Stop Guessing. Start Progressing.
The most technical online surf coaching program for intermediate surfers who are ready to break through.
You've been surfing for years.
You're not a beginner. You know how to read a wave, paddle into position, and get to your feet. You've put in the hours.
But somewhere along the way, you stopped improving.
Your turns feel the same as they did two years ago. You watch better surfers and you can see what they're doing. You just can't do it yourself. And the worst part: you don't know exactly why.
You've tried everything.
YouTube videos. Surf coaching apps. Tips from your friends in the lineup. You've read about compression, about driving through your turns, about using your arms. You understand it in theory. But the moment you paddle for a wave, something doesn't connect.
That's not your fault.
The problem is that most surf coaching is either too generic, too technical, or too advanced for where you actually are. No one has taken the time to break it down in a way that truly makes sense.
I've coached hundreds of surfers at this exact level. And almost every single one of them tells me the same thing:
"I feel like I've hit a ceiling. Like I'm not going to get better than this."
I hear it so often, I stopped being surprised by it.
Here's what I know after 20+ years of coaching surfers of all levels, and spending more than half of that time working with children:
If you explain something clearly enough for a ten-year-old to understand it, any adult can master it. The problem isn't that you're not talented enough. The problem is that no one has ever explained it simply enough.
That's what I've spent two decades getting right.
And that's exactly what this academy is built on.
The answer is not more tips.
You don't need another YouTube video. You don't need someone on the beach shouting "bend your knees" while you're already paddling for a wave. You don't need a list of ten things to fix at once.
What you need is a system. One that tells you exactly what to work on, in what order, and why.
After 20+ years of coaching surfers at every level, from complete beginners to athletes ranked top 5 in the world, I've identified the four things that determine how well you surf. Not 20 things. Four.
I call them the 4 Pillars.
Eyes. Compression. Arms. Extension.
Every surfer who is stuck is missing at least one of these. Most are missing two or three, and they don't know which ones, or in what order to fix them.
That's what this academy does.
It gives you an honest assessment of where you are right now. It tells you which Pillar to focus on first. And then it walks you through exactly how to fix it, with drills you can do in the water on your next session.
Not theory. Not inspiration. A clear path from where you are to where you want to be.
The same system I use with elite athletes. Simplified enough that a ten-year-old could follow it.
Because if it's that clear, you will actually do it. And if you actually do it, you will progress.
Eyes & Vision
Your eyes lead your body. Where you look determines where you go, how early you commit to a section, and how clean your turns are. Most surfers are looking in the wrong place and don't know it. This is the first Pillar because nothing else works until this one is locked in.
Compression
Power doesn't come from trying harder. It comes from loading your body at the right moment, then releasing that energy into the turn. When compression is missing, your surfing looks flat even when you're giving it everything. This module shows you what it actually feels like, and how to train it until it's automatic.
Arms & Upper Body
Your arms are not decoration. They drive your rotation, control your balance, and determine whether your turns connect or fall apart in the middle. Most intermediate surfers surf with their arms doing almost nothing. This module changes that completely.
Extension
Most surfers stop their turns too early. The wave still has energy, but they've already straightened out and lost it. This Pillar teaches you how to hold the line through the exit, find speed where you used to lose it, and complete every manoeuvre from start to finish.
Here's exactly what you get inside the ESC Online Academy.
MODULE 0: YOUR SURF BLUEPRINT
Before you start, you need to know where you are.
Most courses throw you straight into content. This one starts with an honest assessment. You film yourself, you go through the 4 Pillars self-assessment, and you leave Module 0 with a personal roadmap: exactly what to focus on and in what order.
No guessing. No generic plan. Yours, based on your actual surfing.
Lessons: How to Film Yourself / 4 Pillars Self-Assessment / Your Personal Surf Roadmap
MODULE 1: EYES & VISION
The foundation everything else is built on.
Your eyes lead your body. Where you look determines where you go, how early you commit to a section, and how clean your turns are. Most surfers are looking in the wrong place, and they don't know it.
This module rewires that. It's the first Pillar because nothing else works properly until this one is locked in.
Lessons: Why Your Eyes Are Holding You Back / Where to Look on the Wave / Eye Training Drills / Eyes in Action
MODULE 2: COMPRESSION
Where power comes from.
Compression is not about crouching lower. It's about loading your body in the right moment so you can release that energy into the turn. When this is missing, your surfing looks flat, even if you're trying hard.
Lessons: What Compression Actually Means / How to Load Your Back Leg / Compression Timing / Compression Drills
MODULE 3: ARMS & UPPER BODY
The connector most surfers ignore.
Your arms are not decoration. They drive your rotation, control your balance, and determine whether your turns connect or fall apart in the middle. Most intermediate surfers surf with their arms doing almost nothing.
Lessons: Why Your Arms Are More Important Than You Think / The Arm Swing / Upper Body Rotation / Arms in Action
MODULE 4: EXTEND THE TURN
Finish what you start.
Most surfers stop their turns too early. The wave still has energy, but they've already straightened out and lost it. This module teaches you how to hold the line through the exit, find speed where you used to lose it, and complete every manoeuvre from start to finish.
Lessons: Why Most Surfers Stop Too Early / How to Hold the Line / Finding Speed at the Exit / Full Manoeuvre Breakdown
MODULE 5: SURF FREE
Put it all together in the water.
The 4 Pillars only work if you can apply them in real waves, under real pressure, reading real sections. This module bridges the gap between drills and free surfing. Includes your 90-day progression plan.
Lessons: Read Waves Through the 4 Pillars / Pre-Session Routine / How to Review Your Own Surfing / 90-Day Progression Plan
MODULE 6: LIVE ANALYSIS LIBRARY
Real students. Real corrections. Real results.
Watch Ivan analyse real student footage, broken down Pillar by Pillar. See what he looks for, what he corrects first, and how the same system applies across different surfers and different breaks. Updated monthly for Academy and Elite members.
Lessons: How to Submit Your Video / Student Analysis: Eyes & Vision / Student Analysis: Compression & Arms / Monthly Live Q&A Session
Hi. I'm Ivan Villalba.
I started surfing in 1991.
My first competition was in 1992. It was a disaster. I did everything wrong, all in one heat.
That day changed everything for me.
Instead of walking away, I became obsessed. I started training six to ten hours a day. Not because someone told me to. Because I needed to understand why I failed, and then fix it, one thing at a time.
I went on to compete for over 15 years on the European circuit. I worked with Billabong for over a decade, managing surf camps and coaching hundreds of kids every summer.
Working with children taught me something that changed how I coach every person who comes through ESC:
If a child can understand it, anyone can.
When you have to explain a backhand bottom turn to a ten-year-old, you can't use technical jargon. You have to make it so simple, so visual, so physical, that it clicks in seconds. That's what I've been doing for over 20 years.
In 2013, the economic crisis hit Spain hard. My corporate role at Billabong ended. I looked around and saw dozens of surf schools in the Canary Islands all doing the same thing: beginner lessons on the beach.
I went a different direction.
High-performance technical coaching was only available to professional athletes. I thought: what if I bring that same level of coaching to the everyday surfer who actually wants to improve?
That year, Elite Surf Coaching was born.
Since then, I've coached from Fuerteventura to Bali, from India to China.
I've worked with athletes ranked top 5 in the world, including Philippa Anderson. I've coached Tim Elter, Paige Hareb, Giada Legati, and national coaches across Asia.
In 2020, I moved to Bali. With no one able to travel, I built out my remote coaching system. What started as necessity became one of the most powerful tools in my coaching: video analysis, done right, from anywhere in the world.
The video is like a mirror.
In a gym, the coach says "lower your squat." You look in the mirror and say, "it's true, I'm not low enough."
Surfing never had that mirror. You feel like you're surfing well, but the camera shows you something else.
That gap between what you feel and what you're actually doing is where most surfers are stuck. For years. That's what this academy closes.
The 4 Pillars you're about to learn are not theories. They are the core of everything I've taught for 20+ years, filtered down to what actually moves the needle for intermediate surfers.
Eyes. Compression. Arms. Extension.
Fix these four things, in order, with the right drills, and you will surf differently. Not eventually. Within weeks.
This academy is the first time I've put everything in one place. If you're ready to stop guessing and start progressing, I'm ready to coach you.
See you inside.
Ivan Villalba
Founder, Elite Surf Coaching
Based in Bali. Coaching since 2002.
COURSE
$297 — one-time payment, lifetime access
The complete 6-module program. Work through it at your own pace, come back to it whenever you need a reminder, and keep it forever.
Includes: all 7 modules, 27 lessons, 4 Pillars self-assessment, personal surf roadmap, 90-day progression plan.
Best for: surfers who want the full system and prefer to work independently.
ACADEMY
$47 per month
Everything in Course, plus the community and monthly coaching that keeps you accountable and progressing.
Includes: full course access, monthly live webinar with Ivan, group video analysis sessions, private community, access to the growing Live Analysis Library.
Start with a 7-day free trial. Cancel any time.
Best for: surfers who want ongoing coaching and connection with others on the same path.
ELITE
$197 per month — minimum 3 months
Limited to 20 spots.
Everything in Academy, plus direct access to Ivan for personal coaching.
Includes: everything in Academy, one monthly 1:1 session with Ivan, personal video analysis of your surfing, direct WhatsApp access.
This is for surfers who are serious about results and want Ivan personally involved in their progression.
When the 20 spots are gone, the waitlist opens.
30-Day Guarantee
Complete Module 0, and if this isn't the right program for you, email me within 30 days for a full refund.
No complicated process. No questions designed to make you give up.
I'm confident in this system because I've seen it work, hundreds of times. And if for any reason it's not right for you, I don't want your money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this for my level?
This program is built for intermediate surfers. You need to be able to get to your feet, ride a wave, and attempt basic turns. If you're a complete beginner, this is not the right starting point. If you're a competitor surfing QS events, you probably need something more specific to your competitive goals. For everyone in between, this is exactly the right system.
How much time do I need per week?
The lessons are 8 to 15 minutes each. But the real work happens in the water. Plan for two to three surf sessions per week where you apply one focused drill from the current module. The more consistent you are in the water, the faster you progress.
What if I don't have good waves near me?
The 4 Pillars work in any conditions. Small waves, big waves, beach break, point break. In fact, small average waves are often the best place to train technique, because you have to generate your own speed and power. Wave quality matters less than you think. Consistency matters more.
How is this different from free content on YouTube?
YouTube gives you information. This academy gives you a system. The difference is structure: you know exactly where you are, what to fix first, and what comes next. You also get a personal assessment in Module 0 that no YouTube channel can give you. Free content is scattered. This is a clear path.
Do I need to film myself?
Yes, and Module 0 shows you exactly how. You don't need special equipment. A phone on a stick or a friend filming from the beach is enough. The video is how you close the gap between what you feel and what you're actually doing. It's the most important tool in this program.
What if I buy and it doesn't work for me?
There's a 30-day guarantee. If you go through Module 0, apply the work for 30 days, and it's not right for you, email me and I'll refund you. Full details in the section above.
You've been surfing long enough to know the difference between a good session and a great one.
You know what it feels like when everything connects. When the wave does exactly what you needed it to do, and your body was already there.
You just want more of that. Consistently. Not by luck.
That's what the 4 Pillars give you.
This is not a course full of inspiration and general advice. It is a technical system, built over 20 years, designed to fix the specific things holding intermediate surfers back.
If you're ready to put in the work, I'm ready to coach you through it.
JOIN THE COURSE - $297