BRIDGET
Owner + Shop
You'll find her in the shop until the surf's small and fun then she's out dominating the lineup.
Martin and Bridget established Muriwai Surf School in 2002.
Slow, small beginnings in the garage at the back of the local shop grew and grew as word of mouth spread.
Soon long summers were spent with the whole family hiring surfboards, body boards and wetsuits and Martin taking lessons.
With great local support, a good relationship with the surf lifesaving club and council, and many years and customers later, we have now progressed to our own premises right by the beach in the Muriwai Regional Park.
A love of the environment has led to the surf shack being as eco-friendly as possible, with locally sourced untreated macrocarpa timber fences and local poured earth paving out the front, as well as alternative power.
We now have over 150 surfboards and 250 wetsuits, as well as Blokarts and other beach toys.
Martin has always been involved in the surfing community, being a founding member and president of the local Maori Bay Board Riders Club.
He still finds time as judge and contest director of local and national surf competitions. Bridget, who has been surfing for many years (not telling exactly!), runs the show, and can be seen meeting, greeting, drinking the occasional coffee and directing surfing traffic!
Through the years we have had many fantastic coaches helping us out.
These days we have a great crew that work hard all summer.
All coaches are qualified to International Surfing Association and Surfing NZ standards.
All have surf lifesaving qualifications and current first aid certificates.
Many have surfed competitively and still do (including regional and national surfing champions, and WQS competitors).
Some do it just for the fun.
Mostly they know Muriwai conditions well. You will be safe!!
Muriwai Surf School is a supervisory surf school, meaning people come to us to learn to be coaches.
This means we often have extra, enthusiastic trainee coaches to help in the water.
And in the shop, if you have come to hire, you will get great advice on conditions and safe times and tides for surfing and blokarting.
We are also happy to give advice about buying boards and how to look after them (we don’t sell them so we are totally unbiased!).
Ask us anything… and we will try to help!!
There are many other supporters behind the scenes that we could not do without.
From computer helpers and marketing and design to general help and encouragement.
Thanks to all who have contributed!
And now we all hope to meet you soon…
