I found One Wave while searching for a decent quality used board for my 8 yr old daughter. I picked two boards simply by "the way they looked" without any knowledge of whether they were good for my daughter or not. THANKFULLY, Tyler explained why those boards wouldn't work well and then laid out 3 boards to discuss the differences. He found a GREAT looking 8 foot longboard with wood veneer on the deck. He saved us frustration and a few hundred dollars!
We then signed up for a "daddy/daughter" surf lesson. The date of the lesson got shifted a bit because conditions were too big for beginners. I totally agree.
First, all of our email & texting contact was responsive and positive. Right off the bat, I was stoked. Next, we received detailed email information that let us be completely prepared for our lesson. I'm a "planner", so this was super beneficial.
I have a 70 lb (yes, seventy) 11'x28"x4" longboard I had made in Waikiki when I first started. It's geared specifically for those waves because we used to go there a couple times a year. I can't carry it anymore. Tyler brought 2 boards (one on the small side, one of the larger side) of something I could carry and yet would still float me. Given, I weigh a hefty 265 lbs, I couldn't believe what he picked would even float me. That alone gave me some hope that iIcould get in the water again.
My daughter had 2 lessons in Kauai last year and I had 2 lessons in Waikiki 20 years ago. Basically, neither of us know anything or how to surf...lol! In addition, I have some semi-severe cervical & spinal issues which has kept me out of the water for the last 10+ years.
Tyler was totally accommodating and frequently checked on me to make sure things were good...and they were.
We went to our lesson without any expectation of getting up or riding a wave. I think that is invaluable for beginners. We all want to ride, but the expectations need to be realistic to the skill set we do or don't yet have. This class is perfect for that.
I was so impressed with his Skill Level 1 class. He covered elements of a surf report, how to wax a board, how to deal in the ocean WITHOUT a board (very important), did some great yoga stretches which directly pertain to movements used in surfing, the different "zones", different techniques for getting you & the board out in the water, getting in a good paddle or float spot on the board, how to turn your board in the water (while sitting, not riding).
All these things are critical for beginners like us. I struggled for years without any of this knowledge.
My daughter is a fish. She's had pool swimming lessons every summer since she was 18 months of age. She had an absolute blast. Tyler quickly developed a good student/teacher relationship with her which helped her deal with beginning realities of the ocean. Perfect for her/us.
We had shore talk, in the water, shore talk, in the water, & final shore talk. That was exactly what I needed. In Waikiki, you just keep paddling for a quarter mile, get pushed into a wave, paddle, paddle, & paddle. You're so burnt that you don't even want to deal with surfing for a couple days.
My daughter was very sad when the lesson was over. She had such a great time. We both learned a TON. We were even given homework before the next lesson. And, yes, there will be a next lesson.
Our experience was fantastic. I strongly recommend buying a board from Tyler. Let him help you pick one for your size/skill. I strongly recommend your first lesson be with One Wave. We have only dealt with Tyler, but I'm confident the rest of his crew are on board with his program.
Well, now there's 2 new kooks sharing the waves! read more