Josh Palmateer's Surf Academy

Josh Palmateer
Josh Palmateer was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1970. He spent most of his childhood in the water - competing in both swimming and surf life saving at State and National level - before turning to surfing at the age of 12. He was immediately hooked, and his natural ability combined with all those 5 a.m. swimming training sessions soon saw him having as much success in the waves as he had in the pool (at least that's what his mum says...).

By the age of 17, he was travelling overseas as part of the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour, a lifestyle he kept up for 7 years, achieving a ranking of 45th in the World. A country boy at heart, he then settled in Margaret River, where his family had moved a few years before, and started teaching others how to surf in 1994. For the first few years he still competed in Competitions, winning the Western Australian State Title for four years in a row (1995, 96, 97 & 98) and the prestigious Margaret River Classic four times, until the surf school took up all of his time. Other career highlights include a 4th in the World Titles, a 3rd in the Margaret River Masters and a 2nd in the Australian Titles

Like all surfers, Josh's love of the sport is almost fanatical, but Josh is just as fanatical about sharing this love of the sport with others who have not yet experienced it. Whether it's local grommets, parents who feel like joining in, international backpackers, 60+ year old UK tourists (no, I'm not kidding), or the school kids from the outback Docker River Community on their first trip to the ocean...Josh has an absolute ball seeing them catch their first wave. But don't take our word for it: check out one backpacker's testimony.

The Surf Academy
Josh and another partner introduced surf coaching to Margaret River in 1994, starting up the first private surf school in Western Australia. In 1995 Josh launched his own Surf Academy. It now runs classes in Margaret River and Mandurah from November to May, and travels to Broome in the off-season from July to October. General classes run every day (depending on surfing conditions), in addition to special classes for school groups as part of the School Sports Curriculum, and tourist groups as part of Adventure Company trips.

Our Sponsors
We would like to acknowledge and thank our wonderful sponsors:

Coastal Life Surf
44 Prince Street, Busselton, Western Australia
The world's best surf shop (not that we're bias...) Drop in and meet the rest of the Palmateer family. For all your surfing needs...

Westsuits
Perth, Western Australia
Thanks to Westsuits for all your support over the years

Coca-Cola
A big sponsor of surfshcools throughout Australia through its ties with Surfing Australia. And not a bad drink either...

Wet Dreams
Margaret River, Western Australia
The best quality hardware accessories are made right here!

Electric
Amazing eyeware

Department of Sport & Recreation
Great to have you behind us.

SunSmart
Part of the Cancer Council of Western Australia - Slip, Slop, Slap...

Healthway
Another Government Department doing the right thing and promoting healthy lifestyles - like surfing lifestyles!

Phone: 9757 3850 or 0418 958 264
Email: mrsurf2@bigpond.net.au