The time spent standing and riding a wave is precious. While ocean surfing, that ride time is just a tiny fraction of your session. Wave pools increase the ride time, and up your muscle memory training hours. But most of us can’t surf a wave pool everyday, all those little things like work, life, family get in the way. However, training your body on dry land is a great way to improve.
Sebastian Jimenez is positioned perfectly at the confluence of coaching, skating, surfing and wave pools through the Surf Skate Academy at Lost Shore.
Eight years ago, he moved to Scotland and quickly encountered a nascent wave pool development in Edinburgh. Already familiar with some wave technology, he recognized the project’s potential. An early meeting with Andy Hadden, the project’s founder, proved pivotal. Sebastian brought not only years of coaching experience but also a coaching-focused business proposal to Lost Shore.
Professional Background and Experience
Sebastian’s professional background spans more than 20 years in the surf and skate industries. He began bodyboarding at a young age in Uruguay and later focused intensely on skateboarding. By 18, he had secured sponsorships from brands then transitioned to surfing. He worked as a lifeguard, in surf retail, and as a coach. This combination of competitive experience, safety training, retail insight, and product development laid the groundwork for his later roles at Lost Shore and in founding the Surf Skate Academy.
Origin of the Surf Skate Academy
Five years ago he launched the Surf Skate Academy. The program was created in response to the limited consistency of natural waves in Scotland. Sebastian’s background in both professional skateboarding and surf coaching built the curriculum. His approach emphasizes biomechanics, body coordination, and repetition-based learning.
“I always knew that surf skate training could be amazing to learn and train your surfing, even more for the flat days,” he said.”I thought it was a perfect combination to help people in places where waves are not consistent—to understand biomechanics and then train and create muscle memory.”
Methodology and Training Approach
The academy’s methodology breaks down movement into four components: upper body, lower body, left side, and right side. Lessons are conducted on land to offer clearer visibility and control, allowing for technique refinement in a controlled environment.
“It’s like a puzzle where we put all the pieces together,” he said. “It’s not actual surfing—it will never replace it—but it helps people understand biomechanics. And after they understand that it’s the training, that it’s the repetition, the muscle memory and the magic goes in the water.”
Sebastian noted that long-time surfers also benefit from the program. He’s seen people who have been surfing for years but keep making the same errors. When they hit this ceiling, he says surf skate can really help.
Target Audience and Engagement
The program’s integration with Lost Shore Resort has allowed it to become a touchpoint for guests new to the sport.
According to Sebastian, the academy primarily attracts beginners and intermediate surfers. Many clients are trying the sport for the first time and may not have considered surfing due to geographic or climatic limitations.
“Mostly ladies, beginners, and intermediate surfers. That’s the majority,” he said. “They start with me and end up loving it. When people see the benefits and realize there’s a proper methodology behind it—not just fun on a skateboard—it changes their point of view.”
Cultural Context and Integration
The Surf Skate Academy operates as part of the broader offering at Lost Shore Resort, a surf park located near Edinburgh. Sebastian noted that Scotland’s surf scene is active but developing. “Surf culture in Scotland is big and has been around a long time, but it’s still kind of young and it’s growing a lot.”
His own experiences surfing various locations across the country—from Thurso to unnamed East Coast breaks—inform the program’s local relevance.
Through the Surf Skate Academy, Lost Shore Resort supports surf education and access in a region not typically known for consistent waves. The academy offers foundational technique training and biomechanical awareness to new and experienced surfers alike. As interest in artificial wave surfing and surf skate training in Scotland grows, the program continues to expand its reach and refine its methods.
