Private Surf Coaching Santa Cruz, California

“Cassandra is the sweetest and most knowledgeable instructor I’ve worked with. After our first session alone, I left with more practical knowledge than I’d ever gained from multiple instructors over multiple lessons combined. What Cassandra taught me blew my mind in terms of how simple yet effective it was.

For example, I wanted to learn what to do in case I was ever caught on the inside in conditions well out of my comfort zone. In the past, instructors would say, “Just stick with me to avoid that.” On the flip side, Cassandra was pumped to teach me how to keep myself safe out there. And indeed, she showed me actual body and board positions to minimize the physical impact of waves of varying sizes. These positions were nothing I’d ever seen or been taught before, but all I can say is that waves that would’ve sent me back to shore after a good scare felt like a cakewalk with her coaching me through them. It blows my mind that more instructors and surf schools aren’t teaching what Cassandra teaches.

Aside from her wealth of practical knowledge, Cassandra also has the heart of a teacher. She listened to my fears and fascination with the ocean, worked that into our lessons, and even brainstormed solutions and techniques for me between lessons. I think Cassandra loves surfing so much that it’s only natural for her to think about her students outside of lessons, but to me if felt like she’d really gone that extra mile.

Cassandra is everything I could have asked for in an instructor: Intuitive and holistic in her approach, yet incredibly pragmatic in the water. If she recognizes a certain capability in you, she won’t cheat you out of developing it. For instance, past instructors would simply push me into waves. Not Cassandra. She saw that I was perfectly capable of catching waves on my own with just a little skill refinement, and she had me work at it until I was catching wave after wave. Cassandra is in it for your long-term development.

All of this is to say, Cassandra is a gentle soul with mad skills and invaluable knowledge to share. Her comfort and fluidity in the water is a joy to watch and a privilege to learn from. If you’re looking for an instructor who will nourish your spiritual connection to the ocean, Cassandra is it. If you’re looking for an instructor who will waste no time teaching you practical skills, Cassandra is it. If you’re looking for both, she’s it.”

— Ani Chechopoulos

“I am so thankful that I found Cassandra(sun and salt collective). Initially, I was researching for an all women's surf retreat, but stumbled upon private lessons with her and it felt so right. It is so obvious that she is not only passionate about surfing and the ocean, but also sharing her knowledge and love for it with others. I was incredibly nervous for my first time surfing, but she made me feel safe, comfortable and above all made sure I was having fun! I was able to stand up on the first wave I went for thanks to her and it was the best feeling ever. I walked away from my 4 day private lesson feeling accomplished and with a new friend :)”

— Jenny Reneé

"Mere minutes into my first session with Fantine we were laughing and I felt so comfortable. Fantine has an amazing ability to connect with people and make them feel comfortable, which is incredibly important when surfing. In our first session, I felt myself progress on each wave as she can clearly see small ways a person can improve after just a few minutes of watching you surf. She has an amazing ability to navigate crowds and know where to sit, as a newbie navigating crowds can be incredibly hard, so learning this from her has been priceless. Fauntine’s personality absolutely radiates positivity and made me as a student feel safe to take risks and make mistakes in the process of learning more advanced skills. Additionally, her high surf IQ made me feel incredibly safe knowing she would not take me somewhere that was too advanced for me, yet to places I probably that challenged me just the right amount. Every session I’ve had with her I feel I have progressed so much and her instruction is so clear and applicable to the personal goals I've set. Beyond being a great coach she is now a wonderful friend and I would highly encourage anyone to try a session with her as they are bound for an amazing time and improvement! 

-Natalie Flynn-

“Cassandra helped me SO much! I was somewhat new to Santa Cruz, and wanted to be more familiar with the beginner breaks, but also needed to learn some techniques for feeling safer in the water. Within our first session I gained tools for a far more enjoyable experience— there actually are ways to avoid being tumbled in the washing machine! 👏 Cassandra is a fantastic teacher who I felt completely safe with. Every session was fun and I’ll definitely continue recommending her classes. Thank you, Cass! 💕”

— Olana Sullivan, Pour Girl Bartending

"I had tried surfing a few times throughout my life and had shallow,

surface experiences with instructors and never actually built a sense of

comfort in the water. When I found Cassandra, I was beyond impressed by

her approach. She scaffolds the learning and eases you into it so you

actually become comfortable and learn the foundational skills you need.

She is so incredibly comfortable in the water, it makes you feel safe. She

is extremely supportive, knowledgeable, kind and uplifting. I have told all

of my friends about her and encourage everyone I know who has ever

dreamed of surfing to start with Cassandra. I can really guarantee that you

will leave her series a more confident person in the water. She is an

amazing teacher and I cannot recommend her enough!

-Shelly Horn-