23 Oct 2023

Dave Wood: Intensive care paramedic to high performance coach

From Labour Day, 8:10 am on 23 October 2023
Young man on beach in weighted vest being instructed by coach.

UFC champion Israel Adesanya is one of many high profile names to work with Dave. Photo: Conn Stoddart

In a few short years, Dave Wood has established himself as a breathing and mindset guru.

But his path from die-hard Piha surfer to one of the most sort after coaches in elite sport has been far from linear.

Travelling the world and working as a lifeguard for more than a decade, Dave returned to Aotearoa in his 30s and retrained in paramedicine, eventually spending close to 12 years on the road.

During this time, battling a debilitating injury and becoming increasingly disillusioned with traditional treatment, he hit rock bottom.

What happened next formed the basis for Integrated Training a high performance programme and philosophy rooted in one of our most basic functions - breathing. 

A group of people sit on a beach in a circle listening to a high performance coach.

Dave Wood's Calm Under Pressure workshop on the wild west coast at Piha. Photo: Conn Stoddart