I had a fun past 2 days with Henry, who bought a Holiday Gift Certificate of 3 surf lessons. Henry and his family just moved here from New York City and 7 knee surgeries on both knees and ongoing rehab from a lifetime of downhill skiing, wasn’t going to stop him from learning to surf! Even though he got his doctor’s permission to attempt it, I wanted to make sure we approached each step cautiously and slowly. After preparing Henry with the basic fundamentals on the practice board in the shop, we both got in the water, neither of us knowing what to expect from his knees.

After he got up on his feet on his 3rd try, all trepidation was gone in a flash! With small 1 foot glassy conditions with no one else around, these 2 days were the perfect gentle conditions for him to test his knees and ability to surf safely with their condition. He was already learning to read waves, catching them on his own, and turning on them on the second day. We both couldn’t get over how clear the water was…we could see the beautiful contours of the sandy bottom and crabs scurrying around below.

We’re going to save the last lesson for a bigger wave day and he’ll be able to show off his new skills to his brother, who will visit soon and first inspired Henry with stories of surfing in Taiwan. His brother told him a lot of Hawaiian surfers had gotten sick of the crowds and packed up and settled in Taiwan. One of those Hawaiian surfers his brother met, started the Fu Dog Surf Shop and here is some video of the surfing there. If anyone knows the title and artist of the 1st song, let me know! I’m hooked on it: