Day Trips Hawaii

Surfing in Maui? Here are 6 tips

Many surf schools will guarantee you’ll stand up on your board at least once, for at least half a second by the end of the lesson.  They were right about the half second, as getting up and riding a wave is much harder than it looks on TV!

Beginners start in much calmer waters then the pro-surfers you’ll see surfing at Jaws (Pe’ahi) in North Maui or Honolua Bay. This is ideal, as these locations have smaller, more predictable waves that will give you lots of opportunities to catch one, without tossing you all over the water.

There are plenty of options for lessons in Kihei, as the beaches here offer small waves, and this is where many of the surf companies are located; but you can also try out spots in Lahaina, and Kaanapali.

Good to know:

1.       Take a lesson before you try it on your own. You’ll learn proper techniques, safety tips, and etiquette.  This will prepare you if you decide to rent surf gear on your own.

2.       Instructors will help get your surfboard in the water. They will also push your surfboard into the waves (so you don’t have to paddle as hard) and tell you when to stand up.  Is that not cool?

3.       Ask how many people the instructor takes out in a group.  Smaller groups are better.

4.       Some surf schools will have a professional photographer taking photos of you from the shoreline, that you can buy later.   Ask when booking.

5.       It’s much harder than it looks – be prepared to fall – and try again.

6.       If you stand up on your board a few times for even a few seconds, consider this a big success. The people that make it look easy have been doing this for years.