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Surf Performance & Coaching Data Lead (M/F/D)
About TRAX
TRAX is building a new way to understand and improve human performance in surfing.
We combine hardware, software, and data to help surfers understand what is actually happening in a session, and how to improve. Our system sits at the intersection of board-mounted motion sensing, pressure-based measurement, video capture, mobile workflows, and machine-learning-powered analysis.
By turning raw movement and force into structured insight, TRAX gives surfers objective feedback on how they generate speed, execute turns, transfer weight, and improve over time – bridging the gap between effort and progression.
We’re still early. That means the work is hands-on, cross-functional, and messy in all the best ways. We’re looking for people who want to help build the product, not just operate inside a finished system.
About the role
As Surf Performance & Coaching Data Lead at TRAX, you’ll help build the coaching intelligence behind the product.
This role sits between surfing technique, data labeling, product feedback, and beta testing. You’ll look at real surf sessions – including video, sensor data, pressure data, and session metadata – and help us turn them into structured insight.
You’ll help us answer questions like:
- What maneuver happened?
- Where did it start and end?
- Was it technically good?
- What could the surfer improve on?
- Were there any timing issues, line-choice issues, pressure issues, body-position issues, or something else?
- What would a useful coaching cue be?
- What should TRAX eventually tell the surfer?
You’ll work closely with the product, ML, and engineering team to make our surf coaching framework more accurate, consistent, and useful. You’ll also help onboard and support beta testers, understand where they get stuck, and feed those learnings back into the product.
This is not a generic surf coaching role. It is a chance to help define how TRAX understands surfing.
What you’ll do
- Label real surf sessions, maneuvers, and technical patterns across video and sensor data.
- Help define quality scores, mistake categories, and coaching cues.
- Review video and sensor data together to understand what happened during a wave.
- Help shape TRAX’s coaching framework, including fault categories, scoring logic, and progression cues.
- Work with beta testers to help them setup the product, collect useful sessions, and give structured feedback.
- Join product discussions around what feedback surfers should receive and how it should be presented.
- Build and maintain a reference library of good, bad, and ambiguous examples.
- Help improve labeling consistency across the dataset.
- Test the product in real-world surf conditions where possible.
- Communicate clearly with a remote, technical team.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone with a strong understanding of surfing technique and a structured, analytical way of thinking.
You do not need to be a professional surfer. You do not need to be a software engineer. But you do need to understand surfing deeply enough to break down what is happening technically – and clearly enough to turn that understanding into repeatable labels, categories, and feedback.
The right person probably enjoys video analysis, coaching conversations, surf technique breakdowns, board feel, timing, body position, and why one turn works while another one dies halfway through.
If you have any ISA Qualifications or have worked as a coach, that’s helpful – but also not a requirement.
Basic qualifications
- Strong understanding of surfing technique, especially intermediate to advanced performance surfing.
- Ability to identify and explain common maneuvers, mistakes, and progression patterns.
- Ability to review surf footage carefully and make consistent judgments.
- Clear written communication.
- Reliable, structured, and able to work independently.
- Comfortable using digital tools and learning new workflows.
- Interest in surf technology, sensors, video analysis, data, and/or AI.
- Availability to start quickly and contribute consistently.
Preferred skills & experience
- Experience as a surf coach, video-analysis coach, wave-pool coach, surf camp lead, competitive surfer, judge, or performance coach.
- Experience coaching intermediate or advanced surfers.
- Experience with surf video review tools, athlete feedback, or performance analysis.
- Comfort working with early-stage products where not everything is polished yet.
- Ability to surf and test the product yourself.
- Interest in biomechanics, sports science, ML, or data annotation.
- Based in or near a surf location is helpful, but not required.
Compensation & benefits
- Paid part-time / freelance role to start.
- Potential to grow into a longer-term or full-time role depending on fit and availability.
- Remote-friendly setup.
- Meaningful ownership and influence over the TRAX coaching framework.
- Time in the water – surfing helps us test and build the product.
- Close collaboration with a small, fast-moving team.
- Opportunity to help shape a new category in surf coaching and performance technology.
Apply now
Send a short note to mike@traxsurf.com with:
- Who you are
- Your surf/coaching background
- Where you’re based
- Why this role sounds interesting
- Any examples of coaching, video analysis, surf content, or technical breakdowns you’ve done
No formal cover letter needed. We care more about how you think about surfing than how polished your CV is.
