The shop on Cliff Street

Started out of a station wagon at Cowell in 2015. A shop with a door since 2018.

Since 2015

From a station wagon to Cliff Street

Kai Sorensen started teaching out of the back of a station wagon at Cowell Beach in 2015, with six soft-tops on the roof and a sign-up sheet on a clipboard. Lucia joined the next summer to run a kids week, and it filled in four days. In 2018 we took the lease on the old bike shop on Cliff Street, built a rinse-off out front, and put a board wall where the tire rack used to be. We teach at Cowell's because it is a slow, forgiving wave most of the year and the lineup is used to beginners. We keep it to four students per instructor, even in August. The shop sells wax, leashes, wetsuits, and a short rack of used boards that Teddy has fixed up.

The crew

Who you will meet

Most mornings it is Kai or Lucia on the sand and Teddy at the counter.

Kai Sorensen

Owner & Instructor

Grew up in Live Oak and surfed Pleasure Point before school. Started the school in 2015 after six years teaching high school biology. Still teaches the Saturday 9am.

Lucia Marin

Camp Director

Ran junior lifeguard programs for eight summers before joining in 2016. Writes the camp week, hires the summer coaches, and runs Friday video review.

Teddy Wren

Shop & Repairs

Has fixed dings in the back room since 2018. Fits wetsuits, keeps the rental quiver patched, and will tell you if the board you are about to buy is too short.

Joaquin Prado

Instructor

Watsonville native, ISA-certified since 2021. Teaches most weekday group lessons and the Saturday longboard clinic.

By the numbers

Where things stand

4:1

Students per instructor, all year

57°F

Water at Cowell this week

2015

First lesson, out of a station wagon

Fall is the season

Warmest water of the year, and fewer people

Book a 9am group lesson, a five-pack, or a camp week. Board and 4/3 wetsuit included.

See rates and book Lessons and camp