About Noosa Surfing Academy

Built on generations of surfing, service and local knowledge

Noosa Surfing Academy was founded by former professional surfer and lifelong Noosa local, Dean Brady.

The academy is a proudly local business, built on deep roots in the Noosa community and a family history spanning over 100 years of involvement in surfing and surf lifesaving.

Dean’s family has played a significant role in shaping the local surf culture. His great-uncle, Maurice Cave, was the inaugural President of the Sunshine Beach Surf Club in 1946, while his grandfather, Phil Cave, was a Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club Life Member, Olympic Torchbearer at the 1956 Melbourne Games, and a Noosa Councillor.

A Lifetime in the Ocean

Born in Noosa in 1986 and raised at Sunrise Beach, Dean grew up in the ocean.

He joined Noosa Heads Nippers at age 7 and Noosa Boardriders at 10, beginning a lifelong connection to surfing and the local coastline.

Professional Surfing Career

After graduating High School in 2003 having won Queensland and National Junior Surfing Titles, Dean was made an offer by Australia’s leading surf company Rip Curl to join their International Team, travelling the world on “The Search”, the long-running marketing and imagery campaign that has propelled Rip Curl onto the world stage. For the next decade, he was able to travel the world in the pursuit of perfect waves, which was both an important experiential learning curve and a solid training regime for Dean’s future coaching.

While focusing on free surfing in his career as a professional athlete, Dean has competed at the highest level against the likes of Kelly Slater and Owen Wright, appeared on numerous surfing magazine covers, and in 2011 was nominated for the ‘Wave of the Hawaiian Winter’ for his performance at Pipeline.

From Professional Surfer to Coach

Following on from his surfing career, Dean spent over eight years coaching surfers in Noosa and internationally before founding Noosa Surfing Academy in 2020.

Today, he leads a structured coaching program focused on long-term development — helping surfers progress from their first waves through to advanced performance.

Community Involvement

Dean remains deeply involved in the local surfing community.

• Ambassador for the Noosa World Surfing Reserve

• Member of the Stewardship Council

• Vice President of Noosa Boardriders Club

This ongoing involvement ensures Noosa Surfing Academy remains connected, informed and committed to the future of surfing in the region.