Goofy Foot Surf School is Maui’s original surf and stand-up-paddle academy. Founded in 1994 by former pro surfer Tim Sherer, the Lahaina-based, fully licensed and insured team of CPR/first-aid-certified instructors teaches kids th...
Families absolutely rave about the instructors here, with Javier, Junior, Fabio, and Curran earning particular praise for their patience and teaching skills. What stands out most is how quickly complete beginners get up on their boards—often within the first lesson—thanks to solid beach instruction followed by hands-on guidance in the water. The instructors seem genuinely invested in making sure everyone catches waves, helping with timing, even towing tired surfers back out when needed. The location is consistently described as ideal for learning, with manageable waves and a less crowded setting. Groups stay small (around 4-5 people), which means plenty of individual attention throughout the two-hour sessions. Ages range from young kids to retirees, and the success rate is impressive across the board. One small heads-up: while a photographer captures your session, those photos come with an extra charge of around $80. That said, longtime customers keep returning year after year, which speaks volumes about the quality and consistency of the experience.
Our family of 5 from Wisconsin went to Maui at the end of June. We had an amazing time learning to surf with Junior at Goofy Foot Surf School! The views and the water were incredible! We've never surfed before and all of us were able to get up and ride some waves. We spent time on the boards on the beach, learning the steps and then hit the water. Our daughters (24, 21, 18) had a blast and seemed like naturals thanks to Junior's direction on when to start paddling. My husband and I had a great time too! I wasn't sure how hard it would be for us but we did just fine! Whenever I was getting tired, Junior would tow me out to further, which was terrific! We got a lot of great photos from a local photographer and would highly recommend Goofy Foot to anyone!
Julie Hewitt
4 months ago
Our family of 5 from Wisconsin went to Maui at the end of June. We had an amazing time learning to surf with Junior at Goofy Foot Surf School! The views and the water were incredible! We've never surfed before and all of us were able to get up and ride some waves. We spent time on the boards on the beach, learning the steps and then hit the water. Our daughters (24, 21, 18) had a blast and seemed like naturals thanks to Junior's direction on when to start paddling. My husband and I had a great time too! I wasn't sure how hard it would be for us but we did just fine! Whenever I was getting tired, Junior would tow me out to further, which was terrific! We got a lot of great photos from a local photographer and would highly recommend Goofy Foot to anyone!
Julie Hewitt
4 months ago