Paddling your board
The key is to be centered directly down the middle of your board, with your body weight equally distributed on either side of the wooden stringer. Arch your lower back and up on your ribs, keeping your eyes and head looking forward where you are going.
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"Internationally acclaimed Surfing Champion Nancy Emerson with her personal technique will teach you how to surf and will have you experience one of your finest experiences of your life."
New York Times
"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
 I wanted to say a very sincere thank you for all of your positivity, kindness and hospitality during my trip. It was great. I learned lots about my surfing technique such as relaxing my legs so I carry less weight and standing like I am swinging for a baseball. The work you did with me helping me see the little things wrong with my technique has made all the difference. I caught the best wave I have in a long time on Friday morning. The main reason being I finally felt in control on my board because I wasn't looking at it :) Thanks Nancy, you rock. Joe Rogers
"Ms Emerson, Hawaiian star, lectured Miami High School students on water safety, learning to surf and the Hawaiian Culture. The joy she gives in her teaching, you don't want to miss if you meet her."
Bulletin Sports, Gold Coast, Australia
"She has businessmen, doctors, lawyers" (as students) "There are more women now than ever before learning the sport of surfing from the renowned Nancy Emerson surfing lessons of Malibu."
Los Angeles Times
"Nancy Emerson's experience gives her a keen eye for the subtle aspects of form that have a profound effect on how well you surf. The benefit of her insight will be a valuable and enlightening experience for any surfer."
Looking forward to taking some lessons in Maui sometime soon!
Stewart Carl Engineering
"Nancy Emerson is Maui's most successful pro female surf star, surfing instructor and a major contest supporter through producing amateur surfing events."
Makana Aloha Magazine
"Nancy Emerson's surfing lessons will be the highlight of your vacation. You will appreciate the ocean in a special way."
Here's Maui Magazine
"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 Millen
"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
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
 "I have a much greater understanding and awareness of surfing now. I have learnt what to aim for and what to correct. It was a great privilege to be taught by Nancy, and all in all the week proved to be a memorable, encouraging and extremely fun experience!" Elena Vidal
Spain
"I feel that I learned a lot these past few days. I know what to work on now, and Nancy is an inspiring teacher with incredible patience. The week was very motivating, and made me want to continue surfing as much as possible. Thanks for an amazing week!"
Elisa Mosler
London
 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
Listen to this fabulous song that Jim composed just for Nancy!
You'll need RealPlayer to play the song, get the program free! here RealPlayer Free Download .wav format
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 "Mahalo Nancy for teaching me the techniques of surfing."
-Sunny Garcia,
Hawaii's 6 Time Triple Crown Champion
WCT ASP 2000 world champion
 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
"My wife and I were
on our Honeymoon in Hawaii. We decided to take surfing lessons,
she had never tried it before, and I had tried unsuccessfully. There
was another couple that was also taking surf lessons at the same
time. The gentleman was 50 and had promised himself that on his
50th birthday he wanted to be surfing, his wife watched him from
the shore. David was an excellent and entertaining instructor. The
morning was worth every dime and more!! There isn't a person I know
that goes to Hawaii without us recommending your school.
People love the Certificates that you give out. We have ours framed
in our den.
Mahalo!!"
Kevin Stanley
"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, USA
Thank you so much for your lesson at Hawaii. 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
 "I
went to Australia and It was the best choice I could have made.
She took my skills up to the next level. Nancy was a wonderful teacher
and 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
"Chapman feels that the Gold Coast is a wonderful
choice for surfers, and she has checked out the breaks in such paradises
as Hawaii, Fiji and of course, Malibu."
Malibu Times
Student Hayley Cameron came to Oahu, Hawaii summer 06 and really advanced her skills!
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