Sep. 24, 2009 - I was down in Central America giving lessons this summer and observing the teaching techniques and surf programs of the surf schools down there. On a whole I was absolutely appalled. They have no regard for safety and on many occasions the students would have a five minute beach talk, taken out into the water and pretty much left alone while the instructors surfed all around them.

When the instructors did stay with their students and push them into waves it was directly in front of other people including me. On one occasion I was giving a more advanced lesson to a couple of students and only rode a few waves for examples yet this instructor would look me right in the eye and shove the student into the wave directly in my path. The students were apologetic and I let them know it is not their fault but it is not right to go in front of another surfer already riding a wave and to look both ways like when you cross a street or pull out in a traffic driving.

After three times I said “ mi amigo es no bueno, que pasa?” His reply was he was giving lessons so too bad. I explained I too was giving lessons and he simply states “ I know”. At the same time another instructor would stand right in the way so one of my students could not go and the other instructor would push his student in. I ended the lesson (tide was working against us at this point anyhow) and finished it later in the afternoon.

This gave me an opportunity to explain once again to my students surf etiquette and proper safety precautions yet what are they teaching all these beginners? These new surfers would go out on their own and think it is O.K. to go right in front of other surfers riding a wave. Trust me I saw this over and over and had to work over time letting them know this is not O.K. and very dangerous. (This was when I was free surfing).

I would go surf way down the beach away from everyone and an instructor would bring several students out into the line-up with disregard to the few surfers who were out there. I was also cut-off by the instructors while they were supposed to be giving a lesson. Not just cut-off, but then they would do a cut back and we’d collide. This too happened more than once right in front of their students.

When I was relaxing on the beach I would see a huge group of students walk by (easy to identify because of the matching colored jerseys) and what I observed was about seventeen students to two instructors. What are they thinking? The only good idea is the jerseys warn the rest of us!

Needless to say I approached these surf schools about getting them trained and certified with the NSSIA and they were not very receptive. In fact most were down right insulted and found no need for it what so ever. I am very diplomatic and handled it in a sensitive manner knowing that they have a much more macho attitude as part of their culture. I did find one surf school that takes their lessons more serious than the others and is showing interest in getting their instructors certified. I will be heading back down there soon to hopefully train them.

Mostly they just want to push as many students through the lessons as fast as possible having three to four scheduled times a day regardless of the surf conditions, from flat to big surf full of dangerous rips. Trust me I saw it all!

The sad part is I have witnessed the same stuff in Newport Beach, California and at times worse! Like when I saw a student out in a huge group lesson with big heavy tennis shoes on, or when on more than one occasion I would have to stop my lesson to go rescue the other schools student who was forgotten about during their swimming test prior to their lesson. (They must have forgotten to keep count).

The instructors here too have been pushed right in front of me and others while we are surfing down the line. The times when the students hop me I ask them if their instructors have taught them wave etiquette. The reply is no, so I ask them to go in and ask their instructors to explain it to them. The difference in Newport Beach is the city is allowing this and was not interested when I offered to certify the surf schools teaching in their city.

The question is what can we do? Is this happening around the world? Is it a losing battle? How do we teach the instructors so they can teach the students?