Hi Nancy!
Yesterday morning I attended your surfing class for beginners, taught by Billy. It was great! You were right about getting up in the first class - first wave, in fact, for both students in his class. I've body boarded for about 10+ years, and body surfed for about 35 (which was natural for me, as a AAU swimmer through high school), but for some reason (partly geographic) never tried surfing. I'm glad I have now, and plan to stay with it. It's fun, a great challenge, there is a huge amount to learn and skills to develop. This can be done at my own pace, which was an important (unstated) point in your class.
Billy is an excellent teacher. He is knowledgeable, personable and most importantly, has that rather rare natural ability to tune in with his students. He was also great in the water, having complete control over the situation, which inspires confidence in his students. And the information absolutely pours out, but at a pace one can handle. You are fortunate to have him.
I was surprised at the amount of swimming effort involved (shoulders, possible the large board had something to do with this), and was glad of two things: I've been working out in the pool and there were two of us in the class. This gave us both some recovery time while the other was out with Billy.
So, thanks very much! I'm going to practice, and when I'm ready for another lesson, I'll give you a call!
Best regards,
Steve Grimes
"When it comes to Nancy Emerson's surfing instruction, the eagle has landed at its best."
Mark Hogge, Federal Attorney
"I've known and worked with Nancy Emerson for many years. I've seen her teach 100's of people to have a safe & enjoyable surfing experience. She is a True water person whose knowledge & experience is a product of more than 25 years in the surfing industry. I've surfed with Nancy all over the Hawaiian Islands & the South Pacific (Fiji-Namotu & Tavarua) so I speak from firsthand experience. I highly recommend her as a surfing teacher or partner. She helped me on many occasions......... Mahalo Nancy."
David Miller
"If there's anything you want to know about the art of surfboard riding, Maui's First Lady of Surfing, Nancy Emerson will certainly have the answer."
Gerry Lopez, Surfing's World Famous Legend
"Nancy gives you the Freedom to Learn with the personal tips to keep you trying. She works with your personal style instead of trying to teach you her style. A Great Experience, a must for everyone."
Matthew Van Hoose, Little League Coach
"It was the best choice I could have made. Nancy took my skills up to the next level. She was a wonderful teacher and a great tour guide. I was traveling by myself, so she introduced me to some really nice people and showed me all the entertainment spots and eateries. I feel the Gold Coast is a wonderful choice for surfers. I have been to Hawaii, Fiji and of course Malibu, but from my own experience the Gold Coast has many more choices than any place I've been, and the breaks are more consistent.
When I arrived in Australia, I had some poor surfing habits and did not know about all the hazards and the safety precautions one must take in the water. After my lessons, I feel a lot more confident and I am a better surfer.
I had a great time, not only with my surfing, but with the Australian culture. I admire how everyone treats everyone else with respect. Anyone looking for a good surfing safari outside of the United States should not look any further than Down Under and Nancy Emerson should certainly be the surfing guide."
Jennifer Chapman - Malibu, California, Film Industry professional
Dear Nancy,
Well, I've been home long enough for my skin to peel, my arms to stop aching and my brain to sputter into gear sufficiently to comment on my surfing lessons last week. I want to say something about the sport, the school and the superintendent.
The basic idea was simple; I was coming to Maui to answer a question: would surfing be part of the second half of my life? Forty years old, living in a Midwestern grain-break and twenty-nine years removed from a California adolescence featuring no surfing instruction leading to no surfing technique, I wanted to determine if surfing itself, rather than just the clothes or the mags, could be a genuine part of my life. What I needed was a dollop of instruction atop an entree of encouragement. Fortunately, this is America.
I chose your school for three reasons: (1) nice glossy ads in major surf publications; (2) prompt and courteous, nay genuinely interested replies to my inquiries; (3) Maui location. I was in no way disappointed. Great spots, great organization, great equipment and, fortunately, great conditions for learning, combined to make for a week of solid instruction and modest but substantive improvement. Of course I never doubted I could get up and ride a wave... provided I could muster the courage and capacity to paddle out! That's where the teaching really paid off.
As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and I'm sure it's easier to instruct a novice than to try and correct the faults of someone like me who knows just enough to get into trouble. I mean, I never doubted that if a dog could surf so could I, but could I look as good as Apache doing it? What I really appreciated was your ability to combine tolerance for my faults (which after all, and despite their severity, had sustained my enthusiasm for decades) with specific guidance for eliminating them (eg. Where to sit, where and how to paddle, where to look, how to kick out, etc.). It's true I was pretty hopeless at implementing your all-important Rule #1 (Relax), but my deep-seated predilection for tension and anxiety could hardly be undermined in a week. I should also mention how much I appreciate your efforts to inculcate respect and concern for Maui's natural environment, efforts refreshingly at odds with the prevalent Hawaii-as-amusement -park mentality.
My main goal in taking some lessons was to determine whether I could surf the rest of my life.. Whether I could master the techniques requisite for paddling out in moderate surf and catching a few waves.. Or whether I should simply be content with my childhood memories of taking off on and riding (but never pulling out of!) a handful of waves. My goal was completely realized: I can surf."
Mark P. Jenkins - Chicago, USA, Retired Stock Broker, currently Freelance Writer
"Dear Nancy.
Happy New Year! Hope you and all your wonderful instructors had a great holiday. Thank you so much for making our trip to Maui such a blast. We've been to the islands many times and this last visit was, by far, the most fun for everyone, thanks to you and Geraldine.
Peter is still talking about how he "shredded" and very time he tells someone about it, the waves get bigger and bigger. I figured by the end of this year, he'll be telling everyone he surfed the Pipeline. Alison, on the other hand, has a much more realistic recollection of the trip..."Dad, we were surfing in foam, for God's sake." Strange how people interpret the same situation so differently!
Anyway, the enclosed check is a little "thank you" to Geraldine for making Alison's vacation so memorable. She really is a fantastic instructor and I can't thank her enough. And thank you, for making a middle-aged man feel like a kid again. It really was the highlight of the year for Peter.
If you ever need a recommendation, please feel free to call us. I can't say enough about you and your school. Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo!
Nancy, Peter & Alison Anguar - Mill Valley, California
"Thank you so much for your lesson at Lahaina, Maui 30 Dec. 1998. It was a great experience for me. After the lesson, I bought a new long board at Hi-Tech Surf Shop, where you recommended and ship it to Japan. Now I have return to Japan and would like to try surfing at Kochi shore. Thank you again."
Shinichi Ikegawa - Doctor, Japan
"I have safely arrived at Tokyo yesterday and gotten back to the hectic job again. I earnestly thank you very much for your support and hospitality, which made my stay in Maui most enjoyable and unforgettable. Through the clinic at your surf school, I have realized surfing is far more interesting than I had anticipated and have determined to keep doing that. Please send my many thanks to David as well. Looking forward to seeing you soon and have KATSUDON at Arakawa's again, I really am. Mahalo!!!
Hiro Sawada Hiryuki - Banker, Japan
"We have been bragging about you to everyone. Maybe you will be seeing some of our friends soon! At any rate, we hope to get back soon and for sure we will look you up. It was nice meeting you... hope this isn't the end. Thanks again for being a great teacher."
Georgianne Nienaber - New Jersey, USA
"Dear Nancy, I wanted you to know what a great experience I had at your school this past February. My instructor Will and the instructor in training (Ed I think his name is) made my first surfing experience very enjoyable. Thanks to them surfing turned out to be easy and as much fun as I had imagined it would be. My wife's Christmas surfing gift certificate to me was well worth it. Though I must admit two things, first, it is tiring paddling out thru the waves and second, I cannot wait to try it again. I wish we could have made our stay in Hawaii longer so I could have surfed more. My wife is convinced we should move there. Anyway, I thought you should hear of the positive image your staff promotes for your school. I would be the first to recommend your school to others and plan on using it again upon my inevitable return to Hawaii. Please thank Will and Ed again for me."
Thanks,
Greg Lang - Upstate New York
"To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to comment on the status and reputation of Nancy Emerson in the international surfing community. I met Nancy for the first time in Maui. My friend and I took a semi-private surf lesson from her. I found Nancy's surfing school from the Internet. Her web site attracted me because it was professionally done, informative and fun! I was impressed by her alumni, from famous movie stars to surfing champions.
Being an instructor myself (since 1986, teaching in the computer industry) I value high quality instruction. Nancy's school is high quality! She has vast experience, emphasizes safety, as well as respect for the ocean, and her instructional techniques are extremely effective.
This experience motivated me to look Nancy up when I was in Australia for business reasons. I took a special trip up from Sydney to the Gold Coast to take another set of lessons from her .Nancy not only instructed me, but she also took me around the area, showed me different surf sites, and basically was a "tour guide" for me. I really appreciated that.
I am looking forward to my next lesson with Nancy. Her talents, experience, and instructional techniques are a great asset to the surfing community." Nancy No Ka Oi!
Sincerely,
Carla D. Gurewitz
"Nancy Emerson! Thanks so much for all the personal time and effort you gave to us, both in and out of the water to improve our surfing and enjoy our Australian holiday. Getting long rides in uncrowded conditions, meeting local surfers, and visiting different surf locations made the surfing experience memorable. Your emphasis upon ocean awareness, paddling, and wave catching techniques have helped to make surfing easier and more fun for us. We also appreciated the local arrangements you made for transportation and other activities. Everyone involved was genuinely courteous and helpful in making our holiday most successful. Based upon our experience, we would highly recommend you to anyone seeking to combine surfing with other Australian holiday activities."
Robert and Shelley Danforth - Los Angeles, CA
Aloha, Kristin, Billy, Jason & Phil!
It's been about two months since I was on Maui, and I've been meaning to write and thank you all for a wonderful experience. In spite of not managing to stand up on the board and having all my issues fly up and hit me in the face, taking surfing lessons proved to be one of the most valuable and long lasting experiences of my trip. I learned so much about letting go of expectations, being in the moment, and just being comfortable in my own skin. I don't always manage to stay in that space, but I'm there much more than I used to be, and surfing, and the support all of you gave me has a lot to do with that. The four of you made a real difference in my life - I can't thank you enough.
Mahalo,
Kate
Aloha Nancy,
Now that I've come down a bit from my Hawaiian high I'm finally able to reflect on my trip and write you this letter. As corny as it sounds, words really cannot adequately express what an extraordinary time I had when I took my series of surfing lessons from you. As you know, I hadn't surfed in almost 25 years and was feeling a lot of anxiety and self-doubt. All of that vanished at the beginning of my very first lesson. You provided instruction in a way that was clear, supportive, patient, positive and most of all, fun, I was formerly a teacher and I know what it takes to impart information and skills and, believe me, you have all of the special qualities that teaching requires. You bolstered my self-confidence and made me feel successful (and I did ride waves the first day as promised!). Life experiences are priceless to me...more important than money and material possessions. The experience I received from you and your wonderful staff - Dave, Doug and Geraldine - will stay with me always. I'm looking forward to getting out into the California surf and applying all of the things you taught me. I know now that I can do it!
Mahalo and love to you,
Jim Trombella - Santa Barbara, CA
