Suvi Muotka is the Head Coach and Director of the Hamilton Tennis Academy. Living in Raglan she also offers tennis lesson locally in Raglan and we caught up with Suvi to hear all about the academy.
Tell us about the Raglan based tennis academy you own and run.
Hamilton Tennis Academy is a small tennis business that was established already in 2008 but I took over in winter 2021.
I have a few coaches working for me full time and part time. We run lessons in Hamilton and Raglan from kids (ages 5 and up) to adults..
As I am based in Raglan, I would like to grow the business more in Raglan and hopefully one day have courts here that are playable all year round.
What is your backstory? Where and how did your tennis career begin?
Tennis is a family hobby for us and I have played since I was 5 years old and then started coaching when I was 13.
Since then tennis has been a part of my life with training, competing and coaching. We still play tennis and nowadays also padel with the family when I visit home in Finland.
What attracted you to Raglan ?
I love surfing and Raglan was going to be just a quick surf stop on my travels here. I loved the vibe, the surf and the community so a weekend trip turned into years and changed my life forever.
How did you get involved with coaching in Raglan?
I was looking for some work in Raglan and I was playing a lot of tennis with my friends here. I heard there is a tennis coach in Raglan so I contacted him to see if he needs more coaches and started working for Hamilton Tennis Academy in 2017.
What do you like about your job and what benefits do you see for your clients?
Tennis has always been my passion and I studied to be a math teacher so I also enjoy teaching a lot. I love to see people enjoying tennis, learning something new, improving their skills and the joy that comes with it. It’s amazing to see when kids or adults find a sport they enjoy doing so much it doesn’t even feel like an exercise. Tennis is an amazing sport that you can play from an early age until your older years.
What do you offer Raglan locals in terms of coaching ?
We have group lessons in Raglan in summer seasons (term 4 and 1) for kids from 5 years olds to adults. For adults we offer cardio tennis sessions which is a fun workout class while playing tennis. I also offer private lessons here in Raglan all year round.
How do they get in touch ?
Our brand new website has all the info of pricing and the timetable www.hamiltontennisacademy.co.nz. Best way to get in touch is to email me at admin@hamiltontennisacademy.co.nz or call 0212306711.
