UK in 1992, an idea that later spread worldwide and the introduction of an International Lifesaving Open Ocean Award to be the mandatory accompanying award to all Surf Instructor Qualifications.
Tim has been involved with the International Surfing Association since the inception of the ISA Level 1 and Level 2 courses in 2008 and was an official Course Presenter for Spain and is now the official Course Presenter for Sri Lanka. He’s instigated the formation of the first national Surfing Federation for Sri Lanka. He holds a Federation de Surf Canaries Surf and Bodyboard coaching certificate.
‘Teaching is the introduction of a new skill and concept. Coaching is the perfection of that skill and the understanding of that concept.’
– Tim Jones 2017

“I’m not sure that there are many people with as much knowledge of surfing, surf history, coaching, competition, the future of surfing and sports coaching. All this knowledge was freely expertly shared with the excitement of the eternal grom that Tim is. Thanks Tim, I look forward to seeing you in the line up.”
Adam Simpson UK, Soul & Surf / O’Neill Surf Academy ISA Level 2
His involvement with SUP is far more recent having surfed with some of the best SUP riders in the powerful waves of Lanzarote.
Tim still surfs, always, mainly in Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Sri Lanka. His coaching systems are used from beginner level to WQS surfers and amateur champions. He coaches 6 times Welsh Champion surfer Emily Williams and past top competitors such as Nathan Phillips, Mark Vaughan, Mark Saunders and many others throughout Europe.
He has been involved in surfboard design and construction since 1980 and designs boards and ranges of soft boards for companies worldwide. Tim himself competed successfully to the level of national finalist.
His ISA Instructor courses are recognized as valuable and unique in delivery and content and his coaching systems are thought of as one of the most innovative worldwide.


