Adventure Out Guide Profile-Lead Surf-Michael

Name: Michael Smith

Age: 28

Birthplace: Palo Alto, CA

Position with Adventure Out: Lead Surf Instructor













Why I love Surfing:
I love surfing because the feeling of flying along the face of a wave is like no other. Surfing is based on working with, understanding, and immersing oneself in nature and harnessing her energy in pursuit of a moment or two of pure exhilaration. The whole thing still seems so improbable to me sometimes, like walking on water. And on the paddle back out, I always appreciate just being in the open air and beautiful ocean water.

Make us laugh:
My first time ever surfing, I was a freshman in high school. A buddy and I had only enough money between us to rent one surfboard and no wetsuits. Undeterred, we headed out to The Hook in Santa Cruz, where we decided it would be a good idea if we took turns after each wave, with one guy on the surfboard and the other guy treading water (in swim trunks) out in the line-up. Needless to say, our adventure ended with both of us shivering on the beach after about half an hour. We wound up splitting a single slice of cheese pizza and laughing about the whole thing all the way home.

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.