Adventure Out Guide Profile-Surf-Matt

Name: Matt Jenkinson

Age: 29

Birthplace: California

AO Position: Surf Instructor


Here's a little bit about how I got into surfing.

When I was a little kid my brother and I used to love going to the beach. It was fun to dig for sand crabs, play Frisbee, and ride our foam body boards in the shore break. Then one day I saw a few older kids out riding surfboards, and I knew I wanted to try it. Luckily, I soon found a used surfboard at a garage sale for $35. It was a beat up 5'9" Bill Shrosbree twin fin with a green deck and red rails. I wanted it so bad, but back then $35 was pretty expensive for a 12yr old. So I asked my mom if she would buy it for me, and in return, I would mow the lawn every week for three months. She agreed, and I brought home my very first board. Sweet! I couldn't't wait


to ride it. That weekend we went to the beach. I spent all day in the water with my new board and after many failed attempts; I finally got to my feet. It was the best feeling ever! One wave and I was hooked. After, seventeen years I still get the same rush from surfing that I did from my first wave, and now that I'm a surf instructor, I get to pass that feeling on to our clients.

So, how did I end up teaching surf lessons?



After High School, I moved to San Diego. There, I got involved in the surf industry, while going to school at a JC. I met lots of great people and really enjoyed the area but soon I wanted a little more adventure out of life. So I left San Diego, school, and the surf industry to join the US Coast Guard. It was a great experience, and I was even able to fit in some surf trips (Mexico, Hawaii, Panama, and Nicaragua). I spent five years in Oregon as a helicopter rescue swimmer before deciding to go back, and finishmy education. So I moved back here to attend SJSU. Soon after moving back the AO surf instructor position popped up and I lucked into another fabulous job. This is my second year with AO and it's been great! I love teaching and sharing surfing with other people.