Born in the UK, Daniel is currently the Head Coach at the Surf Canaries Surf School (in the Canary Islands in case you had not guessed) and is also a Surf and Water Sports Journalist.

The Surf School has been established for almost 3 years, and is split into several sections. They provide a 1 day “Surf Experience” so that people can give it a try, and also provide 3 and 5 days courses for both beginners and advanced surfers. They also run a club of local surfers who train together every week.

The surf in Gran Canaria is of a great quality. The consistency of the waves and their potential are excellent. Waves are pretty well guaranteed every day in some part of the island. Daniel feels that the main distinguishing factor for Gran Canaria is its variety – from world class boogie boarding slaps right through to mellow learning waves.

Daniel has been surfing for 16 years and during that time has traveled the world searching out some of the best surf locations in Australia, USA, Fiji, New Zealand, France, Portugal, Spain, Ireland and of course the Canary Islands. Oh, it is a surfer’s life!

He started off in West Wales – and kept going through the winter bring the elements wrapped in 5 mm wetsuits, gloves, boots and even Vaseline for the face. This was a sure fired way to develop a hardy surfer, but he says he is now glad to be able to don a simple pair of board shorts and all year around waves.

When he first started surfing with his brother and two mates, he fell in love with it instantly but struggled because he actually had no training. This presented a huge challenge because it took at least twice as long to learn good technique – but he did not let it get the better of him – he was enjoying himself far too much! However, his best advice is to get a surf coach. Later on he had to unlearn so many bad habits, practically having to relearn to surf properly.

It is probably his own experience that brought him into the world of coaching, and he gets huge pleasure from seeing people achieve in a day what it took him six months to achieve. Daniel is now Level 1 and Level II certified, able to teach complete beginners as well as advanced surfers. He says that he was extremely lucky to have been trained by the Australian National Team Coach, Martin Dunn.

Having traveled the world, Daniel says that there are so many places with the potential for perfect waves. He always looks for consistency and potential – and feels that Australia and Fiji come pretty well at the top of his list. One image that really stands in his mind was a day that he took a boat to a reef – practically no sight of land – and the most perfect wave broke out in the middle of the ocean!

Daniel has taken part in University Championships where was competing against pros and was using a 25 year old board. He always remembers the looks on the other competitors’ faces with their high performance boards, looking at him get his out. But Daniel does not mind – he surfs for the fun and thrill of it – he has been seen wearing an afro wig just for laughs!

As Daniel continues to develop his own style and skill as a surfer he of course watches the Top 45 very closely. He admires most of them – Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, and nine times World Champion Kelly Slater. However, for his prowess in the water and his attitude to life, the person he would aspire to be is Mark Occhilupo who has won World Championships and pioneered his own surfing style.