ABOUT US :

''Crikey! What was that?'' --- It's a question you'll be asking when you meet the man they call "the Steve Irwin of learn-to-surf''.

Kool Katz owner Terry (aka Tezza) Hannon is Byron Bay's original and best surf tour operator. He has surfed for more than 30 years and instructed and guided for 15 years.

He is a respected captain of the learn-to-surf industry, having taught his beginner surfing techniques to literally tens of thousands of children, backpackers and holiday makers. His methods are those used by his professional team of accredited and sponsored surf instructors.

Tezza's unstinting devotion and professionalism have earned him worldwide recognition. He has been featured on Ian Wright's Lonely Planet doco ``The Longest Journey'' and more recently he stole the stage of a popular Swedish travel show, ''Near & Far''. The choice to promote the new 2003 series using footage of Tezza Downunder elevated him to star status in Sweden and triggered an unlikely cult following.

But all this attention is not just for the wild mop of blonde hair. Those of you who dubbed Tezza ``the Steve Irwin of learn-to-surf'' recognised in him the same star-like qualities of the world's favourite Crocodile Hunter: his relentless energy, unbounding enthusiasm and good-humoured Aussie larrikinism.

(Yet still ... how many of you told us he is the walking double of Gerard Depardieu, the spitting image of Nick Nolte and the living understudy of Jeff Daniels?)

Regardless of whom he reminds you ... and all jokes aside ... Tezza is 110% commited to providing a safe, inexpensive, fun and successful surfing environment for everyone who wants to learn.

He loves what he does ... and it shows.

Meet our Coaching Team

TIM WOOD is the musical force of our talented trio. The singer/songwriter grew up surfing Sydney's northern beaches from an early age, but moved to Byron in the early 90's to pursue his music and surfing passions. A LEVEL 1 surf coach, he has been coaching beginners between musical commitments and form work contracts since 1997. He is father of James Wood, the current world junior champion and Billabong team member.

At 25 LUKE ARCHIBALD is the youngest member of our coaching team, but by no means the least proficient when it comes to surfing. Ranked 5th in Victoria, Luke, takes a serious attitude to competitive surfing and has a host of sponsorships as a result. Luke got his grounding as a surf coach on Phillip Island in Victoria before moving to Byron in 2004 to join the Kool Katz team. He is a LEVEL 1 surf coach and an amateur boxer in his spare time.

"We're not tripping --- we'll get you ripping! ''