Learn to surf with Texas’ finest surf instructors! Our team is highly trained, CPR certified, energetic, and will keep your kids busy and safe in the water and on the sand. On top of being dedicated to safety, our instructors work with every kid to help build confidence and self-esteem.

Josh Harper (Co-Founder): Padre Island Surf Camp was co-founded by Josh Harper who first learned to surf in Corpus Christi . His passion for surfing kept him in Corpus Christi until he graduated from TX A&M Corpus Christi. Surfing has taken Josh all over the world surfing and managing all of the surf camps for Billabong , the largest surf company in the world. Josh is also currently one of the head instructors for Surfer's Healing, an surfing organization that has an unexplainably amazing effect on Autistic children, and he works with different organizations that share the stoke of surfing with amputee veterans which were wounded fighting overseas.

“ I would have given anything to have a surf camp in Corpus when I was a kid! Surfing has brought me so much happiness and so many positive memories, and I am so blessed to now be able to share my passion with others, especially in Corpus.” –Josh

 

Jason Phillips : Jason grew up in Corpus Christi and has been surfing and skateboarding since he started walking as a young boy. Traveling through Mexico and California over the years, surfing has created some great memories throughout his life. Jason has incorporated the surfing lifestyle into music and travels throughout the state and country as a professional musician. "Sharing the surfing lifestyle with children is one of the most rewarding things that I do. I love all of the questions that kids ask about surfing as it's quite entertaining to see what's on their minds. I love being a positive influence on them and a ambassador of the sport." -Jason

 

Rob Pruett (Co-Founder) : Rob first discovered the ocean at the age of 6 when his family moved to San Diego , CA . Living in San Diego and spending summers in Mission Beach the ocean was his childhood playground. In 1993 Rob moved to Corpus Christi with his family to finish high school where surfing became his way life, and 16 years later still is. After high school Rob attended Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and became a Beach Lifeguard for Nueces County . Learning water safety and training with a veteran crew of Nueces County Lifeguards influenced him to become a more responsible waterman and surfer. After college graduation Rob and his wife Amanda moved to Red River , New Mexico for the winter season to teach snowboarding (one of Rob's other seasonal hobbies). Surfing has taken Rob around the globe, from Mexico to Costa Rica , New Zealand to Indonesia , El Salvador , Hawaii , Panama , and countless spots across the United States . “The best part of surf travel is meeting people and learning about different cultures.”

When the kids feel a sense of accomplishment, that motivation carries over into their daily lives. “It's rewarding when you help children focus all of their energy correctly into something like surfing, to experience how contagious that energy becomes. I hope that the short amount of time I share with a child learning about the ocean has an eternal impression on their life.”- Rob

Kristen Darden : Kristen is a Corpus Christi local who is passionate about surfing. Competing for the TGSA (Texas Gulf Surfing Association) and traveling to Mexico and California in search of waves, Kristen has a love for the ocean. "Seeing kids excited about surfing is very rewarding and I'm excited to be a part of it." -Kirsten Darden

 

 

 

Amanda Pruett : Amanda was born and raised in San Diego, CA and moved to Corpus Christi, TX with her family to finish high school. After graduating college from Texas A&M University C.C. Amanda opened a photography business here in town and frequently takes pictures of the kids at camp learning to surf. Throughout the year you can typically find her longboarding at Packery Channel or the pier. “Padre Island Surf Camp gives kids such a great opportunity to learn about the ocean and the surfing lifestyle. I love sharing it with them.” - Amanda Pruett

 

Wayne Maroney : Wayne grew up on North Padre Island. His backyard had a view of the beach and a 700 acre wetlands estuary. Needless to say Wayne spent an enormous amount of time on the water. The beach allowed access to surf, the waterways and bays permitted an opportunity develop expert sailing and seamanship skills. In through his adult life Wayne has carried on and built on these these core elements of his life. He has spent time surfing and traveling in the U.S., Central and South America. He also still actively races high performance sailboats and even spent a summer as a captain in Mexico.

Having grown up in a house hold of educators it is not surprising that Wayne has spent much of his professional work developing his skills as an educator himself. Wayne first began teaching at Boy Scout camps at the age of 16. At age 18 Wayne was certified sailing instructor by U.S Sailing. Also being a musician Wayne has held a position as a music instructor at Sound Vibrations in Corpus Christi. While working at Flour Bluff ISD as a Teachers Aide Wayne has hacked away at his coursework for a Texas Teaching Certification. Graduation is expected in December 2012. -Wayne

 

Michael Zottarelli : Michael “Zott” Zottarelli has spent has been a surf instructor for Padre Island Surf Camp since 2010. Zott is great with kids, and is one of our main instructors for the Autism and Special Needs surf clinics. Oiginally from Austin Texas, Zott started skateboarding as soon as he could walk. Now a transplant to Corpus Christi he first began surfing 6 years ago when he moved to the area to attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Graduating in 2012 with a Bachelors in Environmental Science with an enfaces in marine & coastal resource management. -Michael

Ryan Levene : is 34 years old and grew up in Corpus Christi Texas. He has been surfing for over 20 years. He is well travelled, including trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Indonesia, and has experience in many different kinds of ocean conditions. Ryan is CPR certified and an avid swimmer and free diver.

Ryan has been teaching at Flour Bluff Elementary for the past 12 years, working mostly with "at risk" kids and has a true passion for what he does. -Ryan

 

All of PISC instructors are CPR certified….and have a passion for the ocean, safety, and most of all having fun!....