Private Coaching

Arthur – LOCAL

• Surf – beginner to intermediate
• Foil – prone, tow, wing all levels

Arthur lives to surf and he’s known for paddling onto anything. Yes, surfboards have been injured. He’s a lot more safety-conscious when guiding guests and knows the area like the back of his hand. He’s also taken to foiling like a duck to water and like all our Fijian guides, Arthur’s English and communication skills are excellent. @arthur.in.fiji

Kalani Wakeham – LOCAL

• Surf – beginner to intermediate
• Foil – prone, tow all levels
• Foil Drive

Kalani comes from a well-known Fijian surfing family and is/was an engineering student. However his summer job on Namotu seems to be lasting longer than planned and he’s become an integral part of our water sports team…. So university is on hold. But maybe it’s the engineering mindset that makes Kalani a keen foiler and a pro coaching on the Foil Drives. Like all our Fijian guides, Kalani’s English and communication skills are excellent. @kalani.wakeham

Navi Raiko – LOCAL

• Surf – beginner to intermediate
• Foil – prone, tow, wing all levels
• SUP
• Kitesurfing – beginner

Navi has been part of our Fijian surf guide program since 2020 and in that time has become an integral part of the team. He has added kitesurfing, foiling and winging to his repertoire and become an expert ski driver for surf, foil and rescues. Like all our Fijian guides, Navi’s English and communication skills are excellent. Navi now divides his time between Namotu and Newcastle, Australia.

@navitalai.raiko

Ulai Niunitoga – LOCAL

• Surf – beginner to intermediate
• Kite – beginner
• Spearfishing

Ulai needs little introduction and has been part of Namotu family for decades. He’s famous around the world for surfing Restaurants at low tide, sinking high tide kava bowls and starring in the Endless Summer II… @niunitogaulai

Mark Occhilupo

• Surf – all levels

Occy is a true icon of surfing. Hailing from Cronulla, he won a world title in 1999 after a phenomenal comeback. And he’s been coming back to Namotu as a competitor, later as a commentator and now, he’s come back again as a coach. If you want to delve deeper into your surfing, there’s nobody better. @markocchilupo

Josh Ku

• Foil – prone, SUP, downwind
• Surf
• Spearfishing
• SUP

Josh has been a Namotu surf guide for years and more recently has gone deep into foiling where he’s fast building a reputation as an expert in the field. A passionate spearfisherman, he knows the reefs around Namotu above and below. @joshku

Haydn Fischer

• Surf
• Kite
• Foil – prone, kite, wing
• Wing
• Spearfishing

Haydn is a highly skilled kite surfer from California currently sponsored by Duotone. He’s been coming as a Kite/Unlimited Week coach since 2018 and is an excellent surf and foil coach as well. Find him on Instagram @haydnfischer

Matt Wilkinson*

• Surf

Former WSL champ and winner of the Fiji Pro, Wilko is now retired from the tour but no less busy running surf camps in Australia, Indonesia and Fiji. You can book Wilko as a surf coach or check out his Signature Weeks and join him and good friend Adam Bennetts for a week of surfing and foiling.

@mattwilko8

Danny Barnette

• Foil – prone, kite, wing
• Surf
• Kite
• Wing
• SUP

Danny is one of our top Kite/Unlimited Week coaches and an expert across wind sports. Having spent time as an instructor for REAL Watersports, he now travels the world as a coach and mentor to some of the world’s most illustrious people. @it.me.db

Brett Sheerin

• Kite
• Wing
• Foil
• Surf

Brett has been in the wind sport industry for many years and runs a kite school on Maui (True North). He’s done time as an Unlimited Weeks coach and brings a straight-up New Jersey approach to coaching with plenty of tales to keep you entertained on and off the water. @mauitruenorth

Brandon Scheid

• Kite
• Wing
• Foil – prone, kite, wing, SUP
• SUP

A wind sport guru, Brandon has been a Slingshot team rider and product developer for years. Having interned at REAL Watersports, he now lives in Hood River with wife Sensi. Brandon is high energy and highly knowledgable in all things wind. @brandonscheid

Caleb Pont

• Surf
• Foil
• Wing

Caleb has clocked up a lot of time here over the last couple of years. He is an extremely skilled foiler and surfer and an absolute pro on a jet ski. He’s become a key coach on both Unlimited Weeks and Wilko’s Weeks as he can also effectively translate his skills to his clients. @calebpont_233

Kirsty Jones*

• Kite
• Wing
• Foil

Kirsty is a 3x world kitesurfing wave champion, yoga instructor and kite school operator. Originally from Wales, lately she’s been working on Necker Island and coaching on Unlimited Weeks. @kirstykiteyoga

Adam Bennetts*

• Foil – prone
• Surf

Adam was a former professional surfer for 10+ years and fell in love with surf foiling 5 years ago. Recently voted world’s best surf foiler, Adam is renowned for his style and flow. He translates that wave knowledge into fluid critical turns and long, linked runs. Adam is currently running foil retreats in Fiji, Indonesia and Byron Bay. @misterbennetts

JP Tron

• Foil – prone, kite, wing
• Surf
• Kite
• SUP
• Wing
• Spearfishing

JP lives and breathes wind sports in particular and is a sponsored Slingshot rider and kite school operator in Mexico. He’s spent a lot of time on Namotu over the last few years on the Ben Wilson Unlimited Weeks. @jprotron

Ryan Arzy

• Foil – prone, wing
• SUP
• Wing
• Surf – beginner

LA-based foil frother, Ryan is relatively new to Namotu, first visiting in 2021. However he’s already spent a lot of time here working across the Unlimited Weeks. When he’s not here you’ll find him writing about foiling, talking about foiling or working with brands on foiling. @lafoiler

Dave Kalama*

• Surf
• SUP
• Wing
• Foil – SUP, prone, wing

Kalama has been coming to Namotu since the days of windsurfing in the 90s. He was part of the early kitesurfing movement and is now a renowned all-round waterman. Few understand Namotu and its surrounding reefs as well as Dave. Book him as a coach or join his Kalama Kamps

@davekalama

Dan MacDonald

• Surf
• Foil – prone, kite
• Kite
• Wing

Dan lives in Lennox, NSW where he works as a kite and foil coach. His relaxed style and energy has fast made him a popular addition to the Namotu family as an Unlimited Week coach and his wide skillset really seals the deal. If you’d like to try a few things as part of your program, Dan is a great fit! @stanmacdonald

Rory Chapman*

• Surf
• SUP
• Wing
• Foil
• Kite

Rory has been working across the Kalama Kamps and Kite Weeks (now Unlimited Weeks) for well over ten years and has a deep understanding of Namotu and its inner workings. He brings enthusiasm, high energy and absolutely zero ego. Plus he is incredible across a wide range of water sports.

Jeremy Wilmotte

• Foil – beginner – advanced prone
• Surf
• SUP
• Kite

Jeremy has been coming to Namotu for many years, formerly as a photographer and lifeguard. These days he’s big into foiling and you’ll more often find him in front of the lense rather than behind. @oceanpixels

James Jenkins

• Foil – prone, kite, wing
• Surf
• SUP
• Kite
• Wing

James has been coming to Namotu as a surf guide for a long time as well as working at REAL Watersports. He runs foil camps in Nicaragua and here on Namotu, is a TV stunt double, though we think he’s more of a star than the main event.

@jamesjenkins_

Aaron Smith

• Surf – beginner to advanced including advanced longboard
• Foil – prone, kite, wing
• Kitesurfing
• SUP
• Wing

Aaron is from Lennox in Australian and brings a ton of energy to everything he does. Formerly a competitive longboarder, he now operates a kite and foil school and has spent time coaching on Kite Weeks on Namotu. @earthkitesurfing

Kyron Rathbone

• Freedive & breath hold
• Surf – beginner to advanced
• Foil – prone, wing
• Kite
• SUP

Kyron hails from Tasmania, Australia and has been coming to Namotu as a surf guide for over 10 years. He’s forged a reputation not only for his skill in the water and charging Shipsterns but for his early adoption of foiling. More recently he has developed a passion for freediving and has proven to be an excellent instructor in this field as well. @kyronrathbonewood

Jake Keville

• Surf – beginner to advanced
• Foil – beginner

Californian kid Jake has spent a fair amount of time in Fiji in the last couple of years and quickly made his mark. He’s been a surf coach at the KS Wave Pool and on Unlimited Weeks where he brings his great attitude and impeccable customer service skills

@jake_keville

James Casey

• Foil – prone, SUP, wing & kite
• SUP
• Wing
• Kite

Australian waterman James is new to Namotu but already a veteran of the windsport industry. He’s competed internationally at events like Sunset and the Molokai and he now runs foil and SUP camps here and in other tropical locations. @james_casey

Jason Slezak

• SUP
• Foil – prone, wing, kite
• Wing
• Surf
• Kite

Hailing from North Carolina, Jason has been working with REAL for many years and has created a life surrounding the ocean and snow. Another Unlimited/Kite Week coach, Jason is a wind sport guru with a presence in the industry locally and internationally. @jasonslezak

Leon Mosher

• Surf – beginner to advanced with longboard focus
• Outrigger – surfing, sailing, fishing

Hailing from Hawaii, Leon is an incredible longboarder who can help take your skills to the next level. He also has a passion for traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoes.  In 2023 he built and brought one to the Island and can take you canoe surfing, sailing, fishing, or just cruising  @leonmosher

Keahi DeAboitiz*

• Kite
• Foil
• Wing
• Surf

Keahi is a true professional and genuinely lovely person to have around. His skills across a huge range of water sports are impressive, as is his ability to patiently coach anyone. This has made him a sought-after coach for the elite. Keahi has spent plenty of time on Namotu, both as a coach and special guest with his equally wonderful and world champion kitesurfer partner, Moona Whyte.

Reo Stevens*

• Kite
• Foil
• Wing
• Surf

Kite industry veteran and water sports professional, Reo has an established kite travel business and is a sought-after private coach. Expert across a range of water sports but with a particular focus on wind, Reo is also familiar with Namotu, having regularly spent time here with private clients and groups.

Zane Westwood

• Surf
• Foil prone/ SUP/ Wing/ Downwind 
• Surf SUP

Zane is a new member to the roster, he is considered one of the top guys in the world for prone foiling and downwind foiling, he is also well known for his foiling ability in all disciplines of the sport.  He also specialises in surfing and SUP. He is very passionate about passing on his skill and experience of the ocean. @zane_westwood