Instructors Profiles
We take great pride in our talented instructors - women and men with strong surfing skills, lifesaving, and ocean knowledge. Our surf school promotes, teaches, and supports surfing for women and men of all ages and abilities.
You may want to know who will teach you to surf, what their background is, how long they've been surfing, and maybe even what they look like. This is why we've created this page. Enjoy learning about the instructors, they are very interesting people and we love having them here!
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Alyssa
Hometown: Laguna Beach, CA Time Surfing: 12 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Local Surf Spots/Favorite surf spot? San Onofre and Del Mar locally, favorite anywhere in Central America How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? Going anywhere outside of US, bringing every board, and never coming home. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Basketball, running, and baking! Where did you attend school? SDSU What is a fun fact/something unique about you? Excited to be a first time mom!
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Artemisa
Hometown: San Diego, CA Time Surfing: 12 years of pure happiness. Places you have traveled for surfing? Local Surf Spots/Favorite surf spot? Imperial Beach northside of Pier is my local, but my favorite is Tourmalin Pacific Beach and San Onofre 4 doors. How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? Dream surf trips are right under our noses on our own beaches...to me they are the trips to the beach with good friends & family, laughing and having fun on the waves! But I'll take any tropical wave anywhere in the world anytime! What are some of your other hobbies/interests? I love to make metal-worked and beaded jewelry plus gardening! I finally got my orchids to bloom. Where did you attend school? I went to school online and I have a Bachelors in Business Admin. But I chose to work with kids with special needs in my local school district. What is a fun fact/something unique about you? Fun Fact: My second tow is longer than my big toe...lol. Uniqueness is in my name "Artemisa" My grandfather always told me that I better do something great with a name like that! I'm still trying. |
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Anna Hometown: Martinez, CA Places you have traveled for surfing? How did you get into surfing? Local surf spots/Favorite surf spots? Tourmaline, PB point, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Shores, Sunset cliffs, San Onofre. What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? |
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Diego Hometown: Brussels, Belgium Time Surfing: 2 years. Places you have traveled for surfing? Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? OB area, always a good option! How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? An around the world surf trip with mandatory stops in Indo (never been), South Eastern India, Morocco, Chile, Mozambique, and South Africa. I would bring all types of boards to have fun in every swell. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Windsurfing, sailing, SUP What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I'll whip you up a tasty Belgian waffle!
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Heather Hometown: San Diego, CA Time surfing: 17 years Local Surf Spots/Favorite surf spots? Oceanside Harbor south Jetty, D Street (Encinitas), Pipes and Rivermouth/Suckouts (Cardiff), Scripps (La Jolla), Favorite spot everL Pavones, Costa Rica. What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? I love seeing the look of accomplishment and "the stoke" on people's faces. It's great to help people achieve their dreams of surfing and check it off their "bucket list" Places you have traveled for surfing? How did you get into surfing? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? My dream surf trip would be anywhere with a variety of waves that I can surf in a bikini...i.e. Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Hawaii, Mexico, etc. I'd bring a 5'6 fish for smaller days, my favorite high-performance shortboard 5'11, and a 6'4 step up shortboard in case the waves got big! Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? My dream is to one day do a surf trip from San Diego, CA to Patagonia, Chile. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? I also work at UCSD extension, where I teach English to foreign exchange students. I love traveling and all outdoor activities! Where did you attend school? I graduated with a M.A in Education TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other Languages) from Alliant International University. I got my B.S. in Elementary Education and Spanish Minor at Northern Arizona University. What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I have been to Egypt, but I didn't see the Pyramids... (Crazy, I know!) Also, I am an English language instructor at USCD Extension, where I teach foreign exchange students from all over the world. |
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Jennifer S
Hometown: Narragansett, Rhode Island Time Surfing: 18 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Pipes, Beacons, Law st., and soon to be favorite spot, Sunset Cliffs! How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? My dream surf trip would be to either Indonesia, Tahiti, or Panama, with a bunch of my girlfriends! Just long days to surf and laughter! What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Where did you attend School? I have a BA in Biology from the University of Rhode Island. What is a fun fact/something unique about you? In my prior employment as a zookeeper, I took care of Polar Bears and other large carnivores! |
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Jeremy Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO Time Surfing: Over 20 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Europe, Hawaii, Fiji, Oz, New Zealand, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Barbados, Mex, USA Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Big fan of the La Jolla Reefs How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? I'd like to do Morocco with a camper van for about 2 months hitting all of the breaks that North Africa has to offer. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Where did you attend School? University of Arizona, Pepperdine Law What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I am a former Federal Agent, and a Licensed Attorney in 2 states, but I'd much rather be teaching surfing!! |
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Kimmy Hometown: San Diego, CA Time Surfing: 10 years Places you have traveled for surfing? California, Baja, Hawaii, Philippines, Costa Rica Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Pipes, La Jolla Shores, Tourmaline and Sunset Cliffs are all favorites
How did you get into surfing? My Dad has been surfing San Diego since the late 60s and I forced him to teach me when I was a teenager, it wasn't easy learning from my Dad, he was a tough coach. We are still surf buddies now and he taught me almost all I know about the local breaks and technique. I also was lucky enough to have a group of close girlfriends who all surfed throughout High School, and we went to the beach as much as possible growing up. What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? I love that moment when they realize how much fun they are having, forget how cold their feet are and worrying about how they look Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? I have always wanted to do a long roadtrip with my Boyfriend, Will from here down to the tip of Baja, spanning like 3 months. I would bring a longboard, my egg and a little fish, the whole range. Camping on the beach, eating delicious Mexican food and fresh lobster, long days in the water and living in a bikini...sounds good! What are some of your other hobbies/interests? I am also an artist, and I constantly have some fun art project going. I love yoga, running and riding my bike Where did you attend School? I went to the San Francisco Art Institute and Spanish school in Costa Rica What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I am regular footed, but I prefer to go backside and take lefts all day because I grew up surfing mostly lefts thanks to my Dad who is goofy foot |
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Karla H. Hometown: Mexico City Time Surfing: 25 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? La Jolla/Scripps Del Mar 11th st. How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? Somewhere in South America with warm waters and long-lasting sunshine. I would ride a short-board shaped gun. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I'm a photojournalist for NBC
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Myles Hometown: Clairemont, San Diego, CA Time Surfing: 10 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Local surf spots/Favorite surf spot? You can normally find me at shores and one of my favorite spots is the point churches How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? My dream surf trip would be driving through mexico with about 5 friends and coming up to a righthand point break that's chest to head high and no one out. Id grab my noserider and hang ten all day long. Where did you attend school? I am currently going to the University of San Diego What are some of your other hobbies/interests? What is a fun fact/something unique about you? My initials are all the same letter MMM. |
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Rick Hometown: Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil Time Surfing: over 15 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Indonesia, Mexico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Uruguia, Brasil and a few more. Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Dogs beach and Baja and Mainland breaks. How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? Somewhere with long barrels, warm, uncrowded waves with my best friends. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Where did you attend School? High school in Brasil and college at Mira Costa. What is a fun fact/something unique about you? People say that I'm funny. |
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Sean Hometown: San Diego, CA Time Surfing: 21 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Local surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Sunset Cliffs to Oceanside/Baja Malibu How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? Dream surf trip would b ea boat trip round the world in search of a new wave that has never been ridden. Boards: tow board, long board, gun, and some fun boards. Where did you attend school? Mesa and Mira Costa College What are some of your other hobbies/interests? What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I drive a 1970 VW Beetle |
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Shelby (Costa Rica & Fiji Diva) Hometown: La Jolla, CA Time Surfing: about 21 years minus a few when I competed in college as a soccer player. Seriously surfing for the last five years. Places you have traveled for surfing? South Africa, Fiji, Indonesia, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, all over California, and in parts of Hawaii, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. Local Surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Bird Rock, La Jolla; Raglan, New Zealand; Nosara, Costa Rica or wherever I am in the world. How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? I have been itching to get to Tahiti or to the Maldives. I’d take my Surf Diva sunfish, a Rusty Slayer, the Surf Diva Sea Gypsy, a SUP, a fun alaia to mess around on and of course I’d take my favorite surf Divas and Surf Diva alumni! And my boyfriend because I really like surfing with him. After all, I met him in the water. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Running, yoga, writing, volunteering as a board member for Outdoor Outreach, a nonprofit that teaches inner city kids to surf, snowboard, rock climb and mountain bike on the basis that self esteem can’t be taught. It must be learned. Where did you attend School? La Jolla High School and then Emory University. What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I quit my lucrative marketing job in 2009 to be a journalist and to surf more. Since then, I have been lucky to travel all over the world for stories and have met some amazing people from famous CEOs to world-class athletes. I haven’t looked back since. Oh, I was named after a Sea Monster on TV. I like the sea and I am a bit of a monster about needing/wanting to surf every day. I guess there could be worse things about myself ;)
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Sonja (Costa Rica & Fiji Diva) Hometown: NY Time Surfing: 8 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Costa Rica, Nicaragua and CA Local surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Local surf spot: Guiones, Palm tree / Favorite surf spot: Playa Maderas, Nicaragua How did you get into surfing? I went to Hawaii on a business trip and started taking lessons from a shop in Waikiki. After my first wave I knew I was hooked, and by the end of the trip I was sneaking out of the convention to take lessons. What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Seeing the joy and excitement in their faces when they catch their first wave and then working with them to make it a longer/better ride! Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? Boat trip and surf all around the world!! (but only warm waves!! ;-P ) Where did you attend school? Binghamton University
What are some of your other hobbies/interests? Cooking, baking, yoga, reading and salsa dancing What is a fun fact/something unique about you? I was the first place womens fencer in the PSAL (High school) one year and featured in a fencing demonstration on public television. |
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Tim Hometown: Palm Beach QLD/Oceanside, CA Time Surfing: 27 years Places you have traveled for surfing? Local surf spots/Favorite surf spot? Oceanside/Gold Coast and Fiji How did you get into surfing? What is your favorite part about teaching people how to surf? Where would your dream surf trip be/what type of wave/what boards would you bring, etc? South Pacific boat trip 10 different boards from long to short boards and my friends along side me. What are some of your other hobbies/interests? What is a fun fact/something unique about you? The researchers at the hospital told me I'm a direct descendant to big foot! |