It was our first time surfing and we were comfortable and had so much fun. Coach and the entire team was amazing. I was the oldest in the group (including my kids) and Coach and Ryan were super attentive and ensured that I didn't get hurt and enjoyed myself. The team promoted connection that made the entire group of first time surfers and total strangers comfortable and supporting each other. From the time we checked in until the check out, every staff member was friendly and professional. read more

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Excellent communication, rate quoting and responsiveness. Helped me with available times, getting the lesson booked and getting the payment paid, all in a time-sensitive way since I arrived in Oahu on Monday, was staying the week, but hadn't made advance bookings. Emily made sure all my questions were answered, advising what to wear (I asked), and what to bring to the beach, versus leave up at the shop. Amazing!! Some downsides: it's a BIG group! Even though we got semi-private lesson (1 instructor for the 2 of us), you're still taking the lesson amidst the rest of the "school"(...which for us, was 2 school buses filled with students. Maybe 25 people?) You're then all having your lesson in the same area of water, so imagine 30 beginners all on surf boards confined to a limited area on the water. I didn't love this part. You're assigned an instructor (and each of course has his/her own personality). The instructors were all great: coaching you through the positions, picking the waves for you, pushing you off into them to gather speed, and calling out when to "paddle" then "up". But each instructor inherently comes with a personality and if you get a less aggressive one, you might end up waiting for all the other students to get their turn before you get to go. Then (this part was unexpected)...you have to win all the way across, to get out of the "surf lane" of all 25 beginner surfers, before you can win back out to get in line for your next try. It was a lot of swimming for not a lot of surf trials which really tires you out. By 5 runs, I'd had enough. I have had one lesson before (which I absolutely LOVED!!) but it wasn't as part of a big school, it was just me, and one other student, and the instructor. And there was no 25-50 ft "surf lane" that you had to swim across after each attempt to get out of the way of the other students. this extra swimming ate into a lot of surfing time I think. Anyway, good experience, but I wouldn't do it again in this way. Actually, I'm not even sure I'd do it again at all. I ended up buying the photo footage because I'm so sure I'm off surfing now...so might as well buy the photos, as I'll probably never do it again. That's not how I felt after my 1st experience a few years ago in a different format. read more

My kids decided they wanted surf lessons while we were in Oahu, and I didn't hear back from most places I reached out to since they can book out months in advance. Ohana Surf Project was the exception--they got back to me within an hour and were able to set up private 1:1 lessons for each of my kids the very next day! If you don't see availability online, definitely try calling--they are really accommodating. The whole experience itself was really organized. When we signed up, they collected shirt and shoe sizes - and when we arrived, rash guards and water shoes were already set out for the kids in a bin (you can also rent a wetsuit top for $10). After gearing up, they watched a short instructional video, then everyone hopped on a school bus to head to the beach. They take you away from the crowd to a more private area (which feels rare for Waikiki). It made the whole experience a lot more relaxed. Sean was an amazing instructor--super patient and great with the kids. Overall just a really smooth and fun experience. I highly recommend booking with them! Oh! We also prepaid to have photos taken. The kids had lessons on Wednesday afternoon and we received photos/videos the next day at 11am (about ~80 total between photos and videos). read more

See attached photo and see the distance between the instructor and my son. Does my son look like he is in a 'safe zone' being monitored? Seriously? Oh and by the way even the lifeguard on duty, who I'm sure is thoroughly trained in these conditions, thought that this was not safe. read more

Ohana Surf Project - See the distance between the instructor and my son who is supposedly in the 'safe zone'. - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

6/10 9AM squad (Matt, Chelsea & Tyler) were awesome. Helped me with footing & taught mechanics prior to getting in the water. I did end up changing up my footing to Matt's suggestion to match my snowboarding (Left foot front). Experience was a lot better than my 1x in Bali! Thank you for making this a memorable first time in Oahu. read more

I signed up for a 2 hour group beginner lesson (with full photo package) on April Fool's and had personal coaching from two instructors, Marco and Brady. Kevin signed me up, coached and videoed me surfing. I managed to pop up and surf down the line. I highly recommend a lesson from these experienced instructors. read more

I have surfed with Ohana Surf Project 4 times now and am trying to go back before heading home to LA :) this was the most life changing experience ever. I learned to swim very recently as an adult so I am very new to the water and the ocean and to board sports. The entire team of instructors were so helpful and amazing and I cannot express my gratitude enough. I truly felt safe with them, caught so many waves, and learned so much. Special shoutout to Eli, Tyler, and Chelsea. Chelsea taught my last two session and it is clear this is her calling! THANK YOU!!!! read more

Excellent experience with great team support! Kevin was our coach for the 2-hour lesson and he was the absolute best! He was excellent at guiding and coaching adjustments for us to be able to stand up on the board. Kevin was so kind to tow my wife and I in to get as much surfing in. It was nice to see how each team member supported each other and other surfers in the water. Highly recommend lessons from this team of surfers and will definitely come back for more lessons! Hopefully I will be a little more fit the next go around -- my Hawaiian food belly got in the way! Would be nice if they shared some cultural information about surfing--I was told by a local that we pray and ask for permission before entering the ocean as homage and respect. read more

Ohana Surf Project - Jill - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Luke was really knowledgeable for two complete beginners. We actually made it up to standing and rode the waves pretty far several times under his excellent instruction. We did a private lesson for two and that was nice as we got a lot of feedback and time to surf. We also did the photo package which was a hit with the family because they could see how fun it was even though they weren't there. I would absolutely recommend this for any beginner looking to have a really fun and positive first experience. Next time we are in the area we will be booking again! read more

Fun, professional, and great staff for our daughter's first time surfing in Waikiki. She was quickly up and doing advanced moves in no time. We liked the available photo package as well as buying the rashguard. read more

Excellent !! Their shop is Located inside Marriott hotel , it has own shuttle bus sending us to beach, clear price without any hidden fee, my kid is 1st time surfing & she surfed for 2 days by different coaches, both are very good ( thx so much coach Carolina & Chelsea ) !!! They took surfing photos & videos for my girl , I can see the result before commit to buy any pics, very friendly, highly recommended! read more

My love for this place continues two years strong! I come at least 1-2 times a year, and recommended this place to all my friends. Group classes are great for the casual beginner, and I recommend semi-private / private for that added attention and/or if there is something you are working on. They are always friendly, supportive, and safe! Ohana Surf is just past the east side of Waikiki, and past the crowded packed beaches in Waikiki. It's well worth the 5-10 min walk since they have so much more ocean for you to play with. This allows them to start you closer in for beginners, or further out if you are more experienced, as well as adjusting based on weather and sea conditions. Oh and most importantly, no Waikiki newbie surfers loosing control of their board in your direction. They can provide shoes, rash guard, and life vest, if needed-- but the area is doable even if you aren't a strong swimmer. The water is 5-6 feet deep, you will always have your board and an instructor or two not too far away. They have bins for your personal belongings that they store in their van so you can surf worry free. There is also a shower to rinse off and bathrooms near by the beach. New updates: They opened up a shop in the NE corner of Marriott to check students in (also still able to do at the beach). They also added drone photography to record your awesome surf. Note: I'm always on the fence of 1 hour or 2 hours. If you are just starting or want to save energy for your kayak adventure the next day, will recommend 1 hour-- In our semi-private, the water conditions were favorable, and we were a bit tired 1 hour into it. read more

Family was visiting and wanted a surf lesson. We choose Ohana Surf Project because they are highly recommended!! I now know why. Booking was simple. Jenny had excellent customer service. We were greeted with smiles and excitement when we arrived. The team is professional, encouraging and fun. All 4 of us were able to stand up on our boards! Ages 12- 50!!! We felt safe with all the instructors- Cole and Alana were great!! The best part was the photos!!! Thank you Chelsie for the memories!!! We will cherish them forever!!! (BUY THE PHOTOS!) Worth every penny!! Thank you!!! read more

It was supposed to be a surprised gift for my husband to take up surfing lesson while in Waikiki Hawaii. Although there were many schools available, I decided to book Obama Surf Project for a one on one private lesson for two hours. Booked it thru TripAdvisor plus, had a 10% off discount. Received confirmation thru email from Sara. We had to submit information online about our vaccination status, level of skills in swimming, and any concerns. Originally my husband was afraid to go out surfing without a life jacket, but the instructors led him in the water without the jacket and only with the surf board. Prior to the actual surfing, we went inside a van then was shown a video about safety, the dos and donts with the board, surfing in the water, and how to avoid collisions with other surfers. After a brief video, we headed out to the park holding our boards. They let us borrow rash guards and swim shoes to protect us scratching our skin from the reefs underneath the water. Our instructor showed us how to carry the surf board, tie the leash around our ankle, know how to stand up, and how to fall down. While there were other group of students in the other surf school, I've noticed that we we're already heading towards the water. We lifted the boards and gently slide it down the water with the fins down. We paddled with our arms, then went far from the shores and had our surfing lessons in open water. The fear of sharks and swimming deep were out of our minds. My husband and I were enjoying the moment. We learned to surf that day! Thank you to our instructions for sharing their knowledge and skills. Also, the videos of us surfing were amazing - clear as you can see. I may have landed face down the water, it's ok. The experience of surfing with my husband together was epic ;-) We catch good waves despite the September weather. It was getting tiring, so we headed back to the shore. After a brief photo op and feedback, we returned the wet suit and shoes. There was an option to stay around or go back to the hotel. We decided for them to drive us back to our hotel. Looking forward to another surf lesson while in Hawaii! Mahalo! read more

Awesome surfing experience. This shop is Highly recommended for their services, coaching and making everything easy for beginners. They have done millions of the surfing trips and know everything. The Videos and photos are best gifts you take with you. They are working so hard to catch the moments on the surf boards and on the waves. Good job! read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Awesome surf company! OSP was recommended to me by a friend who lives in Oahu, and they did not disappoint! My sister and I took a couple semi-private lessons, and Miguel and Mark were our instructors-both were awesome! Miguel was great for getting us started, and even on a day where the waves weren't great he made sure we had a good time. Mark gave us great tips during our second lesson to help us catch the waves by ourselves and stay up longer. Would highly recommend this company if you're trying to surf in Waikiki! read more

My 12 and 16 year olds had a great time with surf instructor Marcus. The staff were professional, friendly, warm, welcoming, and attentive. My kids were able to surf right away. I highly recommend! read more

I have been torn about whether to write this review but decided I had. I had high hopes for OSP given all the positive views, and we booked a 2h family session for me and my 10 year old daughter who is a gymnast and like swimming. Both me and my daughter are total beginners. Before jumping into water, the coach warmed us up and showed us how to stand on the board and we practiced it about 2-3 times. Then we go directly to the beach and learned how to paddle. Anyway, we had around 3 tries and my daughter and I were stand up at least once. However, by the last run, someone collided with my daughter's board and she tumbled into the water. I was far away from her and the stuff near by was just busy taking pictures for others. With no one helping, she struggled to stay afloat and tried to get back on the board after flipping over. Finally she paddled back to me and the coach about 400ft away from the shore, but by then she was exhausted and started sobbing. We took a few minutes break but she didn't get better. So the coach decided to tell her to belly surf back to the middle by the staff who took pictures and I will surf back in the next wave. After she surfed to the staff in the middle around 200ft from the beach, I thought they will let her stay there and wait for me and the coach. HOWEVER, I was shocked to find out that they told her to paddle back to the shore by herself (!) while she was sobbing and there were some pretty big waves. I was so distressed to see her struggling paddle back while being hit by several big waves. Apparently the coach told other staffs to help her get back but no one did in the end. After a few minutes, the coach rushed back to help her but it's been at least 10 minutes she was by herself. By the time I reach the shore, she was sitting there crying and shaking. I am very upset because this has totally ruined her interest in surfing. We were lucky that she didn't get drown. This is the lowest point of our first Hawaii trip. read more

Super friendly staff and helped me at my level! It was my first SUP lesson and I was able to ride a few waves (with assistance starting). They scouted the waves and found the ones just right for me. The transportation to and from the hotel was also a plus as I didn't have to worry about finding a ride. Overall a great experience and makes me want to try to do it more! read more

Booked a 2 hour man-to-man lesson as an intro to the sport. I've always wanted to try but hadnt had a chance. They were able to fit me in the same day I booked, which was nice. Instructor's name was Jarred, and the guy did a great lesson. Lots of useful starter tips and it was a good way to get a feel for the sport as a beginner. Arigato. read more

Hands down the best experience I've ever had. I would definitely return for another lesson. Surfing is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I want to take a minute to make a shout out to my instructor Kevin. Kevin, Thank you for that island hospitality and the great conversation out there on the water. We had a few good laughs out there. You made my first trip to Hawaii an EPIC experience. Don't forget... "1in hurts at 100mph" Mahalo bra, PJ read more

The best part of Ohana Surf Project are the coaches. Each has a unique local perspective and a perspective on surfing. As a beginner, just listening to them critique my technique (or lack thereof) and talk about what they see as they are looking back to help you find the perfect wave to catch, is worth the price tag. First lesson I had Max. Second I had Roland. Both island grown. Also got some great insight from Mark on how to improve my paddling. Highly recommend OSP. read more

I'm new to the island and wanted to figure out a board sport to get into. I booked 3 private lessons through Ohana Surf Project and had an amazing time. I did 1 of each lesson - Surfing, Paddle Boarding and Body Boarding. Kevin was my instructor and he made it super fun, explained everything so well. My favorites ended up being paddle boarding and body boarding. It was really good to try them all out. Ohana Surf Project's location is not in the thick of Waikiki and that's a *good* thing. The only other folks out with us were students. The other surf lesson locations are super packed with people. A nice touch was one of the days I had booked was during a high wind warning. They called me up and rescheduled to a day when the waves were better for the activity I picked and I super appreciate the option. If I wanted to keep the date, they would have kept it, but they were focused on my experience and making sure I had a good time. All the instructors carry GoPros and you can get the footage for a super reasonable price after. No obligation to buy anything but I thought it was worth it. This place is totally worth your business. Thanks to Kevin, Chelsea, and everyone else that helped me out over the last week! read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Was great fun. I started surfing after the class also so was a fun experience that changed my life. Awesome time highly recommended

A 46 year old dad, 13 year old boy, and 11 year old girl signed up for a 2 hour family lesson and could not have asked for more. It was a perfect start to our week in Waikiki. Ohana Surf Project's operation is perfect. Easy pickup from my hotel in Waikiki. Short ride to a more secluded beach, at the base of diamond head. Great onshore training. Once in the water, they have a smooth process to ensure safety by making sure surfers aren't in your way. There were private classes and group classes that the instructors managed together to maximize everyone's chance to get up. Chelsea is a phenomenal instructor who is fun, insightful, and intuitive. She and the crew make it all work out on the water. After this, we were able to rent boards and hit the crowded waves of Waikiki beach with confidence. read more

Ohana Surf Project - My 13 year old stands up on his first try thanks to Chelsea and the onshore training. Waikiki is in the background. - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I was in Hawaii with a friend for her birthday, and she had always wanted to take surfing lessons. We found Ohana Surf Project online after comparing a few places, and they had reasonable prices for a semi private lesson for the two of us. Communication was easy, and they gave us helpful info prior to arrival and we could even give updates via text, which was helpful especially when we were running late. I really appreciate that they offer a shuttle service, because parking is difficult to find in that area, which we experienced and caused us to be a little bit later than we already were. The instructors were flexible with our tardiness and tried to help expedite parts of the introduction to get us out on the water with a decent amount of time. I thought that there would be a lot of complicated nuances and that we'd spend a lot more time on the ground, but after a couple trials in the grass beforehand, we learned the basics pretty quickly and were in the water in no time. Our instructor's name was Gabby, and she was helpful in getting us out into the water, especially since paddling is a lot of work! The instructors have a pretty efficient process going, where you get to surf a wave and then it keeps looping around with all of the other people taking lessons, so you get a nice balance of taking breaks from the workout of paddling and catching some baby waves. I would say that we probably each had about 6-8 turns in the 2-hour session. At times it was a little bit difficult to hear the instruction since the waves and water around you is loud and your instructor is usually facing away from you as they pull you into the wave. The waves that you surf are pretty small (especially when you see the actual footage lol), but it was a great way for beginners too actually try surfing. They do a pretty good job of getting great footage, which you can pay for at the end for $50. I had a chest-harnessed GoPro with me, but their footage is nice as well and I'm glad that I purchased it and split it with my friend. Overall, it was a good experience for a beginner who is just interested for trying surfing out. Although I cannot speak for someone who may be a little bit more intermediate or advanced, I would imagine they would cater the experience to your level. I was content with my first surfing experience, and would definitely recommend! read more

We had a great experience with all the instructors. They make it so easy for beginners. I went with my 2 sons 10 and 12 years old and they were able to get all of us up. The instructor also towed my youngest when he was getting tired from the paddling which made it so much more fun for him. The videos and photos are also well worth it. If I could give more than 5 stars I would, they are amazing! read more

Such a great experience. We stopped in and were able to book for the same day. My daughters picked it up so fast and had so much fun. They also took some pretty amazing pics and videos. Definitely recommend. read more

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We've gone paddleboarding on Lake Las Vegas in the past, but we figured we'd need some professional guidance if we wanted to transition to the ocean itself. So we booked a 2-hour group lesson with Ohana Surf Project, and we were just lucky enough to be the only ones who signed up that afternoon (still during the tail end of COVID quarantine). Essentially, we got a private session with Kevin! Can't say enough great things about Kevin: friendly, funny, knowledgeable, and above all, patient! My hubby caught on right away and was soon paddling all around and even went "surfing" on the waves with Kevin's assistance. Me? I ate water many times, but it was so much fun! Guess I'm more of a kneeling paddleboarder than a stand-up one! Overall, we had a fantastic afternoon on the water, and I'd highly recommend Ohana Surf Project to anyone interested in paddleboarding, surfing, or boogieboarding. And don't forget to tip your wonderful instructors! read more

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If I could give 10 stars I would! This is place amazing! We had Kaimana and Kevin and I can't say enough about them. Seriously great guys. So patient and kind. Kevin took my 7 year old tandem and she had a blast. Prices are so reasonable. They take you out to a less populated spot which is nice. If you're looking to learn how to surf this is the place to go hands down. read more

My two boys and I wanted to try surfing while on vacation in Hawaii. We cross the complete spectrum of athletic abilities and balance. We paid for a 3 person exclusive lesson and were assigned Kevin as an instructor. He was fun to hang out with in the water and patient with those of us who struggled a little. He continued to be encouraging with lots of tips. Even myself, at almost 50 years old with arthritic hips and a fused ankle, was able to stand on the last 4 waves of the day. If you're on the fence about whether to try this, do it. You wont regret is. My only regret is that I'm back home and can't book another lesson. read more

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Ohana Surf Project puts the Ohana in Surfing! Chelsea, Zach, and Kevin are all AWESOME!!! My friend and I flew over from Maui to have a lesson summer 2020 (during Covid) and everything from the very first telephone contact to every part of our lesson and experience was handled with extreme care, consideration, and cheerfulness. Chelsea was our leader and teacher. She is phenomenal and that is not hyperbole. Chelsea greeted us by the OSP bus as planned. We reviewed particulars and were immediately made to feel that we belonged and, if you will, were part of our world's great big surf ohana. So, if you are at all reticent about a lesson or are thinking it is not for you, then dismiss those negative thoughts immediately and contact OSP. You will be thrilled. Chelsea is extremely knowledgeable, focused, caring, and fun. This is NOT a place with teachers who are excellent surfers but bored by having to teach newbies. Chelsea loves surfing and is extremely knowledgeable. Most importantly, she loves teaching and she is great at it. She keeps a watchful eye on everything and feeds the necessary knowledge to you in a logical and well thought out manner that maximizes one's opportunity to learn and progress. We will most certainly return to OSP and toChelsea to continue our fun and tutelage. Mahalo Nui Loa Chelsea and Ohana Surf Project! read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The staff overall was amazing and our coach Romeo did an amazing job with my daughter. The owners made us feel very welcomed and even offered us a ride back in their personal vehicle (we did the one hour family lesson) instead of having us wait for the shuttle. My 12 year daughter was able to catch a few waves and is addicted to surfing now. Me, I was a little out of shape and got exhausted easily. We will definitely book with them again on our next trip back to the island. read more

Elle was amazing!!! It was my first time surfing but she made me feel comfortable and safe the whole time. All the instructors encouraged and cheered us on just for trying to catch a wave! I think I'm hooked on surfing now :) Mahalo!!! read more

Absolutely amazing, I highly recommend this company. They took this 60 year old country boy and fulfilled a 47 year dream to surf. I tanked my first wave but caught everything that followed. Their instructions and guidance was seriously amazing. If you want to catch a wave and sit on top of the world, these wonderful folks will help you. Tim read more

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We had a great experience with all of the instructors, especially Kevin. Would highly recommend to everyone.

Ohana Surf Project was a great experience! The personal coaching was very helpful! I rode a wave on my first try! They also offer high quality pictures and videos of you riding waves! read more

Ohana Surf Project - Cruising - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Had an amazing time. I was standing up and surfing by the third wave. The crew are amazing and would recommend them to anyone! Special shoutout to our camera lady, I didn't catch her name but she took an extra minute to help me realize what I was missing, and the next wave I nailed it! Amazing people, will always come back to Ohana! read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Been wanting to surf for a long time living here in Hawai'i, finally booked with Ohana Surf Project and had a BLAST!!! Kevin was an awesome coach, encouraging and easy to learn from. Kaimana took great action shots from the water. I will definitely be booking again soon and am looking forward to advancing my skills! Highly recommend. read more

Yay! I can surf! Well...kinda. I actually did much better than I thought I would thanks to the folks at the Ohana Surf Project. I've always wanted to learn how to surf and this was a great place to do it. After a brief tutorial of what to do and what not to do, we picked up our boards and hit the beach. One of the instructors had has practice our positions on the board a few times before we hit the water, then we hit the waves. Before my lesson, I was worried about two things, sharks and wiping out in deep water. Fortunately we didn't have issues with either. Even though we paddled out pretty far, the reef was high enough that we we're still able to stand up if we got knocked off of our boards. As for sharks, they must have been hanging out on the North Shore that day because I didn't see a single one. Whew! I now understand why surfers are in such good shape because surfing is 90% paddling. And paddling is HARD. Especially when you had the swells that we did that day. The good thing is that the instructors will help tow you out (or back in) if you are exhausted or otherwise run into trouble. (actually, it's more like "toe" you, as they literally paddle on their surfboards in front of you and put their toes on your board to drag you along). While we were surfing, one of the guides was surfing alongside us with a GoPro taking pictures and video which were available for purchase after the lessons are over. She got some really great shots too! For the most part, the instructors were patient and most of them offered lots of positive reinforcement and encouragement... however it wasn't all smooth sailing, unfortunately. As much as I wanted to give this experience five stars, I had to remove a star for a couple of reasons. First, I overheard one of the instructors making a snarky and sarcastic comment about the form of one of the girls in my group just before it was my turn in to surf. Mind you, none of us in my group had ever surfed before, so it made me wonder what other kind of comments he was making about me and the rest of the people in the group. Second, the other instructor repeatedly kept running his board into mine and smashing my finger in between our two surfboards. I made him aware of it, and he acted like it was no big deal (My finger is still sore and slightly swollen a week later). Third, as this same instructor and I are carrying our boards out of the water, I have trouble getting over the sandbar and out of the water while carrying the two boards. I let him know this and ask him to slow down, but he keeps dragging the board along and ultimately I ended up falling. Thank goodness I fell on the sand, but I could have been hurt,given that I had no hands or arms to catch myself because both of them were wrapped around the surfboards. He was completely nonchalant about the whole situation which was more than a little off-putting and ended my surf lesson on a sour note. In the future, I think the instructors should be more aware of the fact that some of the students they teach are novice surfers and what seemingly comes naturally to them (the instructors) may be a little bit more challenging for us. They should be a little more flexible, understanding and attentive to ensure that students have a (relatively) comfortable, safe and enjoyable surfing experience. read more

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