My boyfriend and I wanted to take a surf lesson on the famed North Shore (and also because we did not want to learn how to surf in the hustle and bustle of Waikiki). We found Island Style Surf School with the most competitive pricing for a semi-private lesson and with the most positive reviews. We decided kind of last minute so we did not call Sergio until this morning around 7am. We wanted to do a lesson the same morning or early afternoon. Although Sergio was unavailable, he was able to accommodate us with another instructor. Sergio was very responsive to our messages and kept us in the loop. Since it was so last minute, he had to call around to see if any of his instructors was free to teach. We ended up meeting our instructor, Guto at the Haleiwa Beach House restaurant and driving a few miles to Chun's Reef. From the moment we met him, Guto was an absolute delight to work with. He was so enthusiastic and friendly, not to mention funny! He made us feel completely at ease and answered all of our questions. We got to know him a bit and he is really a genuinely great guy. He was also very thorough with safety and made sure that we understood what was safe and what wasn't. He also kept us safe from other beginner surfers and was always very aware of our surroundings. We were with him for 2 hours and to my surprise, I caught quite a few waves (at least 5-6) over the course of my time in the water without falling! My boyfriend was also able to catch quite a few waves. I really cannot emphasize enough how great of an instructor Guto was. We really enjoyed our time with him and our money could not have been better spent. Being able to have such a small ratio of student:instructor was a huge plus as well. If you're looking for some great people to learn how to surf from, I can not recommend Sergio and his company enough. Thinking about how much fun we had makes my sunburn sting a little less :) Thanks for the awesome day, Guto! And to Sergio for making it happen! read more

Sérgio is the best surf teacher! Aloha vibe, friendly and very patient! My daugther (7), and my son (6), had a lot of fun during their first surf lesson :) read more

Island Style Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Best instruction for Surfing that I have ever received. Sergio makes it so easy, just three things to remember to do and you're up and surfing. What a fun experience with Island Style Surf School!!! read more

Sergio is absolutely amazing! I was able to stand up almost everytime! If y'all are thinking of surfing for sure go with Sergio! super stress free and one on one. It was definitly really memorable! read more

As first time surfers, my partner and I were absolutely blown away by Sergio's lesson! He had us up on the board and surfing on our first wave! Sergio is an absolutely incredible teacher - so patient and knowledgeable! On top of that we really enjoyed chatting with him and getting to know more about his life, surfing, Hawaii, etc. I would recommend Sergio and Island Style Surf School to anyone in a heartbeat. Save your time researching and just go here! ‍ read more

i don't have a lot of time to elaborate but this was probably some of the best money i've ever spent. I've always wanted to try surfing and finally got a chance to do so. i phoned early in the morning to inquire about lessons and Carly was very friendly and thorough explaining everything to me and suggested the best time for me to give it a whirl. Sergio met me at the beach and was very friendly and easy going. Gave me a quick lesson in the sand and within minutes I was standing up in the water. i'm almost 40 years old, i haven't been in an ocean since I was in my teens. I won't even go in lakes back home(chicago). He put me at ease and made me feel confident in what I was doing. If I ever come back or if I could just spend more time on this lovely island, I'd certainly request his services again. read more

Island Style Surf School - this was taken at 11am - Surf Schools Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

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Sergio was absolutely fabulous today with our 6 year old daughter for her first surf lesson. We cannot thank you enough she is so proud of herself and just thrilled. Thank you so much for making it such a wonderful day!!! read more

Island Style Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Haleiwa, Hawaii

My husband and I booked a 2hr lesson with Sergio. He was exactly what we thought: down to earth, patient, and friendly. During our 2 hour lesson, We were getting tired and he paddled both of us only using his toes...WHAA? I know, he is strong. He was very knowledgable and with his help and guidance I was able to successfully and safely surf several waves. What an amazing day. Book with Sergio and you won't regret it. Don't forget to request pics and video; I wish I did :( But we still got awesome footage with our Gopro! read more

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Sergio and his family are wonderful. Not only are they incredibly kind and genuine, they make surfing - whether it's your first time or not - so easy and so fun. I have taken two lessons with Sergio over the span of four years and I plan on taking a lesson with him every single time I visit Oahu in the future. Island style surf school is very distinct from other surf lessons I have taken because it is a really personal surfing experience. It never feels like it's about money or cramming a bunch of people in a group - it's about having the best time surfing. He is so accommodating and is always available, even last minute. The locations that Sergio teaches at are beautiful, gentle for beginners, and so fun no matter your skill level. His pricing is very reasonable compared to other surf schools, especially for the quality you get with Sergio. Truly the best surf experience on Oahu. If you are coming to the North Shore you will not regret taking surf lessons with Sergio. Take them early in your trip because you'll love surfing with him so much you'll want to take more after! read more

One of my favorite things I did on my whole trip! Sergio is a great teacher and I had so much fun! I would definitely recommend surfing with him. read more

We found Sergio's surf school on Trip Advisor and so glad we booked a semi-private with him, $95pp for 2hrs . We surfed on our last day in Hawaii and couldn't have imagined a better last day. We surfed some gnarly waves, saw sea turtles and a humpback whale! Sergio pointed to the open ocean and told us to look around because humpback whales come up for air and a HUGE HUMPBACK leaped OUT of the water. It was amazing. BEST PRIVATE EVER! He was very kind, personable and affordable. He had long sleeve rash-guards for us which are a MUST. Also, Pictures and video are available for only $30pp. Make sure to ask for them when you book, because they don't offer it or try to "sell" you once your lesson starts. THANKS SERGIO for a great First-time experience! If you're unsure who to book with, schedule a lesson with him- a Pro! read more

Water felt great in the morning. I got up and rode several times. The waves can last pretty long, so you don't have to rush standing up (despite the adrenaline rush). Just as everyone said, Sergio was super nice and laid back. I was just staying down the street, so he just picked me up and dropped me off at my place. I never realized it before but just paddling around works your arms and lower back pretty hard, but Sergio totally saved my arms by towing me in. Definitely someone you can pound a few beers with and just talk story. Tip: Go at the beginning of your trip. That way, when you like it then you can go again. read more

My mom and I visited the North Shore over New Years, and decided that we wanted to try surfing. As fortune would have it, we found Sergio and Carly, and we could not have been happier. They are kind, wonderful people, and you will definitely be surfing by the end of your lesson. Thank you again, so much, Sergio and Carly! Matt & Heidi Hoy read more

Had a great time surfing with Sergio. He was super patient with me and was very helpful breaking down what I was doing wrong out there on the waves. Got in several good rides. I highly recommend a lesson with Island Style. read more

My wife and I received our first surfing lessons from Sergio in January and had an incredible time. Sergio takes his professional expertise and breaks it down into key instructions without overwhelming your mind with too many thoughts. He was fun, polite, and will absolutely not make you feel like a dumb tourist. I was always nervous about getting a surfing lesson from someone that would only see me as a quick way to make a dollar, regardless if I actually stood up or not. This team genuinely cares about their students and do a fantastic job. My wife and I both got up on our boards right away and loved every ride, and even the wipeouts. I had the surf bug the rest of my time in Hawaii and am very glad that I had such a great lesson to get me started. You will not be disappointed if you check out Island Style! read more

Sergio and his wife Carly are amazing and the sweetest people! My parents, sisters and I had visited Oahu and were looking to learn how to surf- we really couldn't have found a better surfing instructor than Sergio! He was incredibly competent, patient and motivating in teaching my sisters and myself the 101 on surfing. My dad was happy to brush up his skills with Sergio as well- all in all we all left the lessons super excited that we actually managed to ride some waves hahaha and can't wait to be back. Carly took some awesome photos and gave us plenty of advice on where eat like the locals. We will definitely recommend Sergio and Carly to everyone and hopefully we will return soon enough to enjoy their company again! read more

All I can say is wow! Called Sergio this afternoon he taught our children and one of their friends in a group surf session! Best money we could've ever spent! Not only did they have a blast, he was so patient and encouraging. Do not hesitate to call! read more

Our group of 4 friends just took lessons with Sergio a few days ago. We were all beginners and with Sergio's help, we all got up on our first wave! We had so much fun that we rented boards from him a few days later and hit the waves again. I also signed up my 5 year old son for lessons and Sergio was great with him too. We've got a DVD of pictures from our lessons and Sergio used a Go Pro camera to get video footage of my son's first surfing lesson. I highly recommend Sergio and Carly. read more

Believe the hype. Sergio is a great surf instructor. He made us feel confident that we would stand up on our first time on a surfboard -- and he was right! His lovely wife, Carly, caught it all on her camera so we'd have the memories forever. This was one of the highlights of our honeymoon trip and that's saying a lot since we also took a helicopter flight over craters with red lava and into 2500+ foot valleys. We're considering a trip back to the North Shore just to take another lesson...or maybe surf camp! read more

Sergio and Carly are a great team. What makes this school special is that Sergio can take you to the next level if that is what you want. He really cares about surfing and it shows. They are both really fun to be around. Highly recommended. read more

Absolutely wonderful! Sergio and Carly really make sure that you enjoy ever moment of your surfing lesson. I am always super nervous in the ocean and had never surfed before but during this lesson I really didn't have anything to worry about. Very attentive and knowledgeable, as well as patient! I would highly recommend! read more

Sergio and Carly are hands down the best. My friend and I had a two hour lesson with Sergio and Carly took pics and video. Sergio is a very patient instructor and made us feel really comfortable in the water. He made sure we caught the best waves and gave us really good specific feedback on each of our runs. By the end of our lesson, both my friend and I were standing up riding waves in. We were so pleased and proud. I highly recommend them. read more

I actually walked through a couple of beaches and observed the instructors in action and lessons as they were going on. I needed to find someone patient and responsible I was going to trust with my 6 year old. Sergio was dedicated to his students, and I was very impressed with his instruction and super friendly demeanor. Island Style Surf School organized our lessons with Sergio exactly when it suited our busy holiday schedule :-) My son had the time of his life and I didn't hyperventilate once, while I filmed him from shore, as he surfed on his own within a couple of hours. Thank you Sergio!!! What an awesome teacher!!! read more

You can't go wrong booking a lesson with Sergio! I had surfed before but I was pretty awful so I booked a lesson with Sergio, my only regret was that I hadn't done this earlier in my stay in hawaii. Sergio taught me the correct way to surf and gave me the foundation that I needed to really enjoy being out in the water. I enjoyed my lessons so much that I booked one for my fiancé and she couldn't stop talking about what a great time she had. She showed all our friends and family the great pictures and gopro video that Sergio and his wife Carly took of her surfing. Sergio also does a great job repairing boards at very reasonable prices. read more

I did my first lesson with Sergio and had an awesome time. He walked me through all the basics and I was able to get up on my first wave. He helped me understand all the basic techniques and provided feedback after each wave on ways to improve. Very professional and stress free environment. I am considering doing his surf course to continue improvement. Definitely check him out if you are in Oahu. read more

Totally Awesome!!! Fantastic Instructor!! I cannot say enough good things about Sergio and his wife Carly! They were amazing! My daughters are ages 10 and 12. They had never been surfing before. Sergio spent some time on the beach instructing them and then it was off to the ocean. My girls stood up on their very first wave and on every wave after! In fact, they fell in love with surfing! We took them back for 2 more lessons! I even tried it at age 45 and was able to stand up at the end of my lesson. It would have been sooner, but I was so afraid. Sergio was so patient and worked with me until I had the confidence to stand up! Sergio is a pro not only at surfing, but at instructing as well. He takes safety very seriously. He knows exactly the right waves to send you out on and his instructions are clear and easy to follow. He would even tow us out with his feet on our board! Carly took amazing pictures and video for us! They are such wonderful trustworthy people. We did many amazing things on our vacation, but the thing my girls loved the best was surfing with Sergio and Carly! Would love to go back again someday and take more lessons! read more

Just got back from a 6 day vacation to O'ahu. A family member recommended to ask Sergio for some surf lessons at the North Shore of O'ahu. Good call! I am sort of a beginner surfer and the idea of this vacation was to surf at least twice a day to get a bit better. Initially we wanted to spend most of our time at Waikiki Beach as it has the reputation to be the easiest to learn slow wave. North Shore seemed a bit out of reach. Long story short, the experience with Sergio and his wife Carly was exceptional. Sergio knew exactly were to go and he made it easy to get the most out of his lesson. I ended up standing up 95% of all waves he made me get! This is a great investment if you want to learn how to surf and be with good company while learning. read more

WE LOVE SERGIO & CARLY!! My husband can't swim, he just sinks, and somehow Sergio got him out on a surfboard up surfing!! It was soooo fun. We felt so comfortable with Sergio, he was truly amazing, a real man of God! We send all our friends and family to him. Great experience, it actually made the whole trip. Wish we booked in the beginning of the week so we could have done more lessons. I highly recommend Island Style Surf School. ~Gena Thatcher read more

In summary, Sergio is the best, a true professional level surfer and a man with exceptional character. During my honeymoon in Brazil, I had the pleasure of meeting Sergio and his wife. To say the least after a few days we became friends and he went out of his way to make sure we experienced everything the beautiful Island of Fernando de Noronha had to offer. Mind you without even a mention of payment, he took us on some of the most compelling hiking trips I have been on, snorkeling trips, and invited us over for some home cooked Island food. To say the least the highlight of our 17-day honeymoon through Brazil was our time spent with Sergio and his wife in Noronha. Then once I heard he moved to Hawaii and started his surfing school we could not wait to visit. Considering that, I am a typical guy who believes he can do anything without being taught, I initially backed off when Sergio offered to show me a few pointers. I recalled that the last time, I went surfing in Hawaii was during a work trip and to say the least it was not an enjoyable moment. Getting pounded at the North Shore without any guidance (Bold but stupid). So this time, my 3-month pregnant wife and I went out to learn how it's done from a pro. I was a worried at first but where we went had the perfect balance of safety and excitement. My wife and I caught more waves that day than we had throughout our lives and the pictures Carly took were fantastic. But don't take my word for it find out for yourselves. After you take a lesson from Sergio if it is not the best surfing experience of your life, ask him for John's contact info in San Diego and I will gladly pay for your lessons. This review may sound like BS, but it's the truth, you'll see. If you have time check out this video of Sergio ripping it up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qWkkfTaXqf8 read more

So we purchased a groupon deal for this because we were going to be in Oahu and wanted to try surfing. There isn't a real shop that these guys operate out of, but finding them wasn't too hard at all. They send you text messages to keep you updated of their up-to-date location based on the best waves and crowdedness. Sergio and his wife Carly are super nice and personable. Sergio instructs you for about 10 minutes where you practice/simulate on the beach before you head out. Then he gives you rash guards to wear on top, but our knees succumbed to a few rash but nothing that didn't go away after a couple hours. Once out in the water, he holds your board until he finds a good wave for you to work your magic. And he won't let you fail. Once you get up, it gets addicting and you keep wanting to do it again. After we were done, we find out that Carly was snapping photos and videos for us. When you see them, you can't help but want to buy them for $20/person. And of course at that price, we want our first time surfing documented. Overall, Sergio is an awesome teacher, Carly is awesome, the lesson was awesome, the experience was beyond awesome. read more

I took a private surfing lesson with Sergio this September and was not disappointed! I was not sure how I would do since I had never surfed before and had heard that it is challenging, but I stood up on my very first attempt (and many after)! Sergio gave very clear, simple instructions before getting in the water to make sure I was comfortable and also provided feedback after every wave. It was a truly wonderful experience and I would highly recommend Island Style Surf School to anyone who wants to give surfing a try! As an added bonus, Sergio's wife Carly stays on the beach and takes pictures of the lesson. You can purchase a CD of the pictures, which is a fun souvenir to take home! read more

This was my first surfing experience and Sergio made it easy and stress free! Great instruction and relaxed style worked well for me. Highly recommended. read more

What an INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! Sergio is by far the best surf instructor I've ever learned from - lessons with him are fun, tailored to your needs/skill & he makes sure you'll catch as many waves as possible! Carly, his wife, captured some amazing moments on film for me too! From start to finish - an exceptional experience, I highly recommend the Island Style Surf School!! read more

Our first lesson with Segio was serendipitous as I had initially scheduled a lesson for my daughter and myself with a different instructor. She was unable to make it and referred us to Sergio and Carly. I was more than pleasantly surprised after I met this amazing duo and while I had only intended to do one lesson, I scheduled another one immediately after finishing our first lesson with Sergio. I was a little nervous about sending my 8 year old into the ocean, but within 5 minutes of talking with Segio and watching him patiently break down surfing into 3 simple steps, my fears began to melt away and then they were completely gone after paddling out for our first wave. I can't really say we paddled, as Sergio pretty much did all the work. He put a foot on each of our long boards and paddled himself and both of us out! He stayed by my daughter and I was not worried in the least. His instruction and encouragement allowed my shy little daughter to stand up on the first wave! I'm amazed that a pro surfer is so patient that he is able to teach surfing to the shyest of children. Then, to top off the experience, Carly captured our first lesson with amazing photos and she created an awesome video of my daughter's second lesson. As if their stellar professionalism wasn't enough, Carly and Sergio are good people with big hearts. They are beautiful inside and out and despite not growing up in Hawaii they embody the Aloha spirit and you feel as if you just met two great new friends while learning the noble art of surfing....well, not so noble when I do it, but definitely when they do! read more