
30+ Years of Experience
Apex Surf was born out of a passion for surf coaching and adventure sports spanning back over the last 35+ years.
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From growing up surfing in the early 1980's to coaching the England Team at the ISA Para world champs in California in both the 2023 & 2024 seasons, we have come along way.
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Matty has coached thousands of surfers over the years from all walks of life from total beginners to world champions.
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Let us help you take your surfing forwards and discover new ways of riding waves.

We believe that learning should be fun, that everyone learns at different speeds and in different ways. Not everyone wants to be a pro surfer, some just love to surf and simply want to surf better and understand what they should be doing and why. We focus not just on movement but also reading the water environment we play in and tailor our coaching to your personal goals.
Matty Hammersley - Head Coach / Founder





Matty has 40+ years surfing experience having partly grown up surfing in Newquay, Cornwall where his family still hail from.
With 36 years coaching experience and 10's of thousands of hours under his belt, he can spot errors in your surfing quickly and has the knowledge & experience to make lasting changes. He is qualified Level 2 ISA surf coach & Level 2 competition judge, has coached national team surfers from both UK, Netherlands and Poland and has taught everyone from kids to famous celebrities to surf.
Some of his surfers have gone on to World Championship medals & titles and he is one of the lead coaches for the Surfing England Para Surf team, who won copper medal at the ISA Worlds in Huntington Beach California 2023. His passion is coaching and has worked with and been interviewed by world leading coaches such as Martin Dunn & Surf Pool Mag.
Matty loves working with people of all levels from the nervous beginner to the seasoned competitor, has a relaxed and informative coaching style, with a wealth of surf knowledge. Occasionally competes, loves coffee, pizza & ice cream and has a vintage surf board collecting habit!
Tidal Bore Surfing Hall of Fame Member.
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ISA Level 2 surf coach
ISA Level 2 Surf Judge
Surfing England Surf Coach Trainer Assessor
RLSS Beach & Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessor
RLSS First Aid Trainer Assessor
Level 3 Award in Education and Training
Level 3 Life Support & First Aid at Work
Ex head coach at The Wave Bristol 4.5 years
Surfing England Para Team Coach
SPSA Climbing Instructor
Paddle UK Kayak / Canoe Level 2 Coach
GNAS Archery Instructor
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Home spot: River Severn, Porthcawl or Newquay, depending on the surf report.
Fav surf spot: Cabedelo Portugal and Lowers!
Stance: GOOFY!



Pierre 'Yogi' Leteissier
Surf & Swim Coach
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Pierre or Yogi as we call him is our go to swim coach and ISA level 2 surf coach.
If you need swim coaching to develop your paddle strength, or to get fit for your lifeguard swim, he is your man!
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Pierre is also a great surf coach and helps with our multi day surf courses or can be booked for 1:1 surf coaching. Multi lingual, super fun to work with and one of our favourite people.
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ISA Level 2
Bachelor degree in sports science
20 years surfing experience / home spot VVF Cabreton
12 years as competitive swim racer, French ranking of 12th, 2nd at Nationals
10 years as professional swim coach beginner to competition
4 years professional surf coaching
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Stance: GOOFY
Fav Surf spot,: somewhere in France but he wont tell us where!
Associate coaches
Oliver Hawksworth
Performance Surf Coach
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Oliver is one of the most experienced and knowledge coaches around, ex Team Manager for Surfing England Junior Team, ex Surf Experience manager for The Wave, total shredder who has a fun but professional coaching style that gives bags of confidence and is highly skilled at spotting and implementing where you can improve. ​
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ISA Level 2
30 + years surfing experience
ex competitive swim racer
20 years as professional surf coach beginner to international competition level
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Home break: Llangennith, South Wales​
Stance: REGULAR
Fav Surf spot: SuperTubos !


People we work with...
We work with many wonderful surfers and organisations, here's some of our regular athletes:

Royal Lifesaving Society

Surfing England Para Surf Team

Surfing England

The Wave Bristol
The worlds 1st Wavegarden Cove surf lake

Stephen 'Buzz' Lightbown
Team England Para Surfer
Prone division
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Elin Geerlings
Dutch Junior Team surfer. U18's Dutch Champion

Zoe Smith World #2 & Melissa Ried 3 x World Champ
England Team Para Surfers
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Ticket2Surf
Praia Da Tocha
Portugal