Anyone can experience the thrill of surfing! It'll be one of the most amazing moments of your entire life! 1 hour surf lessons are available daily, year round.
Ideal for friends and families that want to have fun TOGETHER, its not just for kids!! Our very popular day surf camp is designed for beginners of all ages.
Gene and Rachel Gore have 23 years of surfing instruction experience, world class ocean lifeguards and a lifetime of pro level dedication to the sport of surfing.
LET OUR FAMILY SHARE THE JOY OF SURFING WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!
South Padre Surf Company is a family run surf school operating since 1995, and was the first surf school in Texas. Your instructors are husband and wife team Rachel and Gene Gore (Texas' most experienced surf instructors, ocean lifeguards, ocean safety experts and professional level surfers), and our children Micah and Melia (and puppy Archer) are awesome little surfers who will have your kids running for the water!
OUR GOAL is to provide a safe, easy and fun surfing experience for guests of all ages and abilities to South Padre Island, while teaching respect, knowledge and appreciation of the ocean and beach, with zero-environmental impact.
Our safety first approach ensure all people, regardless of your abilities or disabilities are welcome to give surfing a try and our enthusiasm will make you want to come back for the adventure year after year.
OUR MISSION
01. Your safety is our No. 1 concern
All surfing lessons are held in shallow water that you can stand up in. Safe Soft Surfboards with soft rubber fins are used for all lessons, with leashes for added security. Rachel and Gene are highly experienced ocean lifeguards, lifelong professional level surfers, ocean rescue certified and CPR certified water safety experts, you couldn't be in better hands! We consider it a privilege and an honor to take you or your child into the ocean, and take the responsibility seriously.
02. We look forward to the opportunity to give you the experience of your life
When you come for a surfing lesson with South Padre Surf Co., you become part of our family. We want you to be happy with every part of the experience, from when you sign up to when you ride your first wave, it's our goal to make sure every moment is the thrill of a lifetime. We are not a surf shop, and we don't hire any "surf instructors".
03. You're here to have fun
Surfing is an extreme adventure, one that many people add to their "bucket lists." When you surf with us, we're helping you accomplish a goal -- whether it's overcoming a fear or checking an item off that list. We'll help coach you to achieve your goal, but we'll never pressure you or your child to do something beyond your comfort zone. It's all about having fun!
OUR FAMILY
Gene Gore -
South Padre Surf Company owner and instructor Gene Gore, is Texas' most experienced surf instructor, ocean lifeguard, ocean safety expert and professional level surfer, a fully dedicated waterman. Gene grew up on the beaches of Texas as a lifetime dedicated surfer, ocean lifeguard, and became a City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety Officer. He has dedicated his life to surfing and lifesaving, yet one of his greatest thrills is still seeing someone ride their first wave. Gene has accumulated an extensive and unique history of accomplishments in his field while pursuing his passion for surf. He worked for the Hawaii Water Patrol, trained in heavy surf rescue with jetski/rescue sled, 3 time winner of paddleboard races on the North Shore of Oahu and several U.S. National Surfing Championship Paddle races, along with the Harpoon Barry Bay to Gulf Paddle Race, selected to the 6 man Hawaiian World Lifeguard Team, former Texas State longboard champion and Allstar team member, 6 time U.S. Lifesaving Association National Competitor with medals in paddle racing, paddleboard rescue, and 2 mile beach run, winner of the Diamondhead Biathlon, Galveston Beach Patrol (where he met his wife and surfing partner Rachel) Senior Lifeguard and Marine Rescue RHI pilot and Jr. Lifeguard Instructor, and Corpus Christi and Port Aransas Beach Patrol Lifeguard. Gene has hundreds of documented surf rescues, assisting and treating injured beach patrons and performing CPR in many real life incidents, as well serving 8 Years as a Licensed Texas Emergency Medical Technician and volunteer ambulance/fireman, competed in over 100 surfing competitions both amateur and professional in France, Spain, Mexico, California, Florida, New Jersey and Hawaii. Gene has designed and shaped nearly seven hundred custom longboards, and was competition director and judge for the Texas Gulf Surfing Association. Gene has taught over 50,000 private and group surfing lessons, through Galveston College and G.C. Kid's Camp, Moody Hospitality Institute, San Luis Resort, Surfside Surf Camp, and South Padre Surf Co. He authored the first book on surfing in Texas "Surfing the Texas Gulf Coast". He competed in the ILSA World Lifeguard Championships in Italy with a team of elite guards from Galveston where he captured 4 medals and was the top ranked American competitor! In 2004 Gene and Rachel paddled the entire length of the Texas Gulf Coast, 404 miles in 19 days, as a fundraiser for Surfrider Foundation's coastal education program. Gene was instrumental in founding the South Padre Island Fire Department Beach Patrol and worked as a surf rescue technician and trainer, after many years of pursuing an Island lifesaving program. Gene works with the National Weather Service in developing new coastal marine forecasts, rip current guidance packages, and coastal hazard and warning advisories for public safety during tropical storms and hurricanes. Gene's daily beach and surf report is a very popular resource for all Texas surfers and beachgoers, he has been forecasting and documenting surf conditions as an ocean lifeguard since 1986.
Rachel Gore -
Rachel Gore can always be found on the biggest and best waves when she isn't teaching surfing! Although Rachel grew up in Tennessee, it was on her annual summer vacations to visit her grandparents in Florida that she discovered where her heart was...with the ocean! To become the watergirl she always dreamed of, she moved to the Texas Gulf Coast where she graduated from Texas A+M Galveston with a degree in Maritime Administration, surfing the local lineups day and night, before and after classes. Rachel has been surfing for over 20 years now, and with every session her love for the sport and the ocean grows,along with her stylish smooth surfing. Although no longer a competitor, Rachel is widely known as the top female surfer in the state (she surfs better than most of the guys too!). (On her honeymoon Rachel entered into a women's longboard pro contest on the North Shore at Sunset Beach, and she took second place!) She worked as a lifeguard for the Galveston Beach Patrol, and was chosen as a team member for the USLA National Lifeguarding Competition. Rachel has been teaching surfing for 19 years, teaching through Galveston College, the Galveston College Kids Camp, The Moody Hospitality Institute, San Luis Resort, Goreboards Surfside Surf Camps, and South Padre Surf Co. Rachel has won first place in numerous surfing competitions. She won first place in the women's division for the 8 mile Harpoon Barry Bay and Gulf Paddle Challenge, and finished 3rd in the Hawaiian Paddleboard Championships. Her favorite thing about teaching surfing is being able to share her knowledge of the sport with people who have the same dreams she did, and watching their "stoke" as they stand up and ride their very first wave.
Micah Gore -
Micah Gore, 16 years old, recently named United States Lifesaving Association Junior Lifeguard of the Year, is already a very accomplished surfer and has surfed around the world in places such as Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France, Mexico, California and the Texas Coast. On his past trip to Hawaii, he competed in the Rell Sunn Menehune Surfing Championships where he advanced to semi-finals in longboard and shortboard, an amazing feat considering he was up against all Hawaiians! He was commented on often on his style, which is the greatest compliment a surfer can have. In December of 2007 he was the youngest competitor in the Haleiwa International Surfing Competition on the North Shore of Hawaii. He can ride just about anything - he loves to surf on both shortboard and longboard, boogie board, skateboard, and snowboard. What really stands out about Micah is his natural ability, incredible wave knowledge, and beautiful surfing style. Micah recently got to surf the world famous Pipeline on the North Shore of Hawaii (on a small day of course). An all around waterman, Micah also enjoys spearfishing and is one of the top junior lifeguards for Cameron County Beach Patrol. Micah is very helpful and experienced in assisting other kids during surf lessons!
Melia Gore -
Melia Gore, 14 years old, recently named United States Lifesaving Association Junior Lifeguard of the Year, has also surfed in many places around the world including tackling the waves of Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, California and Mexico. Melia surfed in her first surf contest in August of 2007 on the South Shore of Hawaii where she was by far the youngest competitor (at only 4 years old!). Melia Gore is not your average girl next door... as a young girl Melia was asked to model for ROXY's teenie wahine line which sent her traveling and doing photo shoots in LA and Hawaii. She was also ROXY's youngest surf team member. Along with Micah, Melia is one of the top members of the Cameron County Junior Lifeguard program. Outside of the water, Melia enjoys training and riding horses. She recently competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover, where she had approximately 100 days to train a wild mustang ending in a 4th place win! Check out her blog at meliagore.blogspot.com . What stands out the most about Melia is her beauty inside and out and her ability to make everyone she meets walk away with a smile. Melia likes to have fun while she surfs, and she loves to climb on front of your board to tandem and "party wave"!! She is extremely helpful and is quite an entertainer in and out of the water.
"Archer"
Archer is our 3 year old pure bred English Creme Golden Retriever that loves to surf! He puts a smile on everyone's face in or out of the water! We are teaching him to surf on his own, he will drag the surfboard out by the leash and hop on, he's obviously not able to paddle for a wave, but if the wave catches him just right there he goes! Mostly we surf with him on the front of our bigger surfboards. Just watch where you put your stuff on the beach, you might come in from surfing and find it covered in sand :) And he loves selfies with the kids!
Surfin' G Ranch -
When we aren't surfing we are with our horses! Off-season (September through May) we offer horsemanship classes and horse back riding lessons, private parties, or if you or your family simply want to experience Texas on your vacation!
"Paddle Texas"
WE DID IT! Gene and Rachel paddled on a custom surfboard Gene made, the entire length of the Texas coast, 404 miles in 19 days, through the worst weather possible in May with hurricane force winds on Day 1, cold, rain, headwinds and longshore currents, torturous choppy conditions, countless blacktip and bull sharks and one vicious attack on the board by a good sized mako shark (all just north of Port Mansfield, ask Rachel AKA "Sharkbait") constant neck and back pain, hunger, food raiding coyotes, lack of sleep, incredibly strong wild rip currents at some of the major passes and jetties, it was much more difficult and dangerous than we imagined but the people we met along the way were great and getting to see every inch of the vast mostly undeveloped Texas coast was unforgettable, not to mention some of the great waves we caught along the way and a few new surf spots. Thank you to all who contributed to both the Surfrider Foundation fund raiser and elsewhere in hopes of a brighter future for our coast.
Gene and Rachel received a National Award from the Surfrider Foundation in honor of the historic "Paddle Texas" event.
An endurance paddle to benefit Texas Surfrider Foundation's Education Program and to raise public awareness of the Texas Gulf Coast and issues it faces such as public access, erosion, pollution, and litter.
RECOGNITION
SPSC has been featured on tv on the Discover Channel and news stations as well as in editorials in many magazines such as Continental Airlines, Texas Monthly, Texas Highways, Southwest Airlines, National Geographic Adventure, and Texas Bound. Frommer's featured South Padre Surf Company as one of the top 10 destination surf camps in the world!
ACHIEVEMENTS
The US Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi honored Gene with a Certificate of Appreciation for a lifetime of dedication to ocean safety!
Micah and Melia were named Junior Lifeguards of the Year by the United Stated Lifesaving Association!
Gene is a former Hawaiian Ocean Lifeguard with the City and County of Honolulu
Gene was instrumental in developing and training the new South Padre Island Fire Dept Beach Patrol.
Gene and Rachel both worked as lifeguards and Junior Lifeguard Instructors with the Galveston Beach Patrol
Gene and Rachel both are highly experienced in Ocean Rescue, CPR, First Aid and AED
Members and lifelong competitors of the U.S.Lifesaving
Association
Gene competed in the International Life Saving Assoc. Ocean Lifeguard World Championships in Viareggio Italy
representing Texas,
bringing home 4 medals 1 silver and 3 bronze!
DUKE'S OCEANFEST
"Team Texas" competed and placed in this event in Hawaii.
Rachel finishing 3rd at Hawaii Paddleboard Championships with
Gene, Micah and Melia escorting her to the finish line!
Winner - Lifeguard division North Shore Hawaii paddleboard race from Sunset to Waimea
