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January 2024 by Iryna S.
I recently had the pleasure of taking surf lessons with Hans Hedemann Surf School, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience! From the moment I signed up, I knew I was in for a treat. The instructors at Hans Hedemann Surf School are not only skilled surfers but also excellent teachers. Their patience and encouragement made me feel comfortable in the water, even as a beginner. The thorough instructions on safety and technique were invaluable, and I appreciated the personalized attention that helped boost my confidence. The choice of location for the lessons was perfect, providing ideal waves for beginners like me. The equipment provided by Hans Hedemann Surf School was top-notch, and the instructors ensured we were familiar and comfortable with everything before hitting the waves. What sets Hans Hedemann Surf School apart is the passion and enthusiasm they bring to each lesson. The instructors' love for surfing is contagious, creating a positive and enjoyable atmosphere. Beyond just learning to surf, I gained a deeper appreciation for the ocean and the rich surfing culture they shared. If you're looking for a surf school that combines professionalism, expertise, and a whole lot of fun, Hans Hedemann Surf School is the place to be. My time with them was truly unforgettable, and I can't wait to ride more waves with their guidance. Thank you, Hans Hedemann Surf School, for an amazing surf adventure!
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January 2024 by Shu Zhang
Be careful!!! The location is not here. It’s more then one hour drive. When they charged me, they said it’s not refundable and cancelled. Then they sent me an email with the address that is at the south. When I called back, they are very unreasonable. They just said the address is on my email. But, it’s not refundable!!! When I mentioned the point, they hung me up. How rude they are!!! This is only unpleasant experience we had at Hawaii. Shame on them!!!
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June 2022 by Brie L.
We had a great time! Our kids took private lessons- age 9, 12 and 14. They felt safe and attended to the whole time. Got up multiple times and just had a blast. Hans was even part of the group and my kids were stoked to surf with him! This morning they totally rubbed it in our faces that Han Hederman taught them how to surf.
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March 2022 by Grace Wu
I took three private lessons with Mike at Laniakea Beach on the North Shore and had so much fun! I would absolutely recommend him as a surf instructor. He was very kind, knowledgeable, friendly, patient and encouraging. I have previously taken a few intro surf lessons before but still felt intimidated surfing alone without an instructor. After the lessons, I feel much more confident about going out surfing by myself. What stood out from other surf lessons was that beyond just getting passively pushed into waves, we practiced reading the waves and wind, pick good waves and catching them at the right spot, surviving when huge waves comes, doing some turns. I picked up many practical skills beyond the pop up that I didn’t get from my previous surfing lessons elsewhere. Thank you for such a wonderful experience and I’m already itching to get back into the water again!
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February 2021 by Bee C.
Details/ Background: Took one private surf lesson (1-2 hours) while in Hawaii. I'm a novice who's had 2 or 3 semi-private lessons about once per year for the past two NJ summers. My last surf lesson- over a year ago- was unfortunately stressful and resulted only in killer full-body workout, 100% falling in the water. I've been wanting to try surfing in a warmer climate and different instruction to rekindle my excitement and hopefully catch some waves!! Very happy with my experience with Hans & my instructor, Jimmy. What I appreciated about Hans: 1. Scheduling: was able to book the day before. If hoping for semi-private or group, plan in advance. 2. Facilities: clean, attractive, decent merch, easy parking across the street by Honolulu Zoo. After the session, there was clear protocol for discarding / sanitizing used rash guard + shoes. 3. Introduction: quick but thorough PowerPoint presentation with examples of what to do / not do while in the water, followed by on-land demos. What I appreciated about my instructor: Jimmy was easy going, confident, and catered to my experience and stamina (I am relatively very healthy but don't workout or swim regularly). His vibe made it easy to relax and apply simple techniques to the time in the water. Jimmy shared stories from his person experience and prior students that were insightful and relatable. Jimmy is a natural encourager and demonstrates a genuine confidence in his students in their ability to surf. Jimmy also demonstrated an intimate familiarity with the beach and water. He was able to pinpoint the distance out into the water that would yield the best result for the appropriate amount of effort based on my goals. My surf goals for this session were pretty mild-- #1: get out there #2: have a good time, feel comfortable and ENJOY #3: catch 1 or 2 waves (even kneeling would have been great). With Jimmy, I easily surpassed my goals-- got out there had a GREAT time caught several waves (standing) and finished about half to the very end of the wave, coming back down on the board for smooth completion. I would definitely recommend Jimmy for instruction at Hans Hedemann Surf School. I only wish Hawaii wasn't so far from home or I'd already book my next session!
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March 2020 by Lara R.
I can't say enough about the team at this shop. We've surfed with them many times over the past ten years - in large groups and in private lessons, at Turtle Bay and Waikiki - and I can't imagine surfing with anyone else. With my 10-year old son, Scott was a machine, getting him up on wave after wave and making sure he left feeling confident and accomplished. Derek and Jaime (a world champion) were so positive and constructive with my older son that he completely turned a corner and had a huge second day. Charley is a teacher by nature. He was gracious enough to remember my family from last year, and brought so much experience to my lessons that I was able to tandem surf AND catch my own wave by the end of the week. (It's harder than you think!) Skylar took killer photos, so the kids stay inspired for our next trip. These guys all work really hard to give everyone a great experience, so be generous where you can. Don't miss the chance to surf with HH!
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March 2020 by courtney rozendaal
Charlie was awesome! He let us check 3 items off the bucket list: SUPing on the ocean (and even catching a few waves into shore), our son learned to surf and caught a bunch of waves, and we saw a ton of sea turtles swimming all around us! Highly recommend! Mahalo Charlie!
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March 2020 by Simon Luetzelschwab
I booked the 2h group lesson package and had a great time. The staff is top notch, has all the required equipment and they have exclusive access to a nearby beach great for beginners. Our instructor Jamie Sterling is a former big wave world champion and raised and born on Oahu's north shore. Despite his intimidating background, he was patient, gave clear instructions and lifted everyone's spirits with his passion for surfing when things didn't go our way. Overall a great experience and highly recommend it to anyone who gets the chance to.
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March 2020 by James Riggs
My wife and I had an amazing time learning to surf with Charlie at Hans Hedemann Surf School. From start to finish their staff was awesome getting us set up with a custom package (couples 3 day lesson) and were super flexible with us on timing once we got there. In the water Charlie got us on waves and had us standing up and surfing on our first day. From there we learned a lot during our days there we even ended up adding an extra day before it came time to go home. We cannot thank the school or Charlie enough for giving us the surfing bug we really had an amazing time.
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March 2020 by Don Huether
Awesome experience! Scottie was our instructor and looked after us while we were in the water, giving confidence and keeping us safe. We would highly recommend paddle boarding with these folks.
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March 2020 by Alexandre Gheysen
Warm welcome, excellent teachers and team there. Scotti, Heri and Bruno were the instructors during my first week of surf. The conditions were perfect and the progress very fast thanks to them.It was an amazing week ! Thank you to the teamAlexandre
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October 2019 by Li Z.
I was nervous to try surfing but as soon as I showed up all of my nerves were gone. Charley was a great guide and I knew I was in good hands. I did a private lesson as I thought I would need the extra attention. Charley got me up on the very first wave! It was pretty cool We were staying at Turtle Bay Resort and this is the surf school at the resort. It is open to the public as well. Check them out!
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August 2019 by Honest F.
Jamie Sterling was an amazing instructor! My son caught wave after wave thanks to Jamie, too many to count in a 2+ hour private lesson. He was the best! Surfs competitively and was great with my kid. I would not recommend the group lessons as kids float around waiting their turn for forever. The school should offer semi-private, for 2 only.
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August 2019 by Shido S.
Booked a private lesson for my bday was promise a photos and shirt. Fooled me, no photos and shirt. Was told "@ least photographic memories" Wtf? Instructors played like nothing happened. Bad customer service. Gave this place a deathstar. Beware!
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August 2019 by Nicole Z.
My kids (6 and 8) were nervous and stubborn about trying surfing for the first time. Jamie and Strider did an amazing job making them feel at ease and of course as soon as they got on the board they LOVED it. Bryson and Jonah even got mom and dad to catch some waves too! Thanks to the amazing staff here - we will be back again (it's already booked!)