The Dawn Surf Co. Story

“The night is darkest just before the dawn.”
—Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight

This line hit home for me—and ended up inspiring the name Dawn Surf Co.

It also happens to be the name of my favourite thing in surfing: the “Dawnie.”
You wake up before sunrise, have your coffee and brekkie, jump in the car, get suited up, and paddle out just as the first light breaks over the ocean.

Then you surf.
One hour? Two? Three?
Wave after wave, with the entire beach to yourself.
You surf until your arms are cooked, your soul is buzzing, and you walk up the beach just as the crowds arrive—wearing a big grin they can’t quite explain. That’s the magic.

From Engineer to Surf Coach

Hi, I’m Henry, I was born to an Aussie mum and a Yorkshire dad, and raised in the most inland town in England. Surfing, to me, was something that happened in a far-off dreamland.

I followed the script:

• Studied hard

• Went to uni

• Got into snowboarding and surfing at uni

• Won a few gold medals in snowboarding and got qualified as an instructor

• Lifeguarded for 6 years

• Landed the “good job”

I worked as an engineer for 10 years, finishing as Lead Durability & Certification Engineer for an automotive consultancy on the Surf Coast. I led a team of 12, testing modified vehicles for the Aussie market. It sounded like a dream job—and for a while, it was.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, my dad was beginning his battle with cancer. I left the job to help care for him. Six months later, after his passing, I came back to Torquay.

The Turning Point

I had some savings, so I took time off. I surfed. I studied. I tried to recover from what had been a brutal couple of years.

Then one day, a friend asked me for a surf lesson. That was the moment everything changed.

I loved it. So I got certified—thinking I’d just pick up a few shifts at a local school while I figured out my next move.

But reality hit fast.

I walked into a local surf school and quickly realised something was off. It didn’t align with the return to work I had in mind.

So I did what I do best: ran the numbers, mapped it out, and yes… asked ChatGPT for a second opinion.

And Just Like That… Dawn Surf Co. Was Born

Premium adult surf lessons.

Small classes.
Scenic beaches.
Organised and good vibes.

That’s the vision. And it’s already happening.

Welcome to Dawn Surf Co.

What Makes Dawn Surf Co. Different?

Go to the main beach in any surf town during summer and you’ll see the same thing:
A teenage instructor (maybe with an assistant) leading a class of 8 students per coach. They’ll quickly run through safety and pop-up basics, then walk everyone into waist-deep water, push students into waves, yell “Yew!”—and that’s your lesson.

They’ll do that all day, every day, on the same beach—rain, hail, or shine.

Then what happens?
You come back the next day to rent a board and wetsuit, only to find the beach packed with yesterday’s students. It’s chaos—foam boards, screaming kids, flailing arms—and suddenly that magical memory of gliding across your first wave gets swallowed up in frustration… or worse, danger.

There’s a Better Way

That’s where Dawn Surf Co. comes in.

• We do offer the one-off “Yew and Shaka” lesson. The Dawn difference? We don’t stop there.

• We don’t pack classes with too many students.

• And we don’t teach on the most crowded tourist beach in town.

Why? Because it’s not just bad for learning, boring for us but it’s unsafe.

Surf Lessons, Reimagined

We’ve taken inspiration from European ski schools. At Dawn, your surf journey is treated like a week-long course, not a one-off thrill ride. Here's what you get:

• Your own surfboard and wetsuit for the week

• A changing towel

• A bucket to store your gear

• Five progressive surf lessons across five days

• Cafe-based theory sessions

• Access to quieter, more suitable beaches chosen daily based on conditions

• Photos to remember us by, and to share with your followers

And yes, we’ll even introduce you to some of the best local cafés during our theory sessions. We believe Australia’s cafe culture is part of the magic, and we want to share it with you.

Designed to Set You Up for Life

Our goal? To get you catching green waves—not just standing up in the whitewater.

By the end of your week, you’ll walk away with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to continue your surf journey on your own. We’ll even give you a buying guide to help avoid the most common beginner mistakes (because yes, in surfing, the poor man buys twice… or thrice).

This is surf coaching done properly. This is Dawn Surf Co.

Book your lesson with us today!