THE MAKING OF TEN TOES

I was born in Kenya and grew up between Africa and the UK, where I first learned to surf while washing wetsuits at a small surf school in North Cornwall. What began as a summer job became a lifelong pursuit that’s taken me around the world — coaching, filming, and studying the craft of surf progression.

A defining chapter of that journey was my time at Surf Simply, where I was introduced to a level of structure, precision, and technical coaching that completely reshaped how I viewed surfing. Those lessons became the foundation of what would later evolve into Ten Toes Surf.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of surf coaching across the globe — from Europe and Central America to Asia and beyond — each coastline adding a new perspective to how people learn, move, and connect with the ocean. Alongside that, I completed an MSc in Tourism Development and Policy, which deepened my understanding of how meaningful experiences and sustainable growth can coexist within the travel and surf industries.

After seeing how inconsistent most surf instruction could be, I wanted to build something that made expert-level coaching more accessible — a system that’s clear, measurable, and personal.

That vision became the Ten Toes Methodology, designed to help surfers of every level progress with purpose, confidence, and understanding. Because surfing isn’t just about waves — it’s about growth, connection, and feeling genuinely proud of your progress.

Tommy Potterton - Founder of Ten Toes