Surfing changed my life not just as a sport, but as a way of reconnecting with myself through the ocean.
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What began as a personal healing journey became something I now share with others through gentle, trauma-informed and intuitive surf coaching.
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I teach with patience, presence, and respect for each person’s pace and space, creating a calm and supportive environment in the water.
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Every journey begins with a first step or a first wave
About My Approach
My teaching is grounded in a trauma-informed approach and shaped by my own deep connection with the ocean.
Surfing became a place of grounding, presence, and personal healing in my life, and that experience guides the way I teach. I work with patience and intuition, meeting each student where they are emotionally and physically.
Lessons focus on building confidence one wave at a time, developing trust in the water, and reconnecting with nature in a way that feels safe, supportive, and empowering.
Session Flow
Arriving at the Water
Connection & Assessment
Every lesson begins with arriving into the moment, the body, and the ocean.
Before entering the water, we talk through your experience level, comfort in the ocean, fears or concerns, and your intention for surfing.
This shared understanding creates a lesson that feels safe, personal, and aligned with where you are.
Learning with the Ocean
Skill Building & Ocean Awareness
Skills are built gradually, one wave at a time, through presence, timing, and repetition.
We begin on land and carry learning into the water, adding paddling, wave awareness, and technique only as comfort grows.
The ocean becomes a teacher guiding patience, awareness, and trust through direct experience rather than pressure.
Integration & Reflection
Beyond the Waves
Through practice, skills integrate naturally into real waves, building confidence through doing.
Each session ends with reflection: noticing what shifted, what was learned, and what comes next.
The lessons found in the ocean like patience, resilience, and trust often extend beyond surfing and into everyday life.
Testimonials
"The next day my friends took a surfing class with @surf_with_jennie
They couldn't stop praising her and how amazing it was. So - reach out to her if you need a lesson!! She is just an awesome instructor!!!"
Max
"I want to thank you again! I have been on a high since yesterday. I've told everyone I saw I had the best time surfing"
Laurie
"My first lesson with instructor and already such a huge progress!!! I had a couple of bad habits I've got from before, Jennie noticed it and we spent some time working on it, my technique got better immediately only after fixing these 2 small things. I feel so confident and safe on the water with Jennie, surfing is so fuuuun!!! I can't wait for our next lesson!!!!"
Lena
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I required to have my own surfboard and wetsuit to schedule a session?
No. All lessons include a surfboard and wetsuit, so you don’t need to own any equipment to get started. If you already have your own gear, we can absolutely use it but it’s not required.
Do I need to know how to swim to take surf lessons?
Basic swimming ability is important for safety, but you don’t need to be an advanced swimmer. I work with beginners at calm, beginner-friendly beaches and always assess comfort in the water before entering the ocean. If you’re unsure about your swimming skills, we’ll talk it through and decide together what feels safe and appropriate.
What if I’m nervous or had a difficult experience in the ocean before?
That’s completely okay. Lessons are trauma-informed and designed to meet you where you are. We move at your pace, focusing on safety, trust, and rebuilding comfort in the water.
I am an adult and have never surfed before — can I still learn?
Absolutely. Many of my students start as adults with no prior surf experience. Lessons are paced to your comfort level and focused on building confidence, safety, and connection with the ocean one step and one wave at a time.