The Team

Summer of Surf has some of the best instructors around with over 40 years of combined surfing experience and over 20 years of experience as surf instructors. In addition we have over 15 years of lifeguarding experience and one of our instructors is even and EMT! Not only are we the best watermen in the area but we are some of the best role-models. Every instructor has leadership experience, a passion for sharing thier love and respect of the ocean and of course a college degree from a 4 year university.

 

Jamie Morrison

Jamie is a highly motivated individual with a passion for education and surfing. He received a bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies, with an emphasis on sustainable design within the community from the University of California, Berkeley. He worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor since he was 16 and was the pool supervisor/ head lifeguard for the Altadena Town and Country Club for several Summers. He has been surfing since 2005 up and down the California coast and has surfed in many locations in the world including the North shore of Hawaii, New Zealand, Bali Indonesia and most recently Chile. In 2013 he worked as a surf instructor in Chile instructing large classes as well as private and semi-private classes with all age groups. He was also a judge for the 2013 Maitencillo Surf Competition in Chile. Jamie has had huge success in his swimming and surf classes because he is dedicated to tailoring lessons to the unique needs of each student. He takes safety very seriously and places the care of each student above all else. 

  • Surf Experience: 11 years 
  • Surf Instructor Experience: 5 years
  • CPR: yes
  • First Aid: yes
  • Lifeguard Experience: 6 years
  • College Graduate: yes
  • Coaching Experience: yes
  • Other: head lifeguard, captain swim team, captain waterpolo team, captain club waterloo team

Garrett Wax

Garrett is our head counselor, instructor, and lifeguard. He has been surfing for 12 years, and teaching surfing both privately and at surf camps in San Diego for the past 7 years. He graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School, where he was the captain of both the swim and water polo programs, and earned a degree in Communications at the University of San Diego where he was a member of the surf team. Garrett has surfed from Mexico to the Central coast of California, The shores of both Maui and Kauai Hawaii as well as the North Island of New Zealand and the Australian Gold coast. He has an unsurpassed surf and water knowledge combined with a passion for getting kids out into nature in a safe learning environment. He immediately connects with all campers ensuring they have the best time and that they are well taken care of.

  • Surf Experience: 13 years 
  • Surf Instructor Experience: 8 years
  • CPR: yes
  • First Aid: yes
  • Lifeguard Experience: 3 years
  • College Graduate: yes
  • Coaching Experience: 2 year
  • Other: captain swim team, captain waterpolo team

 

Minga Opazo

Minga is an outdoors enthusiast! When she’s not rock-climbing or surfing she’s doing art (graduated UC Berkeley 2015). Minga comes from a family of surfers from her home country of Chile. Her uncle was one of the few to start surfing in the country 20 years ago and created the first surf-shop in the beach town Maitencillo. Minga grew up surfing and later helped instruct at one of the first surf camps in Chile which was developed by her family. Minga is an incredibly talented, friendly and passionate women that genuinely enjoys working with children, keeping them safe and bringing smiles to their faces. 

  • Surf Experience: 8 years 
  • Surf Instructor Experience: 5 years
  • CPR: yes
  • First Aid: yes
  • Lifeguard Experience: no
  • College Graduate: yes
  • Coaching Experience: yes
  • Other: National rock-climbing finalist, Graduated UC Berkeley with high honors.

 

Nathan Pestana

Nathan joined us last year and we loved him and the kids loved him so much we had to have him back for 2016! He is another UC Berkeley graduate, and he is an attentive instructor who is very sensitive to the needs of each camper. He is an excellent surfer and waterman who really knows how to take care of the campers while in the ocean.  He provides the quality and care that you would expect from Summer of Surf instructors and counselors. 

  • Surf Experience: 10 years 
  • Surf Instructor Experience: 2 years
  • CPR: yes
  • First Aid: yes
  • Lifeguard Experience: yes
  • College Graduate: yes
  • Coaching Experience: yes
  • Other: captain swim team, captain waterpolo team

Garrison Bollenbacher

We are very happy to have  Garrison back this year. He has recently completed the EMT course at UCLA and plans on pursuing a career as a paramedic/firefighter bringing a whole other level of safety and awareness to the beach. he attended Maranatha High School in Pasadena and was the captain of his swim team. He's an excellent waterman having surfed the coasts of California as well as through Europe, Hawaii and Costa Rica. He graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.

  • Surf Experience: 7 years 
  • Surf Instructor Experience: 2 years
  • CPR: yes
  • First Aid: yes
  • Lifeguard Experience: 2 years
  • College Graduate: yes
  • Coaching Experience: 2 years
  • Other: EMT, Captain swim team, Captain waterpolo team