Coaches

With an extraordinary career in surf lifesaving and kayaking, Naomi Flood is a six-time Australian Single Ski Champion, World Ironwoman Champion, and World Single Ski Champion. She has also claimed the title of Australian Ironwoman Champion and was crowned the 2009 Iron Series Champion. A two-time Olympian in kayaking, she represented Australia at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Dominating at the state level, she won five consecutive NSW Ironwoman Championships from 2004 to 2009 and is a four-time NSW Surf Race Champion. Her outstanding achievements have earned her a place in both the Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Hall of Fame and the NSW Sport Hall of Champions. Naomi has transferred her wealth of experience and knowledge as an athlete in to her role as Head Coach at BMD Northcliffe.

In 2022 Gavin stepped down as the club's Head Youth Coach to an assistant role and in to semi-retirement. He has been a coach at the club since 2004 which has included both Nippers and Seniors. He has won numerous State, Australian and World Titles.

Gavin can be contacted on 0408 854 771.

Retiring from her competitive career in 2025 as a four-time Australian Ironwoman Champion and six-time Australian Surf Race Champion, Georgia brings an exceptional legacy to our coaching team. Joining us as an Assistant Coach and Junior Swim Coach, she offers a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to the development of our athletes. We are excited to welcome her on board.

Harriet Brown is one of surf lifesaving’s most accomplished athletes, retiring in 2024 after 15 seasons in the Professional Ironwoman Series. A two-time Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Champion, 2022 World Ironwoman Champion, and record-holding 3x Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Champion, she has also captained Australia to World Championship victory. Passionate about mentoring and empowering young women in sport, Harriet now shares her knowledge through coaching, her work as an Exercise Physiologist, and as Co-Founder of KaMana Community, a program supporting female athletes to reach their potential.

Tate Smith joined BMD Northcliffe in 2003 and became one of the sport’s most dominant ski paddlers, winning 14 Australian Titles across Ski and Relay events, including the prestigious Open Male Single Ski in 2006. Beyond surf sports, he represented Australia at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, winning gold in the K4 1000m in London. Now returning to BMD Northcliffe, Tate brings his elite experience and Olympic success to inspire and guide our next generation of athletes.

Shannon Eckstein, widely regarded as the greatest Ironman in surf lifesaving history, dominated the sport for over 20 years with eight Australian Ironman titles, six World Championships, nine Nutri-Grain Series wins, and more than 60 National and World titles across various disciplines. Known as "The Professor" for his tactical brilliance, Shannon set new standards in professionalism and performance. Now returning to BMD Northcliffe as Specialist Iron Coach, he brings his expertise to mentoring the next generation of surf sports athletes.

Paul “Spoon” Wotherspoon has been part of BMD Northcliffe since 1984, rising from a young Nipper to a World Champion board paddler. A standout in the early 2000s, he won the Men's Board Race at the 2002 World Championships and was a key member of three winning Open Men’s Taplin Relay teams. Now serving as Specialist Board Coach, Spoon brings elite experience and deep club knowledge to help the next generation sharpen their board paddling and surf skills.

Brett Robinson is the founder and head coach of Viking Athletics, a Gold Coast-based sprint program known for producing top-level athletes since 2009. A 2x Australian and World Beach Sprint Champion, Brett brings elite experience and a focus on long-term development, technical precision, and strong athlete relationships. His coaching has led to over 100 Australian medals and contributions to high-performance programs for both Australia and New Zealand Life Saving Teams, earning him a reputation for excellence and humility in coaching.

With over 45 years of experience in Life Saving, Mel Jackson brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Head Pool Rescue Coach. She has led BMD Northcliffe to multiple national titles and was instrumental in our 2024 ILS World Championships success. Melinda has coached numerous champions and served in key roles for Queensland and Australian teams.

Damien Clayphan, is one of Australia’s most decorated surf boat athletes and coaches. A record 11-time Australian Champion and ASRL Hall of Fame inductee, he holds the most gold medals as a sweep in Australian history. With 40 national finals appearances, 21 Queensland titles, and international representation for both Queensland and Australia, Damien’s leadership and legacy have left a lasting mark on the sport. We are looking forward to having him lead our Surf Boat Crews for years to come.

Trent Rowe has led Northcliffe’s Surf Rescue Team for over 15 years, guiding them to exceptional success with 25 Australian Championship gold medals and 13 consecutive titles in the Champion Patrol Team event. A Life Member of BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club, Trent is known for his leadership, expertise, and commitment to developing the next generation of lifesavers.

Jake has many successful years as a surf sport athlete under his belt, many of which were under the maroon star cap. After a few seasons coaching nippers at another Gold Coast club, he has returned back to BMD Northcliffe determined to help our nippers be the best they can be. Jake can be contacted on 0439 954 256.

Aaron Morris, the father of the famous Morris brothers, brings a wealth of coaching experience to our club. His firsthand experience and passion for the sport will be invaluable in guiding and inspiring our young nippers.

Chloe Mannix-Power is the club’s Junior Beach Coach. Chloe is current 3 x Australian Female Open beach sprint champion and current female Stawell Gift champion. Chloe is also the Youth Development Coordinator at the club