About Nick Thorn

With over 20 years experience as a lifeguard and surf coach, Nick Thorn runs his own surf school in North Devon and personally teaches lifeguard and surf instructor qualifications. Nick’s company is a full Lifeguard Training Centre and Surfing England Accredited level 4 Surf Accredited School. As one of the county’s highest quallified trainer assessors, Nick is certainly the most decorated waterman in the UK, having trained and competed against top lifeguards and coaches worldwide. His achievements in and out of competition are testament to his determination and love for the ocean.

Locally, Nick Thorn has been the first to achieve many challenges, raising thousand of pounds for charity. He is the only person to have swum single-handed from Lundy Island to Woolacombe in aid of Children’s Hospice South West. To date he is the only person to paddle from Lundy Island to Woolacombe as well as paddling alone from Hartland to Lundy to Croyde in over 25ft swell.

Nick’s lifetime achievements are a long list of wows, briefly he has amassed more than his body weight in medals.

Having swum for England three times, Nick was;

  • European Surf Iron Man Champ x3
  • European Surf Race Champion x2
  • European Board race champion x2
  • Winner of Wollongong Best Lifeguard x3
  • Finalist in the Australian Nationals Surf and Board race x3
  • Ranked 3rd in the World for Surf Iron Man 2001
  • Rep Great Britain Surf Lifesaving x6
  • Won multi Island Races in Hawaii
  • British SLS Surf Iron Man Champ x9
  • British SLS Surf Race Champ x13
  • British SLS Board Race Champ x13

In 2008, Nick provided training for local candidates to qualify for the first ever lifeguard service in the British Virgin Islands. “I have always used my previous knowledge and water skills in order to teach, coach, and promote others in courses, skills and life experiences.”
To further enable him to better transfer his many different water skills to others, Nick continually updates his multi skills teaching qualifications enhancing his professional development, whilst still dabbling in masters competition.

PTTLS (Teaching qualification)

  • Coaching Course for Disabled and Deprived Children
  • Trainer Assessor and examiner for SLGB (Surf Lifesaving Great Britain).
  • Lifeguard training center
  • SLSGB beach lifeguardWSA (Water Skills Academy)
  • Trainer/Assessor/Examiner.
  • ASA (Amateur Swimming Association Swim Coach) swimming teacher.

Level 4 Masters Surf Coach-Surfing England

  • SLSGB Level 2 Coach
  • SLSGB Coasteer Trainer/Assessor.
  • SLSGB Inland Water Safety Awareness Trainer/Assessor
  • SLSGB Specialist module assessor
  • SLSGB Event Safety Manager
  • Qual Safe First Aid Trainer Assessor
  • PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in Lifelong Learning Sector).
  • Sports Coach UK Child Protection Level 2
  • Sports Coach UK Advanced Coach Level 2
  • Active Devon Child Protection
  • Child Protection and Safeguarding 20/2/18

Level 2 Multi Sports Leader – Active Devon

  • Surf coaching for the Deaf, Blind and Learning Difficulties- Old BSA days.
  • Inspector for AALS adventure activities licensing service – inspector.

No stranger to raising awareness, Nick Thorn has over the years utilised his formidable prowess to champion, amongst others, these local causes and charities;

  • 2004 – 22 Miles Solo Open Ocean Board Paddle
  • 2010 – 22 Miles Solo Open Ocean Swim
  • 2011 – 38 Miles Solo Open Ocean Board Paddle
  • 2011 – 25 Miles English Channel Open Ocean Board Paddle

Raising over 15K for Children’s Hospice South West

  • £750 Woolacombe Board Riders
  • £1500 Woolacombe Surf Life Saving club