So patient and kind! Appreciate mikes willingness to guide and help me improve my technique

Wow! What a great Labor Day weekend! We went with Mike for the sunset Paddleboard with wine and fruit. He is such and interesting person and not to mention a patient instructor. He is extremely knowledgeable and told us some tricks to help us Stand up. He boxed us under the bridge because we wanted to take a wine and sun break. We also paddled up the channel to look at usher's house. What an awesome experience! Must do if you are in Miami! read more

Hirooka Surf and Sport - Paddleboard yoga under a bridge with a cup of wine - Paddleboarding Near Me - Miami, Florida

About five years ago I was taken far away from shore by the ocean current while relaxing on a water raft in Hawaii. Once I realized I should try to get closer in, I tried to start swimming in but wasn't moving anywhere thanks to the strong ocean. Just when I was ready to give up and settled on becoming a shark's dinner, I was rescued by a man on a paddle board. I had never seen one before and was intrigued by the concept. (Not to mention very thankful he rescued me!) Since then it's been on my to-do list. After watching a bunch of deals on rentals and lessons go by, I promised myself I would get the next one that crossed my inbox. So I took advantage of an offer from Gilt City to try get a private lesson from Hirooka and tried it out. They don't have an office yet so I met Mike Hirooka right on the beach behind the Gansevoort hotel. It was easy to spot him and the equipment as there was a group of four before me that he had been helping out. Their smiles were reassuring so I strapped on a board and headed to the water to see what I could do! The water was pretty choppy (not ideal learning conditions) but Mike was very helpful and gave me the right pointers. It's a fun way to get in a workout where you don't feel like working out (until afterwards when you're exhausted) and you get the added on bonus of a tan! Although my lesson was only scheduled for an hour he was more than happy to let me go for as long as I wanted since there wasn't anyone scheduled right after me! They have a paddle board bootcamp I'd be interested in trying out. He also specializes in kitesurfing and you can take a lesson or just rent out some gear for the day. I so happy to say I tried paddle boarding/ It's definitely something that takes practice to get really good at so I'm already looking for another time to go back. read more

I'm a newbie to paddleboarding, and speaking from a newbie's lens, my boyfriend and I both feel that Mike Hirooka is the absolute best instructor we could've hoped for.  The introduction was very simple and easy to understand.  I was standing up on my paddleboard after only a two attempts.   We approached Mike with the AmazonLocal deal I had purchased, and he never treated us any differently than a client without a voucher/deal.  At no point did he ever make us feel rushed.  Instead, he consistently advertised for us to just make sure we are having fun because that was what was important to him.   The communications with Mike was very informal - we would simply text and call as though we were old friends.   If you are visiting the Miami area, make a session with Mike the very first thing you do.  He is also chock full of information about where to eat, stay, play, etc.   Only great things to be said about Hirooka Surf.  Can't wait to return! read more

Came to Miami for my GF 30th birthday and had a blast. Her last request was to Paddleboard before we left. We called and spoke to Mike and he said to meet him at the dock at the Standard Hotel at 11. Mike showed up and was very friendly. He has a big personality and was full of energy. No better way to start Paddleboarding! My girlfriend had never been paddleboard before and I had been once and I must admit it was some time ago but Mike gave us a quick run down and was great while doing it. He drop the boards in the water and we were on our way. Warning for first time paddleboarders.... it is a workout for sure. Be sure to hydrate before you go. Mike was fantastic, my only advice to any interested is to confirm that the yelp check in offer is valid for the day. We were informed when we arrived that it wasn't valid for the weekend. I didn't sweat it since it was my gf's birthday and I wasn't going to worry about the cost. Overall Mike is the man. Next time I am in Miami I will for sure come back to see him again. Thanks Mike for making my GF's Bday complete!!! read more

Kiteboarding had been an item on my bucket list for quite some time when I had decided to plan my trip to Miami this past December. So, I figured while there I may as well check it off my list. It was everything I thought it would be (except a little bit more difficult than I anticipated) and Mike was the perfect person to introduce me to it. I found Mike through a LivingSocial or Groupon Deal (can't remember which), and signed up for lessons with a friend. We did three days of two person lessons and by the third day, my friend and I were both body dragging comfortably and confidently in the water, and I managed to get up on the board (I only made it about 5 feet before I fell though). On the fourth day (only I took a lesson that day) I was able to get up on the board by myself. Not cruising, but I was up and went more than 5 feet! Success! Mike was a fantastic instructor and I would recommend him to anyone trying kiteboarding for the first time. He accommodated my friend and my different learning styles so that we each got the most out of our time with him and he was very patient and calm (which was helpful because my friend and I are both uptight New Yorkers). He's incredibly experienced and I had no doubt in my mind that he knew what he was doing and was qualified to instruct beginners. He focused on kite safety our first day and a half and continued to reinforce that and etiquette the entire time. It was reassuring that he also knew almost all of the kiters in the area and was confident on the beach when we ran into some inconsiderate and a little dangerous/reckless kiters. He kept us safe when they got too close to us. He knows what he's doing, he's professional and confident, and I trusted him with my safety the entire time. Not to mention, he knew I was determined to get up on the board before I left Miami, and he made it happen! Thanks Mike, you're awesome, and I'll be seeing you soon the next time I come to Miami! read more

Hirooka Surf and Sport - Mike has some of the highest quality gear. It made learning that much easier. - Paddleboarding Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Great knowledge and way to teach My kite flew quite quick... Bought one in Europe and tryed to get another lesson back to SoBe Mailed Mike, as of today no reply read more

Had THE most amazing time on Saturday. Paddle Boarding has always intrigued me and when I saw an online deal I jumped on it. I decided to surprise a guy I have been seeing for about a month...SO glad I did (he loved it btw and had never done it before either) Mike was a super cool dude..very patient and all around good guy..It was more like we were with a group of friends than a lesson. I chose the 2 hour sunset tour with fruits and champagne. We paddled out to Monument Island.and chilled for some time with our fruits and popped bottles with the house from Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'" video in the background (bonus for me! LoL)..and never in a million years did I think I'd be going under the Venetian :) Anyway i highly recommend him to anyone whose ever considered it. We will be back for sure!!! Thank You for helping me score major points too hee hee read more

Most amazing birthday SUP morning! Mike is the nicest, most accommodating guy! We will be back!

At this point I have taken a few paddle boarding lessons with Mike now. After going out paddle boarding again today to show my sister while she is in town I decided I needed to see if he was being reviewed on here because he is so great!! He is super patient and kind. He has a super easy going laid back attitude which makes things really fun and relaxing. Overall really cool, chill guy. He is super flexible and is always open to taking you new places and showing you around. Even though I live in Miami there are always new hidden treasures to find he is great for showing them to you. Absolutely call him you won't regret it. read more

BEST instructor! I did a group lesson with 6 girlfriends for a bachelorette party and we all had an amazing time. Fun to do with friends, If you are visiting Miami its a MUST try! read more

Mike was an awesome instructor for KiteSurfing. He took the time to teach us everything about the sport. Nicest person and shared his knowledge about the sport, the wind, and the gear. This was our first lesson hopefully of many more. We traveled from the north east and Mike accommodated our schedule. I would recommend him as an instructor to anyone. read more

Paddleboarding always looked like so much fun so I thought I would give it a try. Whoa - it is not as easy as it looks but don't let that deter you. Mike is an amazing instructor!! He is so patient and kind. If you are interested in boarding, surfing, or kitesurfing, you should definitely reach out to Mike. He is the best! read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! We had an extra few hours in sunny Miami before our flight back to wintry weather. Mike was totally flexible and wiling to accommodate our last minute request for paddle boards. The boards were the real deal and Mike was fantastic! Call him, you won't be disappointed! read more

Mike is an amazing kite instructor! I have been kiting just a year but have been really scared to ride the beach where the conditions are more advanced than what I have experienced out in the flats. I took a lesson with Mike and he gave me the confidence and instruction I needed to succeed. He even got me on the surf board in the waves!!! I had one of the best days ever and can't wait for the next beach sesh. Highly recommend :) read more

Got a Groupon deal for Kitesurfing classes. To sum it up I can say: I enjoyed a great 90min kitesurfing lesson. Great instructor. 90min of fun and I learned a lot. It was a great way for me to find out that I really want to learn it. Definitely want to take more lessons! *Update: I'm disappointed after a very good first impression. It is totally impossible to schedule more lessons. Totally unreliable Instructor. So no more lessons with this school. I switched to a different one that works a little more professional, hopefully. :) read more

My 12-year-old daughter, who is a beginner surfer, wanted to get a surfing lesson while on vacation in the Miami area so she called and spoke with Mike, who was very accommodating. We arranged to meet at a convenient location at the beach, and Mike provided excellent instruction on technique, and worked with patiently with us (yes, my daughter convinced me to get a lesson with her). Mike showed us how to get the board moving ahead of the wave, how to move from lying down to standing up, the right stance for balance and control, and where is the best place to catch the waves. We had a great time and my daughter feels she has new skills that she will remember for future surfing. read more

First time paddle boarder, was nervous at first but mike made me feel comfortable immediately with his quick tutorial and had me on my way. we took a tour of the surrounding islands with breath taking views of mansions and wild life. Got to see a family of dolphins playing around! This is the most exciting work out I've ever had. read more

Anybody who is interesting in learning more about paddleboarding or surfing go here! Great customer service. Very informative. Will purchase more boards in the future. Love it! read more

Took my girlfriend out for some paddle boarding and it was the best experience you can ask for! Both learned so much in such a little amount of time! Great romantic day date. Our instructor Mike was super patient and held a great knowledge of the area. Can't wait to come back for some kite boarding! See you soon! read more