Semi Private Surf Lessons with Experienced Coaches

The best part of this Maui surf lesson is the amount of time you spend in the water. After a useful 30-minute session on shore, you get roughly 90 minutes of practice with a small group and no more than three students per instructor. That gives your coach room to help with paddling, timing, balance, and the all-important pop-up.

I like the clear safety briefing and the patient teaching style. Coaches such as Andrew, Maggie, Jedi, and Sloane adjust their help to each student, from a nervous first-timer to an older beginner who simply wants to get upright once. I also like the practical setup: boards, booties, and rash guards are supplied, and parking is free and easy at Ukumehame Beach Park.

The main consideration is physical effort. Paddling works your shoulders and neck, and the coral bottom makes booties useful. You’ll also want long shorts or leggings to limit board rash, plus reef-safe sunscreen on the backs of your legs.

Key points to know before you book

• A 30-minute beach lesson comes first: Learn ocean awareness, surf etiquette, and the pop-up before entering the water.
• You get about 90 minutes in the water: That is plenty of time to practice, rest, paddle back out, and try again.
• Small groups keep coaching personal: Parties have two to six people, with a maximum ratio of three students to one instructor.
• Ukumehame offers a memorable setting: You’ll have mountain views behind the beach and Lanai and Kaho’olawe visible across the water.
• Gear is included: Longboards, soft tops, hard tops, booties, and rash guards are provided.
• You must know how to swim: The activity also calls for a strong level of physical fitness and is intended for ages 11 and up.

Starting at Ukumehame Beach Park

Your lesson begins at Ukumehame Beach Park on Highway 30, just south of Lahaina. The meeting point is straightforward, with free parking directly off the highway. That simplicity matters on Maui, where a busy morning can become needlessly stressful if you are hunting for a remote launch point or hauling equipment a long way from the car.

Ukumehame is also a pleasant place for family members who are not taking the lesson. Someone can sit on the beach, watch the session, or let younger children play nearby. The tradeoff is limited shade, so bring protection for anyone waiting on shore. The beach scenery does much of the work: mountains rise inland, while Lanai and Kaho’olawe can appear on the horizon across the water.

Once you arrive, expect preparation rather than an instant rush into the surf. You’ll get fitted with the supplied rash guard and booties, then choose or receive a board suited to the lesson. The equipment includes longboards, soft tops, and hard tops, giving the school flexibility for different students and conditions.

For first-time surfers, the soft-top board is especially helpful because it is forgiving and stable. You are not expected to arrive knowing which board is right. Your instructor can guide that choice and keep attention on the basics.

The first 30 minutes: safety, etiquette, and the pop-up

The land lesson is not filler. It is where you learn how to behave around waves, other surfers, and your own board before the water adds noise and movement. You’ll cover ocean awareness, surf etiquette, and the sequence for getting from lying down to standing.

That first section also lets you ask questions while your feet are still dry. If you are nervous, this is the time to say so. Several instructors have a gentle way of working with hesitant students, and the teaching is not limited to one standard speech. Andrew, for example, has been praised for explaining each step clearly and helping a reluctant young student gain confidence. Maggie is also known for making safety easy to understand while keeping the technique simple.

The pop-up practice is one of the most useful parts for beginners. On land, you can focus on hand placement, foot position, and balance without a moving board beneath you. The school uses an approach that students have found easier on the body than simply forcing themselves up, which can make a real difference when you repeat the movement many times.

Pay attention here. A good pop-up is not just about standing quickly. It helps you land in a balanced stance and keeps your weight in a place where the board can continue forward. The more carefully you practice on shore, the less frantic the first water attempts feel.

The next 90 minutes: catching beginner waves

The water portion lasts about an hour and a half, which is the heart of the lesson. You’ll paddle out, wait for suitable waves, and work through repeated attempts with your coach. Your instructor may help you choose a wave, push you into it, or give you a hand when your arms need a break.

This is where the small-group format earns its price. With a maximum of three students per instructor, the coach can watch your position and give corrections that match your actual problem. Maybe you are standing too early. Maybe you are looking down. Maybe you are paddling well but missing the wave. The goal is not simply to send everyone in the same direction and hope for the best.

Sloane, for example, has been praised for finding the right waves, helping with the paddle out when arms became tired, and giving a timely push into the wave. That kind of hands-on help is valuable for a first lesson because you may understand the movement on land but lack the strength or timing to create a successful ride on your own.

Your first ride may be brief. That is normal. Surfing asks you to coordinate paddling, balance, timing, and a quick change of position, all while the ocean keeps moving. Still, the lesson is arranged to give you several chances rather than one dramatic attempt. Some beginners get up on their first try. Others need repeated corrections. The small group lets your instructor keep encouraging you without turning the class into a private lesson.

Expect your shoulders and neck to work hard. One student described the physical demand clearly, and it is worth taking seriously. You may feel fine during the first few waves, then notice the effort as you paddle back out. Use the rest periods. A coach can help you decide when to pause, and arriving hydrated will make the session more comfortable.

Why the coaches matter more than the scenery

Maui provides the setting, but the instructor shapes the quality of the lesson. The strongest praise for this class centers on patience, clear explanations, positive energy, and the ability to teach people with different levels of confidence.

Andrew Goldberg has helped beginners who had never surfed before and people taking lessons with a spouse or child. His style includes steady encouragement and close attention to safety. He has also been effective with hesitant students, which is important when a family member is less eager than everyone else.

Maggie brings a lively, supportive approach without skipping the technical details. She has helped first-timers stand repeatedly and has also worked well with people who had taken lessons elsewhere but still struggled to get upright. If you are nervous about looking awkward, an upbeat coach can help you keep trying after a few falls.

Jedi is another instructor frequently singled out for enthusiasm and patience. He has taught older beginners as well as younger students, adapting the instruction rather than assuming everyone moves the same way. His playful approach can be useful with children, but the important point for adults is that he also pays attention to rest and safety.

Sloane’s strength is practical coaching in the water. She helps students locate manageable waves, conserve energy, and get a useful push when paddling becomes tiring. You may not need that much assistance, but it is reassuring to know the coach is watching for more than just your pop-up.

Instructor assignments can change, so you should not book on the assumption that one named coach is guaranteed. The useful takeaway is that the school has several experienced instructors who bring different personalities to the same basic method.

The setting and the small details that improve the day

Ukumehame Beach has more than a good place to practice. The mountain view behind you and the islands on the horizon give the lesson a strong sense of place. You are not practicing in a featureless training pool. The scenery remains part of the day, even when your attention is fixed on the next wave.

The beach bottom is coral, which is why booties are included and worth wearing. They protect your feet when you stand, walk in the shallows, or lose your balance. A rash guard is also supplied, but the most useful clothing tip is to wear leggings or long shorts if you have them. Bare thighs can rub against the board during repeated attempts.

Apply reef-safe sunscreen before the lesson, paying special attention to the backs of your legs. You’ll spend much of the session lying on the board with those areas pointed toward the sun. This is an easy spot to miss, and a painful sunburn can follow an otherwise excellent morning.

A photographer may be working at the beach, taking pictures that you can purchase afterward. This is optional rather than part of the listed price, so treat it as a possible souvenir, not an included feature. Your family can also watch from shore, though the lack of much shade means they should prepare for sun.

Is $165 a good value?

At $165 per person, this is not the cheapest activity on Maui. It is also more than a quick group introduction where several students may receive only brief attention. The value comes from the structure: two hours, about 90 minutes in the water, an experienced licensed English-speaking instructor, and a maximum three-to-one student ratio.

For a first-time surfer, that ratio matters. You are paying for useful corrections, not simply access to a board. If you are sharing the lesson with one or two people you know, the semi-private format also keeps the session more personal while costing less than a one-on-one class.

The price makes the most sense for a party of two to six who want to learn together. A couple can encourage each other without joining a large class. A family with older children can share the same outing, provided every participant meets the age and swimming requirements. If one person needs much more help than the others, a private lesson may be a better fit, though that is a different arrangement.

Included equipment adds practical value. You do not need to rent a longboard separately or bring booties and a rash guard. Gratuity is not included, so budget separately if your instructor gives you a safe, useful, and encouraging lesson.

Who should book this lesson?

This class is a good match for you if you are a beginner, can swim confidently, and want a real attempt at surfing rather than a quick photo opportunity. It suits couples, friends, and families with participants ages 11 and up. The teaching style also appears well suited to mixed confidence levels, including one person who is excited and another who is unsure.

Older adults can take part if they have the required fitness and swimming ability. The lesson has worked well for beginners over 65, but you should be honest about your shoulders, neck, balance, and general stamina. Paddling and repeated attempts to stand are real exercise.

The experience is less suitable if you dislike active water sports, cannot swim, or want a relaxed beach morning with no strenuous effort. Surf conditions and weather matter, and the lesson may be moved or canceled if conditions are poor. If that happens, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

You also need to accept that standing up is not guaranteed. The coaches can improve your chances with instruction, wave selection, and encouragement, but surfing still depends on timing, balance, conditions, and your own energy.

Booking, cancellation, and practical planning

This is a private activity for your own group, even though the lesson itself is semi-private. Your party can include two to six people, and the advertised minimum age is 11. Everyone must know how to swim, and the activity calls for a strong level of physical fitness.

Confirmation is sent when you book, and the ticket is mobile, so you do not need a printed voucher. Plan to arrive at Ukumehame Beach Park, 615 HI-30, Lahaina, and expect to finish at the same location.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted. Service animals are allowed. These are small details, but they matter when you are arranging a Maui schedule around weather and water conditions.

Should you book Maui Surfer Girls?

Book this lesson if you want a well-supported first try at surfing, value a small group, and are ready for a workout. The two-hour format gives you enough time to learn on land, practice in the water, rest, and try again. The supplied gear keeps the packing list short, while the scenery makes the setting feel distinctly Maui.

I would choose it especially for a couple or family group with mixed confidence levels. Andrew, Maggie, Jedi, and Sloane each bring a different teaching style, but the common strengths are safety, patience, and practical help in the water. Just bring reef-safe sunscreen, cover your legs if possible, and do not underestimate the paddling.

If you cannot swim, have limited physical fitness, or want a guaranteed stand-up photo, skip it. For everyone else, $165 is a fair price for a small-group lesson with substantial water time and a good chance to leave with a new skill, even if your first ride lasts only a few seconds.

FAQ

How long is the semi-private surf lesson?

The lesson lasts approximately two hours. About 30 minutes are spent on land learning ocean awareness, surf etiquette, and pop-up technique, followed by about 90 minutes in the water.

What ages can participate?

The activity is for participants ages 11 and up. Everyone must also know how to swim.

How many people can join the lesson?

A party can include two to six people. The maximum student-to-instructor ratio is three to one, and only your group participates in the private activity.

What equipment is included?

Longboards, soft tops, hard tops, booties, and a rash guard shirt are included. Gratuity for the instructor is not included.

Where does the lesson meet and finish?

The lesson begins and ends at Ukumehame Beach Park, 615 HI-30, Lahaina, Hawaii 96793. Parking is free and located off the highway.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted. If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.