Dustin Tester, Surf Camp Founder and Director
“I’m so grateful for the incredible staff that has helped this camp become what it is today, and as we enter our 18th summer of teen camp, I’m proud to say that this year’s team is our very best yet! We are blessed to have over half of our surf camp staff return year after year. I’m excited to introduce our campers to the Teen Camp Staff for 2018!”
Assistant Director: Teresa “Tree” Rogerson
“I like to grab onto paddles and oars. It all started with rowing in college, and then it happened with raft guiding, whitewater kayaking, surf kayaking, stand up paddling… We could talk paddling all day long! Thanks to Maui Surfer Girls, I board surf too, and I am always in awe at the skills of the instructors and the campers. How quickly they learn!
I was stoked to win 2nd in Basque Country in 2007 and 3rd in Northern Ireland in 2017, in Women’s High Performance at the Surf Kayak Surf Kayak World Championships. Besides designing and building ecological landscapes, I have directed a 100 mile paddle race and taught paddling in the south and in California.
Logistics Coordinator: Lucy
Lucy 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, assistant director and director We are so proud of the contributions, commitments, and contagious passion she has brought to Maui Surfer Girls through the years. Lucy is a strong water woman having grown up in and around the ocean near Southampton, NY. One of her greatest accomplishments was her bicycle tours across the United States (NY to CA) & around Europe.
Lucy’s humorous and goofy personality mixed with her adventurous spirit really lets campers feel at ease, try new things, give it their all, while laughing the whole time. Lucy is also a graduate of Prescott College, majoring in Environmental studies & marine conservation. Due to her passion for the environment and love of natural history Lucy always encourages campers to become more aware of and care for their surroundings. Lucy’s favorite Maui adventures other than surfing includes spending time sailing the Maui waters or exploring and camping the many trails and secluded areas Maui has to offer.
Surf Instructors:
Kelly Potts
Kelly has been a part of the MSG team since 2004. She is a professional surfer, an exceptional surf instructor and a proud prAna ambassador. Kelly’s graceful and innovative long boarding style serves as inspiration on the water, and her amazing spirit and zest for life is contagious to everyone she meets. Kelly also spends a lot of time giving back to the community, by hosting events such as her free Kelly Clinics and the annual XOXO event, empowering girls and women to come together through the sport of surfing.
Gina Mills
Gina is also known as MSG’s “ambassador of aloha”. She goes above and beyond to ensure that all our students and campers have a top-notch experience! She’s been with MSG since 2011 and has had many roles with us. She teaches our surf lessons, runs the surf school in the summer, and teaches and mentors the girls at our teen camp. Everyone loves Gina’s approachable and compassionate personality both in and out of the water.
Kiki Martins
Kiki is our Brazilian powerhouse, gracing our girls with excellent surf coaching and heartfelt mentorship. This will be her 4th summer as a lead surf instructor with MSG. Kiki brings out the best in our campers, while her passion and enthusiasm for empowering teen girls through surfing is infectious. Kiki also teaches year around at our surf school in between surfing all the best surf breaks in Maui. She’s a talented water woman, who shortboards, long boards, stand up paddles and surfs the big waves with the best of them! Kiki moved from Brazil to Maui eighteen years ago.
Carole Berthiaume
Carole was a surf instructor with Maui Surfer Girls from 2013-14. She just returned to Maui after a few years back in the mainland running her own surf school in South Carolina. Carole has 23 years of surfing experience including competitive surfing. Her degree in Marine Biology goes hand in hand with her love of the ocean. She is ecstatic to be back teaching surf lessons with MSG and is really looking forward to her first Teen Camp and helping to inspire the next generation of female surfers!
Chef: Krystine “Krys”Nakano
This will be Krystine’s third year with Maui Surfer Girls! She was born in Japan, grew up in Oahu and moved to Maui seven years ago. Her passion for food started in her senior year of high school, which carried on to college where she graduated from University of Hawaii’s Maui Culinary Academy. She is currently working at Seabury Hall School (where both our director Dustin and our Marketing Manager Liz Smith attended). When she’s not running around in a kitchen, you can catch her running after her four-year old daughter, Naiya. “I’m looking forward to spending another summer with the campers and staff!”
Nurse: Elise Tacker
Elise Tacker has been a Registered Nurse for over 9 years, specializing in Women’s Health for the last 5 years. She is excited for her first year as Camp Nurse, helping everyone have a safe & fun experience at Teen Surf Camp! Born on Oahu, she has also lived and worked in Idaho, California, & New Zealand, sharing the Aloha spirit along the way. She is passionate about empowering young women to reach their goals through holistic wellness of their bodies, minds, and spirits. As the natural world itself is incredibly healing, Elise spends her free time enjoying outdoor recreation. She is an avid hiker & backpacker, experienced horseback rider, has paddle boarded many lakes, rivers, & oceans, and has competed nationally in rock climbing. She loves to practice yoga and teach others about the benefits of meditation & mindfulness.
Van Driver and Afternoon Activity Leader: Jennifer Sadoski
“Hey everyone! I am Jennifer! I have been surfing for about 20 years, and teaching surfing almost as long. I taught myself how to surf (with the help of some of the old guys!) in the frigid waters of Rhode Island! I moved to San Diego in 2001 for work, but have enjoyed the surf there quite a bit. I have traveled to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Baja Mexico, and Hawai’i to surf! I am currently working as a Veterinary Technician at Sea World in Orlando, and I have also been a zookeeper with way too many animals to name here!! Polar bears are my fave!! I am really looking forward to being a part of the MSG ohana this summer. I am inspired by the philosophy of MSG and hope I can inspire some of you!! Aloooooooha!!!!”
We can’t wait to meet all of our new campers and reconnect with all our returning campers this summer! See you soon!