it was so much fun and brain had such great communication and made it really easy to learn! even if you had trouble learning he still got great pictures!! read more

Soul Surfing Maui - me surfing! - Recreation Centers Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We did a family surf lesson with Brian and had an amazing time. My girls and I all agreed that Brian set us up for success before we even got in the water--he made sure we understood and practiced the basics. All three of us got up on our very first wave, which set such a fun and positive tone for the whole lesson! Brian gave us real-time feedback that helped us keep improving, and I loved the photos he captured of the three of us. My girls have done lessons with another instructor in the past, so they had a direct comparison--and they both said Brian was the best instructor they've had. If we take another trip to Maui, we'll definitely be calling Brian again! read more

Brian is a fantastic coach! He's patient, knowledgeable, and does a really great job explaining instructions. I would highly recommend Brian to anyone who is interested in surf lessons!! read more

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We came back to Maui for a quick trip this November so that my 9 year old could take another lesson with Brian! He has been to surf camps and other lessons on the island, on Kauai and in California and this is hands down the best surf instruction out there. Not only are you not competing for a wave with 200 other people, Brian truly can teach anyone of any age and skill level, is patient and most importantly fun! Bonus is that you get amazing photos to capture these special memories. We can't wait to go back in May! read more

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Had a wonderful experience, the lesson was great! They were super friendly and made surfing "easy" to learn.

I can't say enough about Brian! My son and his friend had a great time learning how to surf. They even asked to come back for more instruction. Brian was super kind and patient. The first day he had long boards for the boys, as my 15 year old son had never went surfing before. By day three, the boys were on shorter fiberglass boards learning how to carve a wave. Brian even took pictures for us. Brian helped create a lifetime memory for our family. read more

Soul Surfing Maui - Ukumehame Beach - Recreation Centers Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Brian is amazing! My 3 daughters and I did a family surf lesson and could not be happier! Everyone got up right away and caught many waves. He was patient and encouraging- everyone had a great time and wants to keep learning. Would definitely book again next time we are in Maui. read more

A lesson with Brian was just what I needed. I'm a former not-so-good surfer from eons ago (when I was young and fit). He kicked my butt (in a good way), reinvigorated my skill set, and got me motivated to get back in surfing shape. Oh, and I caught and rode six waves, too :) I can't recommend Brian highly enough. He's intimately familiar with the vagaries of Maui's wind, swell, and shore. If the waves aren't good, he won't take you out. I totally respect that -- he wants you to have a great experience. He's a very good instructor, super-knowledgeable, super-friendly. I'd take another lesson with him in a heartbeat -- hopefully the swell will cooperate next time :) read more

My wife and I reached out to Soul Surfing last minute to see if there was a possibility of a lesson. We were in luck when they were able to work us in. We had done a lesson before, but the group was huge and we didn't feel like we actually knew if what we were doing was good or bad. Totally different experience with Brian and Dan. They were both kind, easy going, and laid back. But when it came to surfing, progressing, and coaching they were both on the ball. We had a great time in the water with them and it made for a very memorable experience. It may be a bit more expensive than other options, but when you consider the quality of the lesson, the 1:1 coaching, and the overall laid back experience, the value is clearly there. Oh, and Brian takes some awesome photos! read more

Brian is everything you'd hope for in a surf instructor. I truly had the most amazing morning learning how to surf with him. Highly recommend. read more

Top notch experience with Brian. My 10 year old daughter and I have never surfed before and Brian was instrumental in his process to help us learn how to surf. Would highly recommend Brian every day of the week. read more

If you want to do any surfing in Maui, whether you're a first-timer or you've been doing it for years, get some time with Brian. My brother and I signed up for a lesson with him and wondered how he would handle our different levels - my brother is a first-timer and a very big guy with a dislike for water, and I am a beginner-intermediate. We needn't have worried. Brian balanced both our needs perfectly and we both came out of the session feeling like we got so much out of it. It takes a lot of experience to be able to handle multiple levels at once and still make the experience thoroughly enjoyable for all. My brother, who was wiping out constantly 30 minutes into the session and told me he would never do it again after the lesson, ended up having a really great time. He felt very encouraged by Brian and ended up riding a bunch of waves. I ended up loving Brian's teaching style so much that I did a private session with him the next morning. This was my first lesson ever (I've mostly learned by just getting out there and watching other folks), and I feel like my abilities jumped ten-fold. He taught me all these little things about how to move my feet on the board, where to shift my weight, how to hold the board when I'm sitting on it, etc. These little things added up to a lot of improvement for me. By the end of the session, I felt much more confident about paddling into waves and controlling the board when I'm on one. Brian also seems like a stand-up guy and holds a great conversation when there's no waves coming in and you're both just bobbing out on the water waiting. On top of that, he just makes it really fun. read more

Brian is absolutely amazing!! Setting up the class was super easy, I simply just emailed him and he confirmed a time and a location. This is my first time surfing, and having had bad experiences previously with any sports that involved a board, I didn't expect I would get too far. Brian did his teaching magic tricks and I was up on my feet on the second try!! He really knows what he's doing, and if you follow his directions you will be up on your feet riding a wave in no time and having a blast! Highly super recommended!! read more

Soul Surfing Maui - Standard instructor/student pic after the lesson - Recreation Centers Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Had a great time. My boys learn very differently and both of them learned a lot after their lessons. They got a lot of good rides and even progressed to shorter boards. Was great ! read more

Brian is hands down THE BEST. My friends wanted to do a surf lesson while we were on a scuba trip in Maui and we're all at very different experience/skill levels (plus we're all kinda loud so we're probably REALLY difficult!) but Brian made all three of us feel like we were getting a private lesson. He got my super-beginner friend catching waves and standing up (and had time to give her tips to look like a pro!), my more experienced friend who hasn't surfed in awhile he got comfortable on a board again, and as for me, well, he broke as many of my bad habits as he could and got me on the right track (I just started surfing but get to go a lot). From the beginning Brian was incredibly professional and easy to deal with (because of our schedules our booking was kind of complicated and staggered). His communication regarding time and location was super easy, he was punctual, and of course his surfing instruction is impeccable; unlike the larger schools who just want to book classes, he really wants to make all of his students better surfers and have a good time while they're at it. After our lessons Brian even gave me the dimensions of the board I was riding and some similar models so I could find a good one back on the mainland (I can't speak to his full lineup but he had a few different boards to try that were good for my group's height/weight/ability). No question in my mind - Brian is the best teacher/guide you can ask for. read more

I totally recommend doing a surf tour with Brian! Brian made my trip to Maui SOO much better! I have surfed around the world and one thing I have learned is that local knowledge is KEY to getting good, uncrowded waves. I was worried about spending the money, but it was 100% worth it. I got way better waves than I would have without Brian's help. Brian knows every spot on the island. He can find good waves and avoid crowds. He took me on a half day trip to a beautiful spot. We were the only guys out and got some GREAT waves! That's not all though. Brian kept texting me with surf spot suggestions throughout my ENTIRE trip. I really can't express enough how amazing this was. The last thing I wanted to spend my 1 week trip doing is searching the internet for waves. Brian's suggestions helped me find great waves on the island. AND he is fun to surf with :) read more

We (my brother and I) had an awesome experience with Brian. He was a great teacher who is really passionate about surfing and making sure everyone has a great time! We met him at a beach off of Highway 31 and he was prepared with all the equipment we needed (shoes, rash guards, boards, etc) and then gave us a quick land lesson on positioning and what to expect when we got out on the waves. Once we were out there he made it easy for us to understand and we both got up on our first waves! He even brought a camera out there and took some photos of us while we were surfing! You could definitely tell that he loved his job and "spreading the love" for surfing, I don't think he stopped smiling the entire time we were out there. And, it worked....we both love surfing now! It was a great intro to the sport and I only wish we were here longer so we could continue taking lessons from him and get better. He is someone I will recommend to everyone I know who is coming to Maui and someone I will definitely want to take a lesson from next time I am here. We highly recommend Brian for any age or ability level! read more

Had an amazing experience on my surf tour with Brian! His passion for surfing and helping his students succeed is obvious. He's genuine, honest, and simply a cool guy. Worth every penny! read more

It is all about feeling confident and Brian spends the time to make sure you get there. Have had lessons with him three times on the past three years and everyone enjoyed the experience, even those who went in being scared. Highly recommended for any age or ability level. read more

Soul Surfing Maui - Post lesson victory pose with Brian! Great lesson and we all had good rides. - Recreation Centers Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Awesome experience! Brian is a great instructor and everyone was able to enjoy the lesson and catch some waves. He was able to work with us in a small group and individually to match our varying ability and comfort levels. Highly recommended! read more

Brian is the absolute best! Easy to book, very responsive and best of all he is super passionate about surfing! we took 2 semi-private lessons and each day he picked the perfect spot to surf; small crowds and great waves. I've taken other lessons elsewhere and Brian by far taught me the most and I saw immediate improvements. I'll be back for sure! read more

If you're looking to have fun and learn how to surf while on Maui, look no further! Brian is awesome! He's super friendly and really responsive to your requests. I emailed him on the fourth of the July and got a response within a couple of hours. He suggested we avoid the craziness of the beaches on the fourth and since we had plans on the 5th & 6th, he got us in at 10am on the 7th and I am soooo happy we did it! He took us to Thousand Peaks, which is a beach that has pretty consistent beginner-level waves and not many surfers/beach goers to get in our way. He provided rashguards, water shoes and surfboards for us. My fiancé and I both got up on our first try and we had so much fun! Brian gave us a private lesson for just the two of us and it was well worth the money! You should definitely do this- it is so worth it! read more

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I can't add much beyond what has already been stated in other reviews, but am in complete agreement (regardless of when they were posted). Beginner surfer who has taken lessons in Costa Rica and California - Brian has been the best and ensures you get full value in the lesson. He is clearly passionate about people enjoying the experience, while encouraging you to gain valuable skills. He delivered tips for improvement with each wave and by the end of the session, I could not believe how much I had learned. If you are on the fence about surfing, don't hesitate any longer. Soul surfing will provide an incredible experience. read more

Brian is a great guy and awesome instructor! He knows his stuff and keeps things simple for his students which makes it easy to learn. My husband and I had one lesson booked and liked it so much, we went out a second time with Brian, using smaller epoxy boards. He also captured some fun shots on his camera which are a nice keepsake. Surfing was one of the best experiences we had on the island and would definitely do it again our next trip! A very addicting sport! Thanks Soul Surfing Maui :) read more

If I could give million stars, I would. Brian is a great instructor and he loves what he is doing. He teaches you what you need to know to get better for all levels/skills. He helped me correct my mistakes, taught me what I need to do to be better at surfing. We spent 1 week to train with him, learned from him and we had a blast. You can clearly see, he loves surfing, he loves teaching and we enjoyed every minute of our sessions. We'll definitely be back and catch more waves with him. I highly recommend Soul Surfing Maui and can't wait to be back! read more

I can't say enough great things about Brian and his surf lessons! My husband and I had never surfed and wanted to try it on our honeymoon at a local spot in a private setting. Brian killed it at every level, ranging from the location, waves and getting us quickly up riding our first waves. He even took pics of us throughout which was an added bonus. If you go to Maui and want to learn to surf and get a real deal Hawaiian experience do Soul Surfing Maui!! read more

Brian was really helpful in his instruction and thank god he had shoes for all of us to wear. It was my brother, me and my 70 year old dad. The wave were just right and Brian's advice to walk back in after you ride a wave really saved us from exhaustion. It was really good advice. All three of us got up and surfed during the lessons. It was my first time and well and my dad's and it was a blast. Thanks Brain. read more

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our 90 minute lesson with Brian!!! He made it so much fun, gave us such helpful instructions and everyone caught waves! What a great experience! We all highly recommend Brian and Soul Surfing Maui! Mahalo Brian! read more

My husband and I had our first surfing experience ever with Brian and it was amazing! We both were able to get up on our boards and Brian made us feel super comfortable and didn't make us feel silly if we fell or made mistakes. He really took the time to teach me proper techniques and was patient and challenging. We're really glad that we took lessons with Brian to start off our trip so that we could have a good foundation for the rest of our trip! He provided all the equipment -boards, rubber soled booties, and rash guard. It was amazing! So glad our first experience was positive. He also took us to a great location that had great waves for beginners. Get ready....your arms will have a good workout! read more

Excellent 2 person lesson and a fun intro to surfing. We were referred to Brian via his good friend and surfing buddy who worked a great restaurant (zagat 25) called Mala in Lahaina. Brian may be a professional level surfer but is also modest, enthusiastic, patient, laid-back, and (based on our limited time with him - one 1.5 hour session) a great instructor with excellent insight in to various learning styles. He seems to be very observant and caters his teaching to each student. The beach he took us to was perfect for beginners - toe-touchable depth (what seemed like many hundred yards out) where the waves were breaking, but not too shallow -- you felt very safe when falling. He even provides foot booties which are great for when you do need to step on the bottom after falling. He also has rash guards (or maybe it was a very thin wet suit top) available which my wife wore, but I had my own (but mine probably wasn't as UV protective as his because I got a sun-burn on my stomach). He had great beginner boards that were really cool and long (I wanted to buy the same style beginner board at the end, but after the 1.5 hour lesson, he said we were ready for an epoxy board that I plan on buying when I return to LA). Getting a coach seems to be the best way to learn surfing - we plan on getting another coach and few more lessons when we return to LA and will definitely get more lessons when we return to Maui with Brian. PS. Brian knows when the waves will be best. He mentioned he reads multiple surfing / wave report websites daily, so I might go with the time he suggests instead of the time that best fits your vacation schedule. We decided to push the lesson back to 10 am instead of Brian's recommended 9 am and we got lucky that the waves were still as big as they were. Next time (given the sun burn and the trust I now have after meeting Brian) I would sacrifice sleep for a better surfing time. Yes, we both got up (standing on the board / caught waves) - many times - firsts for both of us. It was a total blast. read more

Brian was amazing! He started us from zero to hero in a week (not quite heroes but we sure thought we were!!!) We were total beginners and he knew exactly what to do to get us up. Tailored instructions for each family member (6 of us!) were always clear and easy. The beach was isolated from other surfers so it wasn't intimidating at all and had the most gorgeous scenery which made for some fantastic pictures and videos. Brian also gave us wonderful suggestions on everything from surf wear to dining that was greatly appreciated. We truly had one of the best family vacations ever thanks to Brian. read more

Recently took a 1:1 lesson with the owner, Brian DeCook. He was able to get me up to speed even though I hadn't surfed in decades. In addition to being a very fine teacher, Brian is great human being who is himself a surfer at the highest level. Just a great experience all around. read more

If you're looking for GREAT surfing lessons, you have to use Soul Surfing Maui! Brian was a great teacher! His patient instruction helped get my family of four (ages 8, 11, 40 and 42) all up on waves our first time out! He would help us figure out what we were doing wrong on the ones we missed or fell from, so we just kept getting better. Another great thing about his lessons is that he provides long-sleeved rash guards, surf shoes, and beach chairs for all. We had so much fun that my husband and son rented boards from him the next day to surf on their own. Brian was able to tell them the best beach to go to and the best time to surf as well. You don't get that personal attention from most! We highly recommend Soul Surfing Maui! read more

My family just returned from a week in Maui. We did a lot of fun activities and had a great time, but my 6 year old and I agree the highlight of the trip was learning to surf with Brian. He does a great job of selecting the right location, teaching the basics of technique, and making sure everyone has fun. He's also super-safe with kids, so you can feel confident signing up your little ones. They may learn faster than you- mine did! read more