About Ticket to Ride

WILL HAYLER - FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

Will is never one to stay quiet. He finds silence awkward and dislikes standing still. To counter this he is always talking and usually on the move. He lives life to it’s fullest with surfing, skiing and snowboarding as his central focus for getting out there and seeing the world. Having a story to tell is what drives Will and the Ticket to Ride Group forwards.

 

LINLEY LEWIS - FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR

It all started on a chairlift back in 2002, where the 10 week South Africa trip concept was conceived. The idea was to create the ultimate surf trip which combined community work, travel and would fast track people's surfing ability all at the same time. Since then it’s taken many different shapes and form, and Linley still has a very hands on role leading the team. The journey is just getting started, and rest assured, he'll be right behind each corner that it takes!

 

 

REBECCA HAYWOOD - BOOKINGS MANAGER

Rebecca is a keen cyclist of the leisure not lycra fraternity. After living in the fast lane in London, Rebecca & family moved to Exmouth, Devon for a life by the beach where Rebecca founded the boutique bicycle shop, Bikelands. Family time is spent exploring Devon in their camper van with their bikes on the back and wetsuits at the ready for some boogie boarding (Rebecca hopes to progress to a spot of surfing with Ticket To Ride).

 

ANNA ROSS - SNOW PRODUCT MANAGER

Anna has been skiing and snowboarding since she was 7 and came to Ticket To Ride following four ski seasons in total, including two in Meribel, alongside travelling and working abroad. Now she’s back in her home turf of Devon in the Head Office, she makes sure the all ski trips and courses run smoothly and is THE link between the office and each resort. She loves a good spreadsheet to keep things in order and is a great person to speak to about anything snow-related and how to land your dream job as an instructor afterwards. 

BEN BRYON-EDMOND 

Local Devon boy Ben makes sure we can keep running our quality trips all around the world. Like a lot of the team, Ben loves surfing and gets down to the local South West spots whenever he gets the chance. He is also a keen rower and competes regularly in regattas and competitions nationwide.

 

 

ANTHONY DANN - SURF & SNOW SALES

Anthony started his Ticket To Ride journey, like so many others, on the South Africa adventure in 2011. He then put his surf instructor qualification to good use teaching in Cornwall. After a stint working on Bondi Beach in Australia, he decided to migrate to sunny Exeter to work in our sales and business development team. A keen surfer and skier, Anthony is a great person to speak to about any of our courses or trips.

 

 

CHRIS HUTCHINGS 

Chris may be the youngest member of the Head Office team, but he always has his head in the game. Part of the logistics and development team, Chris has a great eye for detail to make sure all trips run smoothly! Since starting at TTR Chris is taking full advantage of the sports we offer, learning to surf last summer and ski this winter!

 

 

 

MAX HEPWORTH-POVEY - MASTER OF STOKE

Max has created a life where work and leisure seamlessly blend. Nothing is a problem, there are no big deals and nothing is unattainable. Max has forged friendships around the World, from Spain to Sri Lanka and everywhere in-between, due to a need of having to return as often as possible to every place he’s ever been to. These real friendships, make for some seriously epic Ticket to Ride trips... As well as running trips, Max is an integral part of the Ticket to Ride Group Marketing Team as well as a fully qualified Yoga Teacher, constantly spreading the positive vibrations throughout the company, earning him the Job Title; Master of Stoke. But be warned, if you get caught up in a round of drinks with Max, you better be ready for a good time and a late night... 

 

CHRIS BOND - OPERATIONS MANAGER

Chris has been with Ticket to Ride from the start, helping run the first South Africa trip back in 2006. Since then he has run the Mozambique, Costa Rica, Spain and France trips, and set up and runs our Indonesia trips. Chris is our Operations man, but over the years has been involved with every side of the business, so if you have a question about the trips he’ll most likely know the answer! Based in Cape Town, Chris also happens to be the South African junior team surfing coach and when he’s not working or coaching you’ll find him chasing down barrels on the Cape Peninsula. Mellow on land, he’s a frother in the water! 

CHAD SCHWAB - INTERNATIONAL VIBE CREATOR

Chad moved from Durban to Cape Town 5 years ago and got involved with Ticket to Ride as a trip leader on our popular South Africa surf courses guiding groups up the East Coast and is now flying around the world spreading positive vibes on trips from Spain to the Philippines and everywhere inbetween. Although Chad is the height of the average South African woman, he certainly make ups for it in personality and the capacity for inventive thought! He very much lives for the ocean, growing a beard, and boxing for fitness. If you don't find him surfing the hollow waves of the Atlantic, you're sure to find him going a few rounds in the boxing ring. 

JARRED VELDHUIS - TRIP LEADER

Jarred is one of South Africa’s top surfers, and his passion for surfing shines through in his coaching. His energy and enthusiasm is second to none in the water. He could happily surf all day long, and any question you have about surfing he’ll know the answer to, or just watch and learn. Jarred competes regularly in South Africa and is going to be competing on the WQS in all the South Africa events to follow his dream.

 

 

LUKE GELDENHUYS - TRIP LEADER

Luke has taken on his role as the main SA Trip Leader with aplomb. He knows the trip, coastline and conditions like the back of his hand and always makes sure the group are scoring the best waves whilst getting all the other activities done along the way. His photography skills and video editing improved rapidly on the trips and he is now making amazing video blogs along the way, just take a look on our Youtube channel or the South Africa and Mozambique blogs to get inspired! With a love for sports and surfing Luke is always up early and frothing to get in the water, if there aren’t waves he’ll be amped to train and push your fitness on the trip. 

ETIENNE VENTER - ISA LEVEL 2 SURF COACH, NATIONAL SA COACH

What better place to live than the famous Jeffreys Bay when it comes to surfing? Etienne lives, sleeps and breathes surfing whether he's catching a wave or out coaching. He has brought up some of the most talented young surfers in South Africa, straight from local townships. In 2013 he coached the South African National Team to Gold at the ISA World Surfing Games, amongst many other achievements.

 

 

JOHN HENRY - SURF COACH AND BIG WAVE SURFER

Having grown up on the icy Atlantic waters of Llandudno, John moved to warmer waters in the quiet town of Plett in sunny South Africa. With Jeffreys Bay only a two hour drive up the road, as well as some secret big wave spots in the nearby area, John hit the surfing jackpot and along with his partner Donna make a superb coaching team. Listen well to them both as you'll learn a lot about the ocean, as well as how to make the best of the waves on offer every day. 

DEON WOODLEY - MASTER LIFEGUARD

Deon Woodley and the Durban beachfront are synonymous with each other. When it comes to the beach, lifesaving and the ocean, Deon is your go-to man. His depth of knowledge as well as passion for lifesaving, makes him one of the most interesting people on our trips.

 

 

THE PALMBOOMS - PRO SURFERS AND ANSTEYS HOSTS

We'd just like to take a moment to introduce South African surf legend Rudy Palmboom and his family as they represent the past and bright future of South African surfing. Rudy was one of the original chargers at Cave Rock and has made a reputation for himself as a fearless surfer, who will take on anything the ocean can throw at him. He was even one of the few guests to be invited to the International Red Bull Big Wave Africa event held at Dungeons. Rudy's son on the other hand, Rudy Junior, was one of South Africa's top juniors who battled it out with Jordy Smith and is now a professional surfer and coach in California. While Rudy's daughter Heidi is one of South Africa's top young female surfers and a former South African champion. She runs Heidi's cafe at the backpackers, so you'll no doubt enjoy her tasty cooking and delicious coffees every day while you're staying there. The surfing blood runs thick in their family, so revel in all things surf-related at this very special backpackers, packed with surf paraphernalia, including surfboards, surf posters and a little surf shop. With Ansteys quality and consistent waves just on their doorstep, it's easy to see how Rudy and his family are at the very top of the proverbial surfing tree in South Africa. 

DAVE MALHERBE - ISA LEVEL 2 SURF COACH

Dave is one of South Africa's most successful competitive surfers and his list of achievements is endless. His enthusiasm for the sport and vast coaching experience, recently being selected as the SA Junior team coach, will rub off on every surfer lucky enough to spend time at his surf camp. Dave was drawn to Transkei, located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa just outside East London, by stories of epic empty waves and a traditional society that embraces a slower pace of life. 

NIKITA ROBB - COACH AND FORMER WOMENS WORLD TOUR SURFER

Growing up with the boys in East London means that Nikita can hold her own in the water on any given day. The numerous point break rights up there have gifted her a mean backhand attack, but she's comfortable on any board, whatever the wave condition. She doesn't take any prisoners with her coaching style and if she says jump, your answer better be how high? Other than that, she's a big fan of penguins.

 

 

RYAN RIBBINK - SURF EXPLORER

Growing up on the Bluff, Ryan 'Bink' Ribbink learned two things from his old man - how to surf and how to box. Bink knew all about the surfing gems in Mozambique before pretty much anyone else and has a 4x4, a boat and plenty of surfing secrets up his sleeve to make the most of its waves. He loves big barrels and has been known to put on a contest vest from time to time and destroy his opposition.

 

 

ANDREW MANUEL - RESORT MANAGER

Our resident Canadian has been working as a snowboard instructor for the Lake Louise Ski School in Banff since 2006. Since then he has climbed the ranks to become one of their instructor trainers, joining the Ticket to Ride team in 2012 and stacking up his list of qualifications. He has achieved his CASI level 3 and is an Examiner for the CASI Level 1, 2 and Park courses. He is also a performance coach for young, up and coming freestyle athletes and was awarded the CASI Regional Evaluator of the Year in 2016. Andrew has been doing back to back winters in the southern hemisphere and is currently the head coach for the Mt. Ruapehu snowboard program in New Zealand, along with being our New Zealand resort manager as well.