What's a surf and yoga retreat without its coaches? Here's a chance to get to know them yourselves.
Words by Nikita Noronha | 28th January
You’ve seen us talk about everything under the sun in our journals, but we’ve not yet spoken about those who spend almost all their days under it. Meet Sujith, Sangeet, Rakhul and Joel. Some of our philosophers of the sea, and our Soul of Surfing Programme ambassadors.
Image by Rammohan Paranjape
Everyone starts somewhere
…asked Sujith, explaining that the ocean deserves the same respect and love as one’s own house. He first discovered surfing as a curious kid on the beaches of Varkala. 15 years later, Sujith poured his heart into lessons on not just catching waves, but the art of staying calm, respecting the tide, and finding peace through the rhythm of the current.
Growing up far from the ocean in the middle of England was another soon-to-be coach whose life was not complete without being closer to the water. “Surfing is really cool, and I wanted to be cool,” joked Joel, recalling early trips with his dad at 8 years old. That fascination grew at 18 when he moved to study Surf Science, spending every day in the ocean.
It isn’t easy to return to something you stopped pursuing, but for Rakhul, surfing—his passion of 12 years—was his calling. A friend’s lesson taught him patience. “The right wave will come to you,” he said, a mantra he shares with students after years of teaching.
“My girlfriend taught me how to surf,” explained Sangeeth. It began eight years ago when she introduced him to surfing, it turns out, that the sea wasn’t the only thing he got hooked on. A strong emotional connection inspired his surfing journey, which he later refined on the waves of Bali.
Different philosophies, same shore
The coaches believe that the Soul of Surfing programme we developed at Soul & Surf over the years is significantly different from that of other schools. The programme was taught to them when they first joined us and has influenced their teaching styles over the years. Whether it’s beach clean-ups, ocean literacy, breathwork, or meditation, all of it is incorporated into the one-week retreat that our guests experience.
Sujith wanted his students to have a rounded experience of surfing, as he first taught them the history of the beach, the fishermen, and the village. He and his students “do a quick beach cleanup every day… three pieces of plastic for the ocean.” Sujith also described a time when the student became the teacher. He talked about a guest who was having trouble popping up on their surfboard and showed him an easier way that she was comfortable doing– a “sliding” pop-up. Sujith now shares this approach with future guests.
Joel elaborated on the importance of ocean literacy, breathwork and meditation, “There’s nothing better to instil calmness in a surf lesson than sitting there in silence and listening to the waves and then also a little bit of breathing.” Surfing for him was also about adaptability. “I choose my board for the wave,” he said, a philosophy he developed through years of teaching and chasing swells from Portugal to Indonesia.
Sangeeth added that he would never force any client, “first I find out how [their] personality is. That’s my biggest skill,” he said, very modestly. He watches his students closely to spot signs of hesitation. When this happens, he calmly takes them back to the beach, talks it through, and helps them try again.
According to Rakhul, enjoying the process is the main ingredient. His journey showed him that progress takes time. He recalled a moment when he spent over an hour helping a student overcome her fear, explaining that “it’s so much fun being in the water and it’s kind of like therapy.”
In their unique ways, the coaches bring support and calm to their students’ growth.
Image by @surfgrammer
Mistakes often stem from fear...and are universal
Very honestly, Sujith admitted, “Even I made a mistake many, many, many times.” He tells first-timers to avoid looking down when catching a wave. Instead, he encourages them to focus on the palm trees ahead, they’ll lead the way. Rakhul, on the other hand, said that once they can pop up, the excitement of standing on the board leads to wipeouts and sometimes disappointment, either way, he’s become an expert at combatting nerves.
As for intermediate surfers, Joel saw many get stuck by overthinking their position on the board when they fear wiping out. His advice? “Commit to the wave rather than being overly cautious about it,” Sangeeth added that lack of confidence can be a big barrier, but luckily, building confidence is one of his favourite things to work on. He recalled helping a group of girls from India feel confident in the water, with one of them calling it a life-changing moment—and even sharing it on her Instagram story.
Image by @surfgrammer
Everyone Has a Favourite
If you’re wondering how to get into surfing without getting wet, the coaches have a few recommendations of their favourite surfers who might just inspire you too. Sujth’s pick was Mikey February from South Africa whose relaxed energy he enjoys the most. Joel named Eurico Romaguera one of his favourites, whose longboarding he finds admirable. Rakhul suggested Kelly Slater from the United States as his favourite surfer.
Finally, Sangeeth’s recommendation, our favourite, was himself. He loves his adaptability, and how he listens to the waves, “I don't have a style but I like my way.”
Changing With The Stream
Living, breathing and eating surfing sounds like hyperbole, but in the coaches’ case, it’s fact. Coming from different backgrounds, the coaches bring way more to it than just technique. Their methods and philosophies may vary with each student, but one thing they all agree on is this: you can’t surf unless you put your soul into it.
Image by @surfgrammer
