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Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Poipu

THE 5 BEST Poipu Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing

Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Poipu

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What travelers are saying

  • Elizabeth G
    Nashville, TN1 contribution
    Best part of our trip
    We had 2 great experiences with Kauai Surf School. Both Steve and Esiah were great teachers for new surfers with no experience. We learned a lot, rode some waves, and had a great time. It was awesome being able to do the land lesson and then step right out onto the beach - convenient, and the time on land really helped. My daughter (10) had a blast, and we'll be looking for more surfing on future trips. Highly recommend! Best part of our trip.
    Review of: Kauai Surf School
    Written March 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Shawn M
    1 contribution
    Fun and exciting
    Our instructor Jimmy was the man! Had both me and my lady standing up within minutes. This was the best money we spent on the island and was so fun and memorable. Jimmy, don’t forget to watch “The Wrong Missy” on Netflix - hilarious! Thanks guys!
    Review of: Poipu Beach Surf School
    Written March 11, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MichiganMandy
    Ann Arbor, MI180 contributions
    This is the place you want
    This is the place! Amazing selection of gear, and clothing and take-homes. We always rent boards from this place. The staff are locals and know the places and have great advice on where to go depending on the weather. Just find a parking spot and go. Great equipment, open til sundown, we rented two body boards for our entire vacay for $50!
    Review of: Nukumoi Surf Co.
    Written January 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jen P
    Lake Tahoe (Nevada), NV20 contributions
    Awesome surf lesson!
    Had a lesson with Kyle and it was fantastic. I have taken other surf lessons before and he is the best teacher I have had. He really takes into account your skill level and goals, and gives you very specific instructions tailored to you. His explanations are very thorough and clear and I really felt like I improved even with just one lesson. My booking was also very last minute and he was very accommodating. Would highly recommend.
    Review of: Surf Lessons by Margo Oberg
    Written December 5, 2014
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Oliver Kass
    1 contribution
    Bad surf lesson
    This is the first time I've left a TripAdvisor review, but I wanted to spare others the mistake of taking a surf lesson from Kelley. If you don't want to read the whole review, the bottom line is that Kelley totally phoned it in, spent almost the entire duration of my "lesson" hanging out with his friends and family, and I'm lucky I didn't get injured. More below.

    We had a 10am lesson. He showed up late and asked for payment up front ($100 for a private lesson). Not a great start but I rolled with it. He gave me a longboard and told me to set up on the beach and he'd be out in a few minutes. I noticed that he stopped to chat with his buddies for a while. The lax attitude was annoying, partly because my wife was also waiting to watch the lesson on the beach, but I rolled with it again.

    Then, without any explanation, he disappeared. My wife suggested I just cancel the lesson. But this was my one day on our vacation to take a surf lesson, plus I already paid him, so I waited it out. Kelley showed up after 15 minutes with no explanation. I didn't even ask, because I just wanted to start the lesson since it's now after 10:30.

    I told Kelley I'd never surfed before, except one time I'd try to surf in Santa Cruz in waves that were too big for a beginner and I dislocated my shoulder. He said no problem, let's head out to the waves, and he points to the area of the beach where experienced surfers are catching bigger waves. Huh?!? I asked if we could at least *start* at the spot where the beginners are learning, since I'd feel a lot more comfortable there. He told me to get Santa Cruz out of my head and paddle out, and he'd catch up with me. I told him I don't even know how to stand on the board. So he showed me twice. Then he said OK head out there, I'll catch up to you. Now I'm not only annoyed, but also a little nervous, but I went with it.

    I start paddling out, and I notice that Kelley is still hanging out on the beach. I make it past the break (I have no idea how to even do this, btw, I'm just paddling and getting clobbered by waves), and I'm waiting for Kelley. Eventually I see that he's gone to a different section of the water, and he's brought his young kids with him on our lesson (one is actually on his board). WTF? He's hanging out with his kids and his friends at another section of the water and waves me over to him.

    Once I paddle there, he says, I'm going to push you, just stand up. And that was it. That was my "surf lesson". I try this a few times and, as expected, keep wiping out because these waves are too big and I have no idea what I'm doing. I suggest, yet again, that we head to the smaller waves, but Kelley insists I stay here and have a "real experience." After about 30 minutes of nonstop wipeouts, I tell him I'm done, and we head back to the shore. Kelley says nothing, I give him back the board, and call it a day. A huge bummer overall.

    Look, if you you don't want to waste your time with a tourist and would rather hang out with your friends, I totally get it. But then don't put yourself out there as a surf instructor and take money for a lesson.

    And the worst part isn't that he took my money, it's that he took the time I had to learn how to surf on Kauai. Caveat emptor, folks.
    Review of: Kauai Stand Up Paddle & Surf School - Day Classes
    Written July 20, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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