01 — The programme
When you travel to surf, your mind comes along too: nerves before the wave, respect for the water, the inner critic after a wipeout.
In Quiet Lineup, we practise handling this a little more calmly. I use methods from sport and health psychology: breathing, focus, self-talk, imagery and recovery. Everything is easy to use in daily life, and you need no previous experience.
You learn simple techniques and keep practising after the trip, with a workbook and four audio exercises.
Live sessions in English or in German. Each language has its own small group. You choose your group when you ask for a place.
What you take away
- a short routine for before the wave (under 30 seconds) that you can adapt yourself
- a plan for when something goes wrong (wipeout, frustration, fear in the line-up), so you don’t just react on impulse
- breathing exercises with a long exhale, without holding your breath and without hyperventilation
- four audio exercises that you listen to at home, sitting or lying down
- a workbook with exercises and reflection questions
- a 4-week plan, so that what you learn does not fade away
What Quiet Lineup is not
Quiet Lineup is not therapy, not treatment and not a substitute for surf lessons. I don’t promise better performance or the removal of fears. I offer exercises that help many people stay calmer. You will find out by trying whether they help you.
02 — How you join
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Ask for a place
A short request form.
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Short screening questionnaire
A PDF with questions about your health and your expectations, to read beforehand.
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15-minute call
We go through the questionnaire together. Free of charge.
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Confirmation and invoice
Once your place is confirmed.
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Three live sessions
Before, shortly before and after your trip.
You pay only after our short call and once your place is confirmed. You receive an invoice by email. You pay by bank transfer.
A group starts with at least 5 participants. If a group does not fill, you get your money back in full.
03 — The three live sessions
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4–6 weeks before your trip · 90 minutes
Session 1 · Let your mind arrive
We clarify what matters to you. You learn the long exhale and the wave breath, and you find your personal ‘zone’ between too tired and too tense. You get the first audio exercise.
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1–2 weeks before your trip · 90 minutes
Session 2 · Surf it in your mind first
You practise imagining situations on the water, while awake and with the audio exercise ‘Destination beach’. We work on your focus word, your routine before the wave and your wipeout plan.
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2–4 weeks after your trip · 90 minutes
Session 3 · Keep it, don’t let it fade
We look back: what worked, what didn’t? You get the last audio exercise (‘Way back into everyday life’) and build a 4-week plan. At the end, a short questionnaire (voluntary, anonymous).
All sessions take place live by video. Camera on is part of the format (for safety reasons, see below). I don’t record the sessions.
German group: Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm Berlin time: 19 January, 2 February and 16 March 2027.
English group: Wednesdays, 7:30–9:00 pm Berlin time: 20 January, 3 February and 17 March 2027.
Registration closes on 5 January 2027.
04 — Details
| Format | Live online, in a small group |
|---|---|
| Sessions | 3 × 90 minutes |
| Group | 6 to 8 people, in English or in German |
| German group | Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm Berlin time: 19 January, 2 February, 16 March 2027 |
| English group | Wednesdays, 7:30–9:00 pm Berlin time: 20 January, 3 February, 17 March 2027 |
| Registration | Closes 5 January 2027 |
| Timing | Before, shortly before and after your trip |
| Fee | €199 (final price) |
05 — Safety in the live sessions
- You are in a safe place, sitting or lying down – not in a car, not in or near the water.
- Before the session, you tell me who your emergency contact is and where you will be.
- You can stop any exercise at any time. This is expressly welcome.
- After a session, please don’t drive and don’t surf for at least 15 minutes.
- For up to 48 hours after each session, you can write to me by email if something is still bothering you.
Safety with the audio exercises
The course includes short guided audio exercises for home. They are relaxing and turn your attention inwards. That is why these rules apply:
- Only listen in a safe place, sitting or lying down.
- Never while driving or operating machinery.
- Never in or near the water, on the board or while swimming.
- After every exercise, wait at least 15 minutes before you drive or go into the water.
- No exercises with fast, strong breathing or breath-holding. The course doesn’t include any.
- If unpleasant images or feelings come up: open your eyes, move your body, end the exercise. That is always okay.
The audios are not therapy and don’t replace treatment. Whether the exercises are right for you, we clarify beforehand in the screening and in the 15-minute call.
06 — Who it’s for
This fits if you …
- are an adult, in good health, and preparing for a surf trip,
- feel respect for the water, get nervous before the line-up, or keep replaying a fall in your head,
- like short, regular exercises (about 10 minutes a day),
- want to work in a small group, in English or in German,
- will be in Germany, Austria or Switzerland at the time of the sessions (see FAQ),
- can swim safely. That is part of surfing and your own responsibility.
Who it’s not for
This does not fit if …
- you are currently in psychotherapeutic or psychiatric treatment (unless the person treating you has agreed to it),
- you are in an acute mental health crisis or feel severely distressed,
- you have a condition for which relaxation and imagery exercises are not recommended (for example psychosis, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or lasting effects of a trauma connected with water). We clarify this in the 15-minute call,
- you are under 18,
- you are currently taking sedatives or have an addiction,
- you are or were a patient of Daniel Kerkow (for professional-law reasons, I rule this out),
- you are hoping for healing, a diagnosis or therapy. This course doesn’t offer that. If that is what you are looking for, medical and psychotherapeutic practices can help you. In Germany, you can reach the appointment service (Terminservicestelle) nationwide on 116 117. In Austria or Switzerland, please ask your family doctor (GP).
07 — Screening: how I make sure the course is right for you
Before you join, we go through a short questionnaire about your health and your expectations in a 15-minute video call, free of charge. The only aim is that the course is right for you and doesn’t harm you.
If something doesn’t fit, I say so openly and recommend a better place to turn to. Your details are treated confidentially and not passed on to third parties. Privacy policy.
If you need help: emergency numbers
If you don’t feel well after signing up, get in touch before the next session. In an acute crisis, call the emergency numbers straight away.
If you feel in danger, or someone else is in danger, call the emergency number straight away.
- Germany: 112 (ambulance and fire brigade), 110 (police)
- Austria: 112 or 144 (ambulance), 133 (police)
- Switzerland: 112 or 144 (ambulance), 117 (police)
If you feel very unwell in your mind or mood, you can talk to someone at any time:
- Germany: Telefonseelsorge 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 (free, 24 hours a day, in German only). In English: the Samaritans, +44 116 123 (an international call, so charges may apply). Medical on-call service 116 117 if it is urgent but not life-threatening.
- Austria: Telefonseelsorge 142 (free, 24 hours a day, mainly in German).
- Switzerland: Die Dargebotene Hand 143 (24 hours a day; charges may apply, depending on your provider). In English: 0800 143 000 (every day, 6 pm to 11 pm).
If you are not in Germany, Austria or Switzerland during a session: tell me beforehand where you are and what the local emergency number is. In all EU countries, 112 works. In other countries, the number is often different. Without a confirmed emergency number, you cannot join that session live.
08 — Price
€199 (final price)
per person in the pilot run
Included: three live sessions of 90 minutes each, workbook, four audio exercises, a free 15-minute call to go through the questionnaire, email contact after the sessions.
Not included: travel, camp, surf lessons, equipment. The pilot price applies to the first run. After that, the price may change. There is no package with a surf camp: you book Quiet Lineup with me, and your camp or accommodation separately.
Payment, withdrawal and cancellation: see the terms of participation and the withdrawal page. Terms.
09 — About Daniel
I’m Daniel Kerkow, a licensed psychological psychotherapist (Germany), trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy (Tiefenpsychologisch fundierte Psychotherapie). In my day-to-day work, I work with people on what happens under pressure.
Quiet Lineup is a separate offer and not a therapeutic one: it is about exercises for recovery, attention and handling nerves, not about treatment.
I run the sessions myself and am your contact for questions.
10 — FAQ
Is this therapy?
No. Quiet Lineup is a course with exercises to prepare for a surf trip. It doesn’t replace treatment and doesn’t make diagnoses.
How much time do I need?
Three live sessions of 90 minutes each and about 10 minutes of practice a day.
Do I need to be able to surf already?
No. All that matters is that you can swim safely. The course doesn’t replace surf lessons.
When do the sessions take place and where do I need to be?
The sessions are before your trip and after you come back. Please join the live sessions from home, not from your destination. German group: Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm Berlin time: 19 January, 2 February and 16 March 2027. English group: Wednesdays, 7:30–9:00 pm Berlin time: 20 January, 3 February and 17 March 2027. Registration closes on 5 January 2027.
If you are not in Germany, Austria or Switzerland during a session: tell me beforehand where you are and what the local emergency number is. In all EU countries, 112 works. In other countries, the number is often different. Without a confirmed emergency number, you cannot join that session live.
How big is a group, and what if it does not fill?
A group starts with at least 5 participants. If a group does not fill, you get your money back in full.
Are there recordings?
No. The live sessions are not recorded. You get the audio exercises and the workbook as material.
What if I miss a session?
You get the workbook pages and the audio exercise for that session. If I run another group, you can join the same session there, if a place is free. The fee is not reduced.
What if an exercise doesn’t feel good?
Open your eyes, move your body and end the exercise. Get in touch with me within 48 hours by email. We talk about it and, if needed, I recommend another place to turn to.
Is it scientifically proven?
The methods come from sport and health psychology. There are good indications that breathing and relaxation exercises can reduce stress. I don’t promise that they improve your surfing performance. After the course, I ask for your experience, anonymously.
Do you work with surf camps?
There are no joint packages. You book Quiet Lineup with me, and your camp or accommodation separately.
Who processes my data?
See the privacy policy. It also describes the request form and the screening questionnaire.
11 — Ask for a place
Fill in the short form. I reply with the questionnaire as a PDF to read. You pay nothing at this stage.
Thank you. I will reply by email within three working days.