WE EXIST TO HELP YOU SURF BETTER
It might sound cliché, but without our incredible team of surf obsessed, service-focused frothers, we simply wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Our team is what makes Renegade unique, and whilst we come from different backgrounds and countries around the world, we all share one common passion – helping you to surf better.
SIMON HARTLEY
FOUNDER | CEO | SURF GUIDE
Growing up in the NW of England, the cards weren’t exactly stacked for me to start a surf coaching and travel company. But what my hometown lacked in proximity to the surf, it made up for by instilling a hunger for exploration, uncrowded waves, and chasing swells to all 4 coastlines of the UK and beyond.
Discovering surfing at the age of 16 and coming from a surf-less coast, I really felt the need to play ‘catch-up’ and began obsessing over how I could improve, despite only being able to get to the beach a couple of times each month. This is when I discovered there was a total lack of quality surf coaching available for people who could already surf. Fast-forward 9 years, a whole load of traveling and 7 years working in surf tourism, and Renegade Surf Travel was born.
Dale and I became good friends after living together in Portugal in 2018, and whilst we now share a passion for helping surfers improve their surfing in paradise, we’re still friends and surf-pals at our core.
From: Liverpool, UK
Years Surfing: 14
Favourite Wave: Secret river-mouth in the NE of England
Favourite Surfer: Joel Parkinson
Favourite Manoeuvre: Roundhouse cutback
Likes: Watching people get the wave of their life
Dislikes: People who surf well-known spots and complain about crowds
DALE WALLINGTON
CO-OWNER | MANAGING DIRECTOR | SURF GUIDE
As a child, I was unable to go in the ocean due to a skin condition, but I made up for lost time throughout my teenage years, spending countless hours bobbing around the North Cornish coast on my trusty bodyboard.
It wasn’t until I was old enough to travel that my passion for surfing and discovering new waves truly took off. Throughout my early 20’s I worked back-to-back surf seasons as an instructor and camp manager in Australia, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Portugal and Panama. This gave me ample opportunity to improve my surfing, whilst also providing me with a foundation of skills in hospitality, operations and management within the surf travel industry. Now based in Portugal, I joined forces with Simon in 2020 to become a partner in Renegade Surf Travel.
Despite now having a young family, I’m still obsessed with chasing waves and look forward to the day my son, Luca, is dropping in on me…
From: Cornwall, UK
Years surfing: 16
Favourite wave: The sand-bottom points of Oaxaca, Mexico
Favourite Surfer: Ethan Ewing
Favourite Manoeuvre: Layback Hack
Likes: When a tricky guiding decision pays off
Dislikes: Taking surfing too seriously
MEET YOUR SURF COACHES
MARK BOYD
THURSO, SCOTLAND
Boydie was the original surf coach for Renegade and is still one of the best surf coaches we’ve had the pleasure of working with. With a backhand attack honed surfing ‘coldwater Nias’ right in front of his house, we suspect he may have spent more time in the tube than the rest of the Renegade team combined…
PEPIJN TIGGES
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS
Growing up surfing windblown slop in the Netherlands and making it onto the QS is no mean feat. Yet surfing bad waves has shaped Pep into the surfer and surf coach he is today, as he has been forced to understand every nuance of our sport in order to achieve his goals. Super patient and adaptable in his coaching style, with one of the smoothest forehand wraps we’ve seen.
SHANNON AINSLIE
JEFFREY’S BAY, SOUTH AFRICA
Shannon grew up in the surfers Mecca of Jefferey’s Bay, yet traded it for frigid perfection in the far north of Norway (and wouldn’t change a thing). He likes to thaw out each year in the Maldives and put his years of experience coaching national teams, Olympic athletes and ISA world games competitors to use, by helping you to become a better surfer.
NIC SPIERS
ENGLAND, UK
Nic first joined a Renegade trip as a guest in 2021, where Dale and Simon instantly recognised his incredible passion for coaching and infectious energy. With a background in high-level snowboarding tuition, Nic brings a super holistic approach to surf coaching and attacks concepts from a fresh and often eye-opening perspective.