Update - we did speak to owner and was refunded our money with many apologies for our experience. Matthew did not represent the company well nor follow proper protocol, stating there were other concerns regarding Matthew's behavior. I feel the experience we had needs to be shared but we are now neutral about this company in general.
We called on the Friday before our lesson (following Wednesday) regarding the forecast - storm, rain all day. We wanted our five year old to have a great experience and thought rain and choppy water could hinder that. During conversation we were told it wouldn't be a problem, if needed there would be life jackets, wouldn't go out too far, blah, blah, blah. They make it especially great for the young ones - ha. The day of lesson it is nasty and was worse than forecasted on Friday. Our lesson was pushed back an hour to 330p due to weather and should be better conditions. We arrived and met with Matthew (I believe) who clearly was not himself - backwards shirt, filthy shorts, terrible equipment, everything was awful! He decided we should change locations due to weather - rain is coming down, water is so choppy - since over there was a sand bottom and water was only up to chest (yes, but over my five year old's head). We asked multiple times if safe for our child and the response was, "Yes, I will be with him the entire time, but there is only one of me so it will be hard to teach all of you because I have to stay with him (there were three in our party, ages were all filled in on website. So not my problem you did not plan ahead with this awful weather....or cancel and give us a refund). We asked for a lifejacket because the surf was so active. He says, "Can he not swim?" I respond, yes he can, but this is rough for a full size adult, let alone a child. He responds, "I think I have an adult small." hmmmmmm... that would be way too big for my tall, slender child. But again, he states he will be with him the entire time and will not go out that far. On to land instruction. My husband have I have done this before and have wonderful instructors. This guy was an absolute chaotic mess - all over the place, lost his train of thought, laughed constantly saying you know or just kidding or just nothing. We also had our 17 year old nephew who is very athletic and he was asking my husband and I for more instruction because we have had multiple experiences. After a 5 minute lesson it was into the water, and again, he told my husband he would stay with our child close to shore. Then after he pushes my husband out, he reminds me there is only one of him and if my child comes into close to shore I would have to catch him so the board wouldn't flop him around in the surf (again, not my problem, I paid for all of this and you should be prepared!) Well, the instructor and my child head out and they are paddling and paddling and paddling until they reach where my husband and nephew are. The waves are so high you cannot see them when the wave goes down. Well, my child does a run, is doing great just laying on the board, getting the hang of it, riding the wave and he falls off. You can hear me in the video panicked that he is off the board, video cannot find him and I am pleading for the instructor to get him! He is just floating in the water not really paying attention and teaching my nephew. My husband told me he told the instructor to go get him and he said he was fine. oh no he was not! I finally did see his head and board pop up and my child can be seen attempting to get on the board and than another wave hits and he is gone. I threw my phone on the shore and was headed out to try and get him, but the waves were so strong. I was screaming frantically, my husband was trying to get to him. It was awful!!!!!!! Finally the instructor gets to him and my child gets on the board and the instructor pushes him into shore. Didn't come with him, didn't console his fear and talk to him about the experience he just had, but rather left him to me and the crashing waves to unleash him while trying to control the board. And as I am getting him to the shore he is crying and says, "mom why didn't you help me?" I was helpless and just hugged him, thankful I could. read more