Our Coaching program has been developing over the last few seasons and we are proud of what we can now offer our members. We believe that all our members have equal rights to access training, from novice to the more serious competitors. Our Coaches are a key part of our Palmy Family and we are proud to have them associated with our club:
Prue Davies – Member Development & Athlete Performance Coordinator
Prue brings an exceptional combination of elite sporting experience, coaching expertise, and academic knowledge to the role. As a former member of the Australian National Lifesaving Team, she has built an outstanding international career, winning 10 World Championship gold medals, 14 silver medals and 7 bronze medals, while setting five International Life Saving (ILS) world records.
Prue’s drive for excellence has been evident throughout her career. Early in her journey, she made headlines after breaking a world record in pool rescue competition—a defining moment that showcased her commitment, determination, and ability to perform on the international stage. It was the beginning of what would become one of Australia’s most accomplished lifesaving careers.
Her achievements are a testament not only to her talent, but to the discipline, resilience and pursuit of excellence that now underpin her coaching philosophy. Holding a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science from Southern Cross University, Prue combines evidence-based training principles with extensive practical experience to support athletes and members of all ages and abilities. Her passion lies in creating positive development pathways that help individuals achieve their potential while fostering a lifelong connection to surf lifesaving.
Prior to joining Palm Beach SLSC, Prue served as Assistant Water Coach at Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, where she played an integral role in coaching and mentoring athletes within one of Australia’s premier surf sports programs. Through this role, she developed a reputation for building confidence, encouraging continuous improvement and helping athletes perform at their best in a supportive and inclusive environment.
As Member Development & Athlete Performance Coordinator, Prue will lead initiatives that strengthen athlete development, support coaches and age managers, enhance member education and create clear pathways for members to progress from Nippers through to senior competition and lifesaving. Her focus will be on building an inclusive, high-performance culture that values personal growth, teamwork and excellence both on and off the beach.
Beyond her impressive achievements, Prue is passionate about helping others discover their own potential. She believes the greatest success in surf lifesaving isn’t measured solely by medals, but by developing confident, capable people who enjoy the sport, contribute to their club and inspire those around them. Her approachable leadership style, passion for mentoring and commitment to developing people make her an outstanding addition to the Palm Beach family.
Prue’s appointment represents an exciting investment in the future of Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Her wealth of experience as an elite athlete, coach and mentor will inspire members at every stage of their surf lifesaving journey, helping the club continue to develop exceptional lifesavers, successful athletes and future leaders for many years to come. Please join us in giving Prue a very warm Palmy welcome.
Lou Ruff – U8* to U10 Water Development Coach 🌊
Lou is passionate about helping young athletes build confidence, skills, and a lifelong love of the ocean, Lou joins our coaching team as our U8–U10 Water Development Coach. She creates a fun, safe and supportive environment where every child can develop at their own pace while learning the fundamentals of surf lifesaving and surf sports.
A highly respected member of Palm Beach (Qld) Surf Life Saving Club, Lou has been coaching for many seasons and has played an integral role in developing our junior athletes. She has also previously served as Surf Sports Officer, helping to grow our surf sports program and mentoring athletes from Nippers through to Masters.
Lou is an accomplished Masters competitor, having been recognised multiple times for her outstanding achievements in competition and her commitment to coaching and volunteering.
Whether she’s in the water, on the beach or cheering from the sidelines, Lou’s enthusiasm, knowledge and encouragement inspire every young athlete to challenge themselves, enjoy the journey and be the best they can be.
Through her U8–U10 program, Lou aims to provide young athletes with the foundations for a lifetime in surf lifesaving and surf sports. Sessions are designed to improve ocean awareness, water confidence and technical skills, while teaching children how to safely read, navigate and enjoy the surf environment across wade, swim and board activities.
Please join us in celebrating Lou and the incredible experience, passion and energy she brings to our club and our youngest athletes. We can’t wait to see the next generation thrive under her guidance!
*Our mighty little U8 competitors will be allowed to join these sessions as directed by Surf Life Saving QLD from January onwards – must have U9 pool evaluation.
U8 to Masters Beach Sessions 🏃♂️
These sessions are to develop and enhance the skills of those wishing to participate and compete in Beach Events U8 to Master’s learning the art of starts and finishes for flags, sprints & relays with a strong focus on correct technique for running that can be applied to all disciplines.