At the south end of Muriwai Beach is Muriwai Surf School: a local institution that has taught all ages and stages of clients to surf for 22 years, from kids to octogenarians, and even international film stars. Resident dogs Dude and Moon stretch out in the sun in front of the surf shop and a row of drying wetsuits, and run to greet local passersby.
Safe surfing
Muriwai Surf School is located on Auckland’s beautiful West Coast just 40 minutes’ drive from Auckland CBD. The unique local coastline is famous for its amazing sunsets, picturesque rugged landscape, and consistently great waves all year round, particularly throughout the summer months.
Over two decades on since it began, Muriwai Surf School retains its key mission: to provide surf lessons and surf education in a safe environment. The team prides itself on their friendly customer service and high-quality, professional surf lessons for all stages from beginners through to advanced surfers. Originally, the school began with six surfboards. Now, they operate a busy ‘library’ of 150+ surfboards, hundreds of wetsuits, and a full range of surf gear including Blokarts, ready to cater to the wide variety of client groups they serve.
The family business
Co-founder Bridget has a long relationship with the region, from childhood days growing up in the area, to now coordinating the family-run business. After Bridget and Martin returned to Muriwai following a stint living overseas, Martin began helping people learn to surf. He was a foundation member of the local boardriders club. In those early days Martin completed a rigorous array of courses and assessments to qualify as a surf coach, including a three-month coaching course, assessment by an external judge, possibly the first surf instructors course in New Zealand, first aid, achieving a surf lifesaving bronze medallion, and surf judging for competitions. “This was a big differentiator for the new business,” Bridget explains. The couple’s kids would help with tasks after they came home from school each afternoon.
The business is still family-run, 22 years on. “I never knew I’d be a shopkeeper: now, here I am!” laughs Bridget. Martin and Bridget’s son Dylan co-manages the business and is head surf coach and social media manager. Daughter Chelsea helps look after the books.
A tight-knit team
A significant ongoing annual concern for Bridget and the team is sourcing enough surf coaches for the coming surf season. “Having the best coaches is our priority,” says Bridget. The coaching team changes each summer and comprises fully qualified professional surf coaches, almost all coming in from overseas. “There aren’t huge numbers of surf coaches in New Zealand, so we need to rely on overseas staff,” explains Bridget. More New Zealand coaches are qualifying all the time, with two currently doing their hours with the surf school. The shop is staffed by locals who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the business.
Business and family life are intertwined. The international surf coaches live on the same property with Bridget and Martin, their children, and their grandchildren. “We eat together often. We are a very tight-knit group!” Bridget explains. “We have all the faith in the world in our coaches. We debrief everything – which is easy to do since we all live together. And they get to know the beach incredibly well.” A few of the coaches have been local surf lifesavers too. Despite or maybe because of over twenty years in the business, the team still all love the job. “We aim to be the best at what we do!”
Fickle forecasts
The business is open every day of the year except for Christmas and Boxing Day and only closes on days when it is unsafe to surf. “It’s just always busy!” comments Bridget. “But it’s home.” Each day can look very different, depending on what the weather is up to. “Everything we do is focused on what’s happening in the ocean,” explains Bridget.
Summer season
Each October the volume of surf school students grows exponentially, as group visits of all sizes increase during the warmer months. Group lessons are taught from around age nine up. After-school sessions, one-off day trips, or multi-day sessions are all on offer for intermediate and high schools, as well as the many varied other groups that the surf school caters for. Today, students from Hobsonville Point High School are completing their third day of a surf school intensive. “We have dozens of schools that regularly book in for varying session types, from a wide range of geographical locations and deciles,” explains Bridget.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the surf students were tourists, with the occasional Kiwi. Once the pandemic hit, this shifted to an all-local client base. “We were so busy! We were well supported, and we were incredibly lucky in that,” recalls Bridget.
But times have been hard in recent years for the region. The local community has had a tough time for the past few years, with the slips of summer 2023 deeply affecting the locals and claiming the lives of local firefighters. “It was a nightmare, just as everything was coming back together,” says Bridget. “Many are still struggling, but we have grown stronger together.”
This past summer the business has thrived once again. “This is the first summer in four years that we have had good numbers of clients from overseas. We have been busy! We’ve also had a new group of overseas qualified surf coaches here.”
Move on up
The team enjoys offering a unique service and looking after their loyal clientele. The school’s advanced beginner programmes are wildly popular. Bridget explains, “Beginners arrive, do a lesson, and absolutely love it because it’s so much fun.” They start hiring surf gear, and the team helps them with surfboard sizing and tips. “Then, they may get a bit frustrated. We give advice all the time, to help clients get to the next stage of surfing ability. We offer private lessons and a variety of programmes to move to the next level.” Dylan has now expanded operations to include an international surf intensive, taking a series of small groups to Indonesia for a week per group, during the peak surf season.
Bridget and the coaching team love the many benefits and new skills they see their clients developing. These include determination and resilience, mental health benefits, and the incredible sense of achievement and enjoyment they witness.
Second generation surfers
The surf school hosts an ever-expanding network of clients and is now teaching a second generation of surfers – a testament to the school’s longevity. “Kids will come in, and mention that their parents learned to surf with us!”
The diversity of customers always amazes Bridget and brings a good deal of job satisfaction. “We get absolutely everybody from all walks of life and ages coming along, plus the full spectrum of personalities! That always surprises our overseas coaches. Getting to know our clients is fascinating, with amazing people from all walks of life.”
The surf school also hosts celebrities and film work, both local and international. They’ve just completed coaching the entire film crew from a Welsh comedy film, and have previously featured on local TV shows.
A twin passion
The surf school team finds themselves a key point of contact for emergencies and regularly conducts surf and rescue operations, including night-time rescues. “We work with the Surf Club and emergency services when things go wrong at the beach. Our team knows the water so well, and are in there more than anyone else,” says Bridget. “Muriwai Beach visitors are welcome to drop in and they often ask about local matters including sick or injured wildlife, tide information, and our take-home rubbish policy.”
The entire crew has a twin passion for sharing their deep love of the ocean, and for keeping their clients safe. “We have to ensure every person is safe out there, with the equipment they have with them,” Bridget explains. “We are here to teach them to protect themselves and their equipment, within the setting the weather and the ocean offers.”
Visit Muriwai Surf School.
