Alex Academy is Alexandra Headland SLSC’s athlete development program, created to give athletes the support, knowledge and opportunities they need to reach their potential.
Built around a holistic approach to development, the Academy brings together coaching, performance, wellbeing, education, mentoring and leadership within one connected athlete pathway.
From developing Nippers through to senior and representative athletes, Alex Academy supports the person behind the performance, helping our athletes grow in confidence and capability, pursue their goals and remain connected to the Club throughout their journey.
Three principles underpin the Alex Academy experience.
Develop as an athlete and a person.
Build physical capability, knowledge, confidence and resilience through quality coaching, education and new experiences.
Pursue your potential.
Set goals. Challenge yourself. Learn from success and setbacks. Access the expertise and support needed to perform at your best.
Be part of something bigger.
Build strong relationships with teammates, coaches and mentors while contributing to the culture and community that makes Alex what it is.
Great athletes are developed through more than training alone. Alex Academy takes a holistic approach to athlete development, bringing together six interconnected areas of support.
Building confidence, skills and a love for the beach.
Developing athletic potential and competitive foundations.
Giving back, inspiring others and shaping the future.
Train smarter. Compete stronger.
Healthy minds. Healthy bodies.
Henry Simpson returns to the Shaw and Partners Iron Series through the Trial, presented by Race One Surf Craft. The Alexandra Headlands local was a member of the 2024 Australian Youth Surf Life Saving Team at the World Champs, claiming a 2nd in the Youth Oceanman, and taking out 3rd place in both the Youth Board Race and the Youth Ski. He also enjoyed a strong showing at the 2024 Aussies, claiming 2nd in the tough U19 Male Iron and the U19 Male Surf Race.
My biggest lesson has been to focus on the process rather than the outcome. It’s easy to get caught up in results and achievements, but I’ve learned that the most important part is the work you put in along the way. Focusing on improving each day, enjoying the journey and trusting that the results will come from the process has helped me become a better athlete and person.
My biggest challenge has been balancing the demands of studying medicine with training and competing at a high level. Both require a lot of time, energy and commitment, so learning how to manage my time and stay disciplined has been essential.
My biggest advice is to persist and keep going. There will be times when you don’t see the results you want, you have a bad performance, or feel like all your hard work isn’t paying off. Don’t let those moments convince you to stop. Keep putting in the work, keep learning, and keep believing in yourself. Stay persistent, trust the process, and the results will follow
Growing up in Coolum, Sunshine Coast local Cooper Williams again makes his return to the Shaw and Partners Iron Series. Originally joining Nippers because his brother Bailey did it, Williams now has an Australian Gold Medal to his name, taking out the Open Male Surf Race on his home stretch of beach. When he’s not training, he works full-time as a carpenter, and is an avid Brisbane Broncos fan.
Learning not to let one result define how I’m going. You can have a great race one week and a disappointing one the next, so I’ve learnt to stay pretty level through both. For me, it’s about being consistent with training, taking something from every race and focusing on the bigger picture rather than getting caught up in one win or loss.
Juggling working full time as a carpenter and fitting in all my training and recovery is a huge challenge.
Be consistent with training and the results will eventually come. Enjoy being out in the surf and catching waves.
Emma Woods is a professional Ironwoman, surf lifesaving athlete and Clinical Nurse who balances a demanding healthcare career with competing at the highest level of the sport. Competing across swim, board and ski, she has built her career on resilience, consistency and a genuine passion for challenging herself.
Outside sport and nursing, Emma enjoys travelling and experiencing new places. When the season ends, she often heads overseas, trading training sessions for new adventures before preparing for the next season.
Emma has competed at major state and national-level events and represented Australia, reaching finals across swim, board and Ironwoman events. Her career has included multiple wins and podium finishes, as well as the injuries and setbacks that accompany elite competition. Balancing shift work with training and racing has strengthened her discipline, time management and ability to perform under pressure.
Consistency matters more than perfection. Not every training session or race will be your best, but continuing to show up, learn and improve is what drives long-term progress.
Balancing elite sport, shift work and everyday life. Learning to manage disappointment, pressure and races that do not go to plan has taught Emma to remain patient, trust the process and keep moving forward.
Enjoy the process and do not let results define you. Every athlete’s journey is different, so avoid comparing yourself with others. Work hard, listen to your coaches, embrace mistakes and, above all, continue to enjoy the sport. Passion and persistence will take you further than talent alone.
Growing up in Sunrise Beach, Campbell Asher spent most of his time surfing. With a dream of becoming a professional surfer one day, Asher made the pivot to surf sports, and found lots of success in his home state of Victoria. In 2022, Asher took out the U17 and Open Ironman races at the Victoria State Championships, becoming the youngest Open Ironman in State history. He then made the move north to the Sunshine Coast, and under the tutelage of Jack Hansen at Alexandra Headland SLSC, made the Australian Final in the U19 Ironman before qualifying for the 2025/26 Shaw and Partners Iron Series.
Enjoy the process - if you can come to every session and enjoy your time with your friends it’s only a matter of time until you succeed. Consistently turning up and having fun will do better than burning out or being overworked.
Less is more - finding a balance between training and outside life is crucial to success. I used to live and breathe this sport but taking a step back to find balance in my life and enjoy everything outside of the water has been the key
Have fun and keep swimming - I wish I swam more growing up so if you want a step up, that’s what you can do.
Victorian local, Mia Cook, moved to Alexandra Headland SLSC after starting her surf lifesaving journey at Warrnambool SLSC. The 19-year-old made the move up to sunny Queensland after completing her final Year 12 exam. Cook fought her way into her debut Shaw and Partners Iron Series through the Trial, presented by Race One Surf Craft, and continued on to earn automatic requalification to the 2025/26 competition. Away from the surf, Cook is studying physiotherapy at university.
My biggest lesson has been learning to not compare myself to others and to trust the process. Moving states, balancing uni, training and everything that comes with being a busy athlete has taught me the importance of being adaptable and making the most of the time and opportunities I have. I’ve learnt that consistency, enjoying the process and surrounding yourself with good people are just as important as the results.
My biggest challenge has been trying to find a healthy balance between the intense training load of being a surf ironwoman, full time uni student and working.
My advice to younger athletes is to enjoy the process and embrace your own journey. Everyone’s development is different, so focus on doing what you love, staying consistent and enjoying the experience!
Brayden, originally from Warrnambool, Victoria started nippers at seven and grew up playing AFL before deciding at 15 to focus fully on surf sports. Since then, hes competed in two professional series, achieved an Australian Open and U19 board race podium, and won multiple Australian titles with Alexandra Headland SLSC. When he’s not training or racing, he works as a full-time accountant. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, watching all types of live sport and spending time outdoors with mates.
My biggest lesson is that good training doesn’t always guarantee good results. Racing under pressure, learning from mistakes and staying composed when things don’t go to plan are just as important. The setbacks I’ve experienced have ultimately helped me become a more consistent and resilient athlete.
My biggest challenge is balancing full-time work with training twice a day at the level required of a professional athlete, while also keeping up with the demands of everyday life.
Find something you’re passionate about. Doing something you love makes the early mornings, hard training and setbacks much easier. Surf sports has so many different disciplines and is a great community, so try different things, enjoy the process and don’t be afraid of setbacks, they’re often where you learn the most.
My biggest lesson has been learning to understand that success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.
My biggest challenge as an athlete has been learning to meet setbacks with patience and resilience.
Trust the process, enjoy the journey and never forget the joy that made you start.
Whether you’re an athlete looking to take the next step, a parent exploring future opportunities, an experienced member ready to mentor others or an organisation interested in supporting athlete development, there is a place for you within Alex Academy.
Thank you to every sponsor and partner who helps keep our beaches safe and our community strong. None of this happens without you.
Alex Academy is Alexandra Headland SLSC’s athlete development and high-performance pathway, supporting members to reach their potential in surf sports and beyond. Built around GROW. EXCEL. BELONG. and our WIN. WELL. philosophy, the Academy brings together coaching, performance, wellbeing, education, leadership and mentoring to develop successful athletes, confident people and lifelong contributors to our Club.
Alex Academy is designed to support members across every stage of their journey at Alexandra Headland SLSC.
The broader Academy pathway connects Nippers, youth and developing athletes through to high-performance competitors, coaches, officials, mentors, volunteers and Club leaders, creating opportunities to grow, contribute and stay connected to Alex for the long term.
No. High performance is one part of Alex Academy, not the whole story.
The Academy provides a progressive pathway from Tier 3 Rising, through Tier 2 Performance and Tier 1 Elite, with Legacy recognising those who continue to mentor, lead and contribute to the Club.
This means athletes can access development opportunities relevant to where they are now, while seeing a clear pathway for where they could go next.
The Alex Academy pathway begins with Nippers and continues through youth, performance and high-performance surf sports, with opportunities to remain involved through leadership, mentoring and lifelong Club contribution.
There is no single starting age. The pathway is designed to support members at different ages and stages of their development.
Nippers are the foundation of the Alex Academy pathway.
Through development clinics, positive role models and greater visibility of the surf sports pathway ahead, young members can build skills and confidence while developing a strong sense of belonging at Alex.
As Nippers progress, the Academy creates a clearer connection into youth development, surf sports training and future performance opportunities.
Alex Academy takes a whole-athlete approach to development, recognising that performing well starts with being well.
Support may include specialist workshops in sports psychology, nutrition, recovery, leadership and wellbeing, alongside group education, mentoring and development opportunities. Higher-tier athletes may also receive individual performance planning and additional support, while the Alex Academy Resource Hub will provide members with access to relevant education and wellbeing resources.
Core Alex Academy access is included as part of Club membership.
Depending on their Academy tier and available Club resources, selected athletes may also have access to additional support or subsidies, such as swim support and priority services. Any specialist services, competition or travel assistance will be subject to eligibility, selection and available funding.
Alex Academy tier placement and eligibility are reviewed annually by Alexandra Headland SLSC.
Selection considers a combination of competition performance, development potential, attendance, conduct and commitment to Club and patrol responsibilities, as well as available Academy resources.
Placement is not automatic and reflects both athlete development and contribution to the wider Alex community.
Yes. Progression is a key part of Alex Academy.
Athletes can progress from Tier 3 Rising through Tier 2 Performance and Tier 1 Elite as their skills, performance and contribution develop and selection criteria are met.
Beyond competition, the Legacy pathway provides opportunities for members to share their experience through mentoring, coaching, leadership and continued contribution to Alexandra Headland SLSC.
At Alex, the pathway doesn’t have to end when competition does.
For questions about Alex Academy, athlete pathways, eligibility or getting involved, contact the Alex Academy team at alexacademy@alexsurfclub.com.au.
