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Our Surf Story
Looking for surf instructors to guide you in the art of surfing? Look no further than North Shore Surf Girls, founded by Carol Philips. Our team provides a safe and inclusive surfing experience for people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world.
With a passion for surfing developed growing up on the North Shore of Aahu, Carol knows firsthand the thrill and intimidation of the sport. Our expert instructors are here to make it easy and fun, teaching you the proper board protocol and how to navigate currents. Most importantly, we’ll help you master the ultimate goal: standing up and riding a wave!
Don’t waste a minute of your precious time in Oahu. Let us help you make the most of your visit by learning to surf with instructors who care about your success and are eager to share Hawaii’s gift to the world. Contact North Shore Surf Girls today!
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Instructors
Our professional instructors at North Shore Surf Girls are the best at what they do.
They have put the time in and have the experience in the waters on the North Shore of Oahu to effectively teach others how to surf. The North Shore Surf Girls are ocean women first, with experiences ranging from surfing Waikiki for fun, charging Waimea Bay for the wave of a lifetime, and surfing around the globe in competition, to surfing for film and television in movies and shows from Blue Crush to Bay Watch.
We are committed to sharing that gift with all who come to our islands with the highest standards of safety in the industry.
Our experienced professional instructors are Red Cross Lifeguard certified and qualified in CPR and First Aid Responder training. Whether they’re teaching surfing lessons on Oahu or surfing Waikiki, all instructors are also trained on the various local spots in terms of current flow and the way the multiple waves break. All instructors begin their surfing lessons on land with an explanation about surfing basics and safety. Men, women, boys, girls, groups, or families are all prepped on what the protocol is for board responsibility, how to look for currents, and, most importantly, how to get up to their feet and ride a wave!
Our surf instructors are with you all the way!
Once your surf lessons enter the water, our instructors are right beside you, helping you learn which waves to catch, paddle techniques, and the proper way to stand up. The North Shore Surf Girl surfing instructors hope to make friends for life with all who visit our surf school and Hawaii. We very much care that you have an enjoyable time learning to surf with us.
Our surf school strict student-to-teacher ratio
You will never have more than four surf school students per instructor per group surf lesson. Our Family Private surfing lesson is a ratio of three surf students per instructor our semi-private lessons are two students to one instructor and a private lesson is one student with one instructor
Please get to know a few of our surf instructors as they share a little bit of themselves in the hope of also sharing SURFING… Hawaii’s Gift to the World!
Carol
Aloha! My name is Carol; I believe that surfing is Hawaii’s gift to the World. I love to share surfing with my friends by giving surf lessons. I grew up in Hawaii, and at the age of 14 on the North Shore, Oahu, I discovered bodyboarding and fell in love with surfing Hawaii’s big waves. I have competed professionally, winning two National Championships – 1989 and 1991 and placing second in the World in 1992. In the 2000 World Surfing Games, I placed 7th overall in bodyboard surfing. I was the first woman in the World to compete at the Pipeline, and I’m also the founder of the Women’s Pipe Championships on the North Shore Oahu; 2009 was our 20th straight year of women competing at this most famous wave. I was featured in the chapter “Stepping Out” in the book North Shore Chronicles, by Bruce Jenkins and was the EVENT COORDINATOR – Carol Anne Philips in the movie Blue Crush. Coming of age on the North Shore has instilled in me a love of our community and a desire to protect it; as a consequence of this, I have run for political office. I also served on the North Shore Neighborhood Board and as Chair of the Hawai’i State Commission on the Status of Women, but I’m happiest when I’m in the ocean, sharing my love of surfing with people for the first time.
Peace, Carol
Aimee
Aloha, my name is Aimee. I was born and raised on the Island of Kauai and moved to the North Shore of Oahu in 2010. My love of the ocean started at a very young age! As a kid growing up in Hawaii was the best! Always at the beach, playing, swimming & surfing with friends and family. As a young adult, I moved to California to spread the aloha spirit and wings of adulthood. While there I met some amazing woman surfers, who introduced me to an all-women surf school called Surf Diva (La Jolla, California). They asked me to teach at their surf school as their first Hawaiian Surf Instructor. This was back in the early 2000s when woman surfing was getting big in the industry. I said yes and loved it! I ended up doing surf camps, and surf retreats in Mexico and teaching women from the very young to the young at heart. After my time in California, I came back to Hawaii (Kauai) and continued to teach surf lessons and travel the world to surf. I have been to Costa Rica, Bali, Sayulita, Mexico & Australia. Then, I decided to move to Oahu, where I met Carol (owner of NSSG) in this surfing community. We instantly became friends and she offered me a job! Now, I am a mother to a beautiful daughter that also loves the ocean, For me to teach someone how to ride a wave is the best feeling! Mahalo for reading my story and see you soon!
Jana
Aloha and Welcome to the North Shore surf girls surf school. My name is Janna, and I have been enjoying a life of surfing since age 10. Born and raised here on Oahu’s North Shore, I am more than happy to share my knowledge and experience with you. Any sport in the water has been a common theme in my life since I was a small child; I have competed as a collegiate NCAA swimmer & water polo player, I enjoy paddling boarding, stand up paddling, and of course, surfing, anything in the water and I am hooked. Surfing is my passion, and I would love to share that with you.
Christian
Aloha, and welcome to the North Shore! My Name is Christian; I am an all-around water woman and first leaned to surf from my lifeguard parents when I was 2 years old. I was raised on Maui and moved to the North Shore of Oahu in 1990 to study marine biology and train Hawaiian monk seals at the Waikiki Aquarium. I have been surfing and competing on the North Shore since then. I have also traveled to Fiji, Indonesia, Australia, and Mexico to surf and dive. My specialty is teaching children, and I am the proud mother of a five-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy, both of whom started surfing before they could walk and have won numerous trophies. I love living and surfing on the North Shore and love teaching people to surf!
Gypsy
Aloha, I am Gypsy. Welcome to our surf school. I grew up surfing and competing in the big waves of Sunset beach on the North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii. Here the warm waters, friendly surf girls, and waves made of perfection
will send you to a place you have only dreamed of…surfing Hawaii! Whether in Waikiki or the North Shore, surfing is more than a board and a body in the wilderness; it is a mindset and a cleansing. Teaching surf is our love. We use Hawaii’s gift to the World to live the best that life offers us by surfing Hawaii! I want to share the amazing feeling of surfing through our surf school. There’s more to life than concrete blocks and pollution, there’s surf, ocean, more surf, and our Hawaii home.
BE FREE AND COME SURF WITH US, WE’LL TAKE YOU FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!
Beccy
Aloha! My name is Beccy Cravens. I was born and raised in Southern California but have made Hawai’i my home for the past 5-years and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else for the rest of my life. I have been surfing and swimming since before I could walk. I feel so blessed to be able to surf the waves of the North Shore. I am currently a competing Stand-up Paddler, or as some people call it, “ocean sweeper” and just recently won 1st place in the 4 mile ‘SUP into Summer’ race. I am also very active in the ocean and surf community by volunteering time with non-profit organizations and beach cleanups. I love to spend most of my time in the water and would also love to take you out to experience the beautiful waters of Hawai’i and help spread the Aloha spirit that I felt when I first arrived.
FAQ
Q. Where do you teach surfing lessons?
A. We teach surfing lessons at Puaena Point and Chun’s Reef Beaches. Both locations are on the North Shore of Oahu and about 3 miles apart. When you book your class, we will send you an e-mail with maps and directions. You can also enter either name in Google Maps, and it will show up.
Q. Is it safe to learn to surf on the North Shore of Oahu year-round?
A. Yes. On bigger days, we teach you to surf in a cove protected from the larger open ocean swells. We evaluate the surf each day and take you to the safest & most fun location for your surfing lesson.
Q. Do you have a photographer taking pictures of my surf lesson?
A. Yes, we usually have a photographer taking pictures of our lessons. The price is $40 per person but there is no obligation to purchase. You get all the pictures taken during your lesson digitally delivered in high resolution. Please add a note when booking to ensure the photographer is there.
Q. Do you only teach surf lessons?
A. We offer private surfing and stand-up paddleboard lessons (one student to one instructor), semi-private lessons (two students to one instructor), private family surf or paddleboard lessons (three students to one instructor), and public group lessons (four students to one instructor).
Q. What age range are your surf students?
A. We teach students as young as 2-years of age and up to any age. We do require anyone under eight years old to book one of our private or tandem lessons; pis OK too.
Q. Why is the North Shore of Oahu an excellent place to learn how to surf?
A. There are many reasons. We teach you to surf in a cove protected from the larger waves that the North Shore of Oahu is famous for. The water is cleaner than in Waikiki, and the beaches are real. The crowds are also substantially lighter and friendlier than in Waikiki. The North Shore is the SURFING CAPITAL of the WORLD; learning to surf out here is about as authentic as it gets.
Q. How long will it take to learn surfing?
A. Most people will be able to stand up in their first surfing lesson, and some will be able to catch waves by themselves in their first lesson with coaching. However, learning how to read waves, when and where to paddle into them takes time. Depending on your goals, a minimum of three surfing lessons is a good start if you plan on taking up the sport.
Q. Should I take a one or two-hour surf lesson?
A. For first-time surfers, we recommend the two-hour surf lesson to get the most out of your surfing experience.
Q. Do you teach guys too?
A. Yes, about half of our students are male.
Q. How many people are there in a group surfing lesson?
A. Our group lessons start at three people and never exceed a 4:1 (four students to instructor) ratio.
Q. What do I need to bring?
A. Make sure to bring your swimsuit, towel, sunblock, and water to drink.
Q. Can I use my own surfboard?
A. Yes, but if this is your first time taking a surfing lesson, we suggest you use our boards; they have soft tops and are specially made for learning how to surf.
Q. What if there are no waves for our surfing lesson?
A. The North Shore is blessed because there are safe, ridable waves virtually every day. In the Summer, when it’s smaller, there is a trade wind-generated swell that wraps around the coast, bringing safe and fun 1-2 foot waves. And of course, in the Winter, when the surf is larger, we teach in a protected cove with small 1-2 foot waves. In the rare case of ocean conditions being un-rideable, we can reschedule your surfing lesson or refund your lesson money.
Q. What’s the water temperature like in Hawaii?
A. Hawaii’s near-shore water temperatures remain comfortable throughout the year. The average water temperature is 74º F. (23.3 C), with a summer high of 80º F. (26.7º C).
Q. What’s the air temperature like in Hawaii?
A. The average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85º F. (29.4 C), while the average daytime winter temperature is 78º (25.6º C). Nighttime temperatures are approximately 10º F. lower.
Q. Can I learn to surf when it’s raining?
A. Yes, we teach in the rain since we will be getting wet anyway. We do offer you the option of rescheduling or will refund the surf lesson fee if it’s raining at our lesson location, and you don’t want to surf in the rain.
Q. What should I do if I wear contacts?
A. Seeing is, of course, helpful when learning to surf, although perfect vision is not required. We recommend that you bring an extra set of glasses in case you lose one or both and need to drive after. However, people who use contacts don’t lose them if they keep their eyes closed underwater.
Q. What should I do if I get seasick?
A. Taking Dramamine has worked well for some of our past students who are prone to seasickness. It is available over the counter (Note: please consult a doctor before taking any medications.)
Q. What kind of swimsuit should I wear for my surfing lesson?
A. Something comfortable. We provide surf jerseys/rashguards.
Q. Do you provide transportation from Waikiki and Honolulu?
A. Unfortunately, we do not provide transportation. However, we strongly suggest you rent a car, and it’s the best way to see the island. Oahu also allows rideshares, including Uber and Lyft, with prices between $100 and $50. We also have a public transportation system known as The Bus. It only costs $2.75 each way but is a bit slow. Ask your hotel concierge for scheduling information.
Q. Can you recommend a place for me to stay while on Oahu?
A. Yes, we can refer you to a variety of well-priced vacation rentals. Most of our surfing lesson students wish they had stayed on the North Shore of Oahu instead of Waikiki.
Q. Are your surf instructors allowed to accept tips?
A. Yes, tips are much appreciated by our surf instructors.
Q. What forms of payment do you accept?
A. We accept all major credit cards and cash. The easiest way to book is by going to our Booking Page or by calling us anytime at 808-637-2977. If we don’t pick up, we will return the call as soon as possible.