At Chester Student Rentals, we always enjoy celebrating the achievements of people connected to our family and community.
Adam Crouch is the son of Kate and Wayne, the owners of Chester Student Rentals.
However, Adam has built an impressive business and community story entirely of his own.
Sean from Go Wirral recently interviewed Adam about his work across the Wirral Peninsula.
They discussed watersports, career changes, community building, and Adam’s ambitious plans for the future.
Adam did not begin his working life as a watersports instructor.
He spent 14 years working as a construction project manager.
His projects included hospitals, schools, defence facilities, and other government-funded developments.
Although the career was successful, Adam had become increasingly unhappy.
He found himself waiting for weekends, when he could escape London and go kitesurfing.
A trip to Brazil with his friend James helped change his perspective.
James decided to remain in Brazil and leave his previous career behind.
The experience encouraged Adam to reconsider his own future.
At the end of 2018, he resigned from his job and began travelling.
His original plan involved three months of travel and kitesurfing.
However, he soon realised that he was not ready to return to his former lifestyle.
Adam completed a kitesurfing instructor course on England’s south coast.
He then found a teaching position in Greece through Facebook.
That opportunity led to a full season of coaching and thousands of hours teaching students.
His journey continued through Tarifa, Brazil, and Cape Town.
Each destination provided new skills, friendships, and inspiration.
Adam returned to Britain during March 2020.
His plan was to make new arrangements before travelling abroad again.
The coronavirus lockdown changed those plans completely.
Adam found himself staying with his parents in Chester.
When restrictions eased, he began searching for suitable local kitesurfing locations.
That search brought him to Red Rocks, near Hoylake.
He met local kitesurfers and discovered the watersports community around Wallasey Beach.
Adam began offering lessons throughout the summer.
He only expected to remain in the area temporarily.
However, demand grew quickly and his plans changed again.
Several years later, the Wirral remains his home and business base.
Northern Kites began as a small operation running from Adam’s campervan.
During the early months, he also completed landscaping and delivery work.
His main goal was earning enough money to continue travelling.
However, his kitesurfing lessons became increasingly popular.
Other local kitesurfers soon asked whether they could teach alongside him.
Adam recognised an opportunity to create something more permanent.
Northern Kites gained its name, a website, and a growing team of instructors.
The business continued operating from Adam’s van during its first year.
However, Adam wanted a base that could support a wider community.
He approached the sailing club building beside Wallasey Beach.
The building was only being used for limited periods.
Adam suggested bringing the local kitesurfing community into the existing club.
That partnership eventually helped create Wallasey Beach Club.
Kitesurfing can appear difficult and physically demanding.
Adam once believed that he would never be able to do it.
However, he now teaches people from many different backgrounds and age groups.
Students do not need exceptional upper-body strength.
A harness carries much of the kite’s power.
The rider controls that power through relatively small movements of the bar.
Safety training remains essential before entering the water.
Beginners must understand launching, emergency releases, tides, wind direction, and changing weather conditions.
Nobody should purchase equipment and attempt to teach themselves.
Adam recommends learning through a school registered with British Kitesports.
Northern Kites provides recognised tuition for beginners and experienced riders.
Adam also trains and assesses watersports instructors across Britain.
Most beginners require around five or six lessons before becoming independent.
Previous experience with skateboarding, snowboarding, or wakeboarding can help.
However, that experience is not essential.
Adam’s oldest student was reportedly in their eighties.
This shows how accessible the sport can become with proper instruction.
Wallasey Beach Club has developed into much more than a watersports base.
It welcomes sailors, swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, and kitesurfers.
The club also hosts yoga, markets, comedy, quizzes, music, and community events.
There are regular social evenings and practical maintenance sessions.
Adam wanted to recreate the relaxed beach culture he experienced while travelling.
That atmosphere is unusual within a traditional British sports club.
The venue feels informal, welcoming, creative, and community focused.
It offers people somewhere to learn, socialise, volunteer, and form new friendships.
Wallasey Beach Club operates as a community interest company.
Its profits support the venue, its facilities, and the surrounding community.
Volunteers have completed a significant amount of improvement work.
They have painted walls, repaired facilities, installed flooring, and improved the bar.
Members have also helped fund showers, equipment, and other important additions.
The club has therefore been built by the people who use it.
Adam began the project, but its success relies upon a wider team.
Members visit for watersports, coffee, music, conversation, and shared activities.
Families and people from different generations are welcomed.
The club also provides valuable social connections for older local residents.
Adam explained that the club had reached around 2,000 members.
Its popularity demonstrates the demand for welcoming community spaces.
The Wirral Peninsula offers several natural advantages for watersports.
Its different coastlines provide options for changing wind directions.
When conditions are unsuitable at one beach, another location may offer safer conditions.
Wallasey Beach is particularly suitable for teaching beginners.
Its large tidal range creates shallow areas and sections of flat water.
Instructors can remain close to students throughout their lessons.
Changing tides also create lagoons, sandbanks, and varied riding conditions.
This makes the location interesting for both beginners and experienced riders.
The peninsula supports kitesurfing, foiling, sailing, kayaking, swimming, and paddleboarding.
Adam believes many people underestimate what is available locally.
Some watersports enthusiasts travel abroad before recognising the quality of the Wirral coastline.
Adam’s businesses now cover more than traditional kitesurfing.
Northern Kites also provides wing foiling and pump foiling tuition.
Wing foiling combines elements of windsurfing, kitesurfing, and hydrofoil technology.
The rider holds an inflatable wing while standing on a foil board.
As speed increases, the board rises above the surface.
Pump foiling uses body movement to maintain momentum above the water.
Parawinging is another emerging watersport mentioned during the interview.
Several of these activities barely existed when Northern Kites began.
Their development shows how quickly modern watersports are evolving.
Adam also discussed plans involving Wirral Watersports Centre at West Kirby Marine Lake.
At the time of recording, his team was completing the final contractual stages.
The vision included sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and foiling.
Adam also discussed children’s activities, adult lessons, rentals, and instructor training.
Other ideas included a larger shop, demonstration equipment, and improved hospitality facilities.
The project could also create jobs and training opportunities for local people.
Structured activities may provide young people with confidence, skills, and positive experiences.
Adam hopes West Kirby can become one of Britain’s leading watersports destinations.
Adam wants people to think of the Wirral when considering watersports.
The peninsula is accessible from Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, and the wider North West.
It also offers free coastal parking in several areas.
Visitors already travel from Scotland, London, the Midlands, and England’s east coast.
However, Adam also wants more local residents to participate.
Many people see kites from the promenade without considering trying the sport.
Adam hopes greater awareness will encourage them to take their first lesson.
Adam’s journey began with a difficult decision to leave an established career.
That decision led him around the world and eventually back towards home.
He transformed a temporary summer business into several growing watersports ventures.
More importantly, he helped create a community around Wallasey Beach.
That community now supports friendships, volunteering, activity, and local pride.
Kate and Wayne are understandably proud of everything their son has achieved.
Everyone at Chester Student Rentals wishes Adam continued success with his future plans.
His story shows what can happen when passion, hard work, and community come together.
