One of the questions we get asked all the time is if our surf camp is appropriate for a beginner or a first time surfer. Our answer is a resounding YES, but we wanted to share why in this piece below. If you are looking for a Beginners Surf Camp, look no further!
Beginners Surf Camp Instructors
Our instructors teach beginners daily, and have been doing so for years! We run a year-round surf school, teaching Maui’s visitors and residents how to surf in two hours – campers get us for 6 days! Our professional crew of female surf instructors have the perfect blend of patience, skills and encouragement to get everyone catching waves.
Our instructors are also particularly good at co-teaching, with one instructor helping you catch the wave, and the other instructor surfing along side you, coaching you with simple instruction for your entire ride!
Beginners Surf Camp Location
Our primary surf location is Ukumehame Beach Park, which is one of the greatest places to learn how to surf in the world. The gentle waves are rideable for a very long time, giving everyone ample time to work on their pop up, getting to your surfer stance, then starting to work towards steering and turning.
We are blessed with a location that gets waves breaking close to 365 days a year. We rarely get a completely flat day, and in the case of our surf camp, we have alternate locations that we can use.
One of the nicknames for Ukumehame is ‘Thousand Peaks’, meaning there are many rideable waves to pick from. And it’s only a few miles from our surf camp!
Ukumehame is south facing, and gets the biggest waves in the summer time. It’s rarely ‘too big’ for our beginners, but in the case of larger waves, we stay on the inside of the reef with our students and campers and ride the re-form waves.
Our location is also a great spot to see lots of turtles, and even humpback whales in the winter! The water is so clear that you can see the reef on most days, making a snorkel mask almost obsolete!
Our skilled surf coaches will get you riding waves and progressing your skills each day of camp!Warm Water
It’s no secret that the water in Hawaii is warm! What does this mean for our students? No struggling to get in and out of wetsuits, no having to get out of the water to warm up… no frozen fingers or toes!
Our Supportive Environment
Besides getting constant positive feedback from your instructors, you are surrounded by a group of women that are all in the same boat! The cheering that you will hear during each and every ride at our surf camp is the best part!
Surf Camp means you get a dozen new friends!Everything Else
From the beach-side massage in the middle of the camp, to the delicious meals prepared by our caterer, the entire camp is designed to nourish your body, mind and soul, and despite the incredible workout that surfing provides, everyone wakes up ready to go again the next morning! We will create a tentative schedule for the week, but our adventures will be largely based on the weather and ocean conditions. Typically we surf each morning, then leave the afternoons open for various adventures including hikes, stand up paddling, snorkeling, or more surfing! Evening activities may include bonfires, games, and a surprise activity to cap off the magical week.
Massage anyone?Testimonials:
Based on the Trip Advisor reviews and the MSG website, i registered for Women’s Surf Camp on my own. It was one of the best weeks of my life and i encourage all women to do it. Camp was made up of 12 fantastic women – 6 came solo and 6 came with a friend. We stayed in cute cabins right on the beach and were lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves, we ate the most delicious and beautiful food (thanks Joy!) and then there’s the surfing. The instructors Kiki and Kelly are exactly who you’d want as your instructors. They are knowledgeable, encouraging, warm, and amazing surfers. Lucy kept us organized, well looked after and laughing and Dustin was the mastermind behind the whole magical experience. We surfed each morning then did fantastic activities each afternoon (shhh! they’re a surprise). I had only surfed twice before and I left the week catching my own waves. You don’t need to be a surfer to go. What you need is a willingness to try and they will help you with the rest. I posted photos on FB and my friends can’t stop talking about how incredible it looked and how much they want to go. Do yourself a favor and go. I came back grounded and centered and at the same time, walking on air.
Mahalo to Joy for always keeping our campers nourished, body and soul!I attended the second annual women’s surf camp in June and it was AMAZING!! i had seen the post on instagram about the women’s camp and jumped at the opportunity. I am so glad that i did. It was a week of surfing with the best female instructors, yoga on the beach, an amazing chef who made all of our healthy meals and fun activities. The sense of empowerment and encouragement among all of the women attending was one of the most rewarding parts of the camp along side the surfing. I highly recommend booking into the next one, i know i will 🙂 Dustin and her team really made it a special experience. Mahalo Ladies!
Surf Coaches
Kelly Potts
Kelly is a professional surfer, an exceptional surf instructor and a proud prAna ambassador. She is highly skilled at teaching the mechanics of long boarding, and her graceful and innovative surfing style serves as inspiration for our campers and staff alike. Kelly also hosts free clinics around the country, empowering girls and women to come together through the sport of surfing. Kelly has been a part of the MSG team since 2004.
Surf Coach Kelly Potts Image: prAnaKiki Martins
Kiki is our Brazilian powerhouse, gracing our campers with excellent surf coaching and heartfelt mentorship. She brings out the best in our campers- her passion and enthusiasm for surfing is infectious. Kiki also teaches year round at our surf school in between surfing all the best surf breaks in Maui. She’s a talented short boarder and the mother of a teenage son.
Surf Coach Kiki demonstrates some cross-steppingGina Mills
Gina is also known as MSG’s “ambassador of aloha”. She goes above and beyond to ensure that all our students and their families have top-notched customer service. She’s been with MSG since 2011 & has been many roles with us. She teaches our surf lessons, helps run the surf school during our busy seasons, and teaches and mentors our teen girls at our summer surf camp. Everyone loves Gina’s approachable and compassionate personality both in and out of the water. Gina’s travel bug has taken her living months at a time in Panama and Mexico as she loves practicing her Spanish and surfing skills.
Surf Coach Gina Mills shares her graceful style with our campers!
Camp Directors
Raised on Maui, Dustin Tester’s dad taught her how to surf when she was seven. She’s been a multi-sport water athlete ever since. She received her bachelor’s degree from Prescott College’s, wilderness therapy program. In the desert canyons of the San Juan River, Dustin got her inspiration for Maui Surfer Girls during her thesis project on creating a rite of passage for teenage girls. She’s taught thousands of students about the stoke of surfing, and living aloha.
Lucy Woodward has been at MSG almost as long as our camp has been in existence – since she was 14! She knows our surf camp inside and out — from being a camper, around camp staffer, surf instructor and now assistant director. We are so proud of the contributions, commitments, and contagious passion she has brought to Maui Surfer Girls through the years.
Accommodations
We are proud to host our women’s surf camps at Camp Olowalu. We reserve the inner cabin area as our private facility for the week, which features ‘on the sand’ cabins, two full, newly renovated bathrooms, and a spacious kitchen and mess hall area. The campground also features limited wi-fi and laundry facilities. The campground is located about 30 minutes from Kahului Airport (OGG) and 10 minutes from historic Lahaina town.
Enjoy evenings under the stars before heading to our oceanfront cabin, complete with raised air mattresses! to be lulled to sleep by the wavesTravel
Free Airport Shuttles on Opening & Closing Days run from 10am–3pm*
*Please note that if you arrive a day or more before camp start dates or stay after camp closing date, you will be in charge of your own accommodations & transportation to and from camp.
If arriving by car, please be at Camp Olowalu by 3pm for our 4pm opening circle. (You do not NEED a car for this camp, on-island transportation is included in the cost)
If arriving by plane, please arrive before 3pm on opening and closing days. Please fly into and out of Kahului, Maui, airport code OGG. If departing after 3pm, you will be in charge of your late afternoon/evening transportation to airport. 30 days before camp start date you will receive an email link to our travel form. Please complete our travel form with your airline itinerary so we can arrange your airport shuttle.
More About Women’s Camps
Maui Surfer Girls’ women’s surf camp is an all-inclusive retreat for beginner and intermediate surfers ages 18 and up. Oceanfront accommodations, daily surf lessons, tropical adventures, and an assortment of activities throughout the week will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. No surfing experience is necessary, just an adventurous spirit! Our women’s camps are perfect for solo female travelers or girlfriend getaways alike. Whether it’s facing your fears of the ocean, taking your sport to the next level, or just taking a week to reconnect with yourself, there’s something for everyone at this camp.
Once you arrive on Maui, you’ll be greeted at the airport by our friendly staff. Twenty minutes later, you’ll arrive at our oceanfront A-frame cabin facility, Camp Olowalu, the ultimate setting for your week of adventures. Each morning, after a healthy and filling breakfast prepared by our private chef, we head a few miles south to our designated surf spot for the week.
Our professional surf coaching team will help you improve and feel more confident in the water each day. For lunch, we will fuel up on more healthy grinds, then the afternoon activities will vary depending on the season and the weather. Past activities have included waterfall hikes, yoga, massages, snorkeling, stand up paddling, boat trips, whale watches, reading books and napping in a hammock! Evening activities range from relaxing bonfires to dance parties!
Open to women ages 18+, beginner and intermediate surfers welcome! No experience is necessary, just an adventurous spirit!
Includes:
- Professional surf coaching
- Full quiver of surfboards
- Healthy and delicious meals and snacks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Shared beachfront cabins
- On-island transportation
- Oceanside massage
- Afternoon activities
- Mystery adventure on final night
- prAna welcome bag and other items from sponsors (varies each camp)
Not included:
- Airfare
- Travel Insurance
- Gratuity
Upcoming Dates:
Camps are planned for June and October/November 2018, and January, March, June and October/November 2019.
More About Teen Camps
We strongly believe that with healthy role models, girls can be their best and achieve their goals. The mentorship element of our program provides the girls with one-on-one opportunities to bond with the instructors. Our 3:1 camper to instructor ratios are the best in the industry and sets us apart from our competition. The instructor/camper relationships are our highest priority, with both physical and emotional safety held to a high standard.
Adolescent girls are impressionable. Our instructors, many of whom are former campers themselves, are professional in their presentation through appropriate dress, behavior, attitudes, and words expressed to the girls. While our instructors are genuine in all interactions with the campers, they will model respect, honesty, and uphold a high level of physical and emotional safety both in and out of the surf.
Teen Surf Camps occur each July, click here to learn more.
About Maui Surfer Girls
Maui Surfer Girls was established in 2001 with a mission to build self-confidence in women through the sport of surfing. Maui Surfer Girls builds life-long bonds through a community of strong female role models and has been recognized nationally for their signature surf camps and co-ed surf lessons.
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