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.

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.

Matty has coached thousands of surfers over the years from all walks of life from total beginners to world champions.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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

Stance: GOOFY

Fav Surf spot,: somewhere in France but he wont tell us where!

Associate coaches

Oliver Hawksworth

Performance Surf Coach

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.

ISA Level 2

30 + years surfing experience

ex competitive swim racer

20 years as professional surf coach beginner to international competition level

Home break: Llangennith, South Wales

Stance: REGULAR

Fav Surf spot: SuperTubos !