Surf Camp Hawaii Review
Surf Camp Hawaii Review
Are you looking for the best women’s surf camp Hawaii has to offer? Read below to hear what camper Jing shares about her first Surf Camp experience…
I traveled from Seattle, WA to Maui to join the spring women’s Maui Surfer Girls camp to try surfing for the first time. It ended up being an experience I would never forget. My best friend and I saw the ads on Facebook and took the plunge, it was well beyond worth it!
The moment we stepped foot on camp we felt a rush of positive energy. Immediately the staff radiated of hospitality, positivity, patience, and excitement. After speaking with them, they showed us our beach side cabins, which were perfectly fitted with queen sized air mattresses and strings of lights dangling from the beams. They had setup super awesome swag for us as welcoming gifts on the beds – I won’t giveaway too much about this to keep the surprise!
My friend and I were matched up with two other girls in our cabin. It was so much fun sharing the cabin with them and creating new friendships!
Surfing:
The surfing was UNREAL. I was super nervous, as it was my first time, but the instructors were incredibly thorough and patient. They stick with you every step of the way to help you boost your confidence on the board. They even got me standing in my first wave! Special shoutout to Gina and Kelly! <— seriusly the most amazing and badass women I have ever met. The beaches were gorgeous and the water temperature was perfect (although I did have a 2mm spring wetsuit).
Surf Camp Activities:
Every morning started with a surfing lesson and during the afternoons the staff had planned out different activities that we could participate in, ranging from snorkeling, hiking, going on a sunset surf, massages on the beach, to a secret surprise adventure on the last night! They gave us plenty of freedom to do as we pleased, but also provided us with plenty of options. I had actually gone to also celebrate my last days of being a bachelorette with my best friend, and they completely surprised me with a bachelorette party! They truly went above and beyond!
Surf Camp Food:
I don’t even know where to begin with the food. Imagine food heaven and that just about begins to describe it. Our cooks – Meadow and Joy, provided us with spectacular spreads of fresh fruit, divine salads, perfectly barbecued meat, and so much more. They were happy to plan out and make special meals for people who had dietary restrictions.
Mahalo to Joy for always keeping our campers nourished, body and soul!
I could go on forever about how amazing this camp is, but you really just need to experience it for yourself. Book the trip. You won’t regret it. Smell the ocean, gaze at the stars, and never stop surfing.
Surf Camp means you get a dozen new friends! DCIM100GOPROGOPR0238.
Women’s Surf Camps 2019
Maui Surfer Girls’ women’s camp is wellness retreat with a blend of physical activities and relaxation programs. The company’s focus on women’s empowerment sets it apart from other retreat experiences. “I designed this program for teen girls almost 18 years ago,” explained founder Dustin Tester, “but the need for strong females bonding together is now greater than ever. The response to this program has been fantastic, with almost all of our camps selling out this past year. Whether it’s facing your fears of the ocean, taking your sport to the next level, or just taking a week to reconnect with yourself, there’s something for everyone at this camp,” she continued.
Surf camps are open to beginner and intermediate surfers, with the all-female professional surf coaching team helping campers progress their skills each day. Besides surfing, possible activities include whale watching, snorkeling, hiking, yoga and massage. Women’s camps will be held June 4-9, June 11-16, and October 29 – November 3, 2018. Four more camps are also announced for 2019 in January, March, June and October/November. Oceanfront accommodations, professional surf coaching, a quiver of surfboards, three healthy meals a day, on-island transportation including airport transfers and various activities are all included for $1,950 plus tax per camper. Kama’aina receive a 10% discount.
Teen Girls’ Surf Camps
Maui Surfer Girls’ teen summer camp is dedicated to empowering teenage girls through Maui’s water sports, unique camp programming and strong mentorship program. Activities may include zip lining, wake boarding, snorkeling and waterfall hikes. Teens from all around the country attend the camp, and the scholarship program makes it possible for Maui teens to join the program, who might not be able to attend otherwise.
“One of the most important aspects of our camp is our mentorship program,” explained Tester. “Our camp counselors are not only excellent surfers and surf instructors, but serve as strong role models as well,” she continued. “Many of them are even former campers themselves, and truly believe in the power of this program. We love to stay in touch with our alumnae and see what they accomplish. We have Harvard graduates, Stanford students, and even some children of our earliest campers are now attending camp!”
Each teen camp is 7 nights and 8 days and costs $2,350 plus tax. Week 1 is sold out, but there is limited space in Week 2, which runs July 23-29. There is a 10% discount for Hawaii residents and Maui County residents are invited to apply for scholarships at this link, with the deadline of June 2018: https://www.mauisurfergirls.com/community-outreach/. Donations to the GoFundMe page, which go to the camp’s scholarship program, may be made on the same page.
About Maui Surfer Girls
Maui Surfer Girls was established in 2001 with a mission to build self-confidence in women through the sport of surfing. Maui Surfer Girls builds life-long bonds through a community of strong female role models and has been recognized nationally for their signature surf camps and co-ed surf lessons.
About Founder Dustin Tester
Raised on Maui, Dustin’s dad taught her how to surf when she was seven. She’s been a multi-sport water athlete ever since. She received her bachelor’s degree from Prescott College’s Wilderness Therapy Program. In the desert canyons of the San Juan River, Dustin got her inspiration for Maui Surfer Girls during her thesis project on creating a rite of passage for teenage girls. Dustin’s work with the Voyager Outward Bound School also fueled her passion for personal development through outdoor education. She’s taught hundreds of students about the stoke of surfing, and living aloha. Always adding to her bucket list, Dustin has skydived, tow surfed Jaws, written a book, surfed in Africa with elephants, taught Cher how to surf, and recently completed an Ironman. In her free time she enjoys skateboarding & surfing with her dog Luna.