Inspire Me Now: Josh Wedgwood

🌟 Inspire Me Now: Josh Wedgwood Written by his coach, Jacko

🏆 From Coastlines to Podiums: 

The Rise of a Surf Kayaker

In late March 2025, Josh Wedgwood delivered an outstanding performance to win the HP Surf Open at the 34th Santa Cruz Paddlefest — one of the most iconic and fiercely contested events in the surf kayaking world. Held at Steamer Lane, a legendary California break, the event draws top athletes from around the globe — and this year, Josh stood right at the top of the podium.

But while the result is huge, this is less a story about one competition and more about the intentional, athlete-led process that’s been unfolding behind the scenes. From a coaching perspective, this win reflects the culmination of a thoughtful, data-informed, and deeply human approach to performance.

Athlete-Driven, Coach-Supported 

Josh and I first worked together when he was just 14, and even back then, it was clear he was a sharp mind with serious potential. Now a full-time aircraft engineer and a committed surf kayaker, Josh brings an analytical brain and a deep passion to everything he does.

Over the past year, we’ve rebuilt our partnership — one that blends video analysis, live calls, shared tools, and raw voice reflections sent straight from the car after sessions. Using this data, we’ve developed performance heuristics called "Themes" — one-line cues that guide his mindset, structure his rides, and keep his self-talk focused.

A Coachable Brain 

Josh doesn’t just want coaching — he wants systems. He tracks patterns, reflects honestly, and offers detailed technical insights. It’s a joy to coach someone so engaged in the process. Our dialogue spans tech, psychology, flow, tactics — and it’s shaped how I coach him.

Coaching Beyond Discipline 

Surf kayaking isn’t my personal discipline. And that’s why this works. This has never been about me teaching Josh how to surf kayak — it’s about creating the conditions for excellence. That means emotional awareness, clarity of thought, deep accountability, and designing a process that fits the athlete.

Josh’s story is a brilliant example of a new type of coaching model — one that’s not always about expertise in the exact sport, but rather expertise in high performance, behaviour, and systems.

The Journey Continues 

Josh’s victory in Santa Cruz is just one chapter. With sights now set on future competitions and a growing mastery of the waves, he’s showing what happens when curiosity, structure, and intelligent coaching align. And I have no doubt — this is just the beginning.