Reviews
Great first Maliko run with Jaecey! Had a fantastic experience being instructed and guided by Jaecey – she is dialed in to what you need to know. Her process is very well designed, and I am glad I trusted her program. I can’t say enough about the professionalism and generous spirit in everything we did. It was outstanding in every way.
I couldn’t have been more pleased with Jaecey as a downwind SUP instructor. I had years of experience with SUP surfing on Maui but had only a two, shorter downwinders under my belt. I thought I knew the basics but really had just learned as I went. The difference between that and learning from Jaecey is that she brings years of experience downwinding, several professional certifications, and a passion toward formalizing downwinding instruction. Starting with an inspection of my roof rack system, to every component of my board, to my paddle choice (she lent me several demos to allow me to discover the finer points), to exhaustive safety equipment recommendations and checks, to a very in depth paddle technique analysis, to comparative surf techniques downwinding vs wave surfing – I learned far more than I expected. I would recommend this instruction to anyone not already at an advanced level.
For 2 downwind seasons I have had coaching from both Ralf and Jaecey on the Maliko run. My experience with these two coaches and their program has been top-notch. They are not only very professional and friendly, but their attention to detail in the skill progression has provided me with a solid foundation for Downwind paddling. From the beginning tips on how to stay on the board, to information on how to read the water to get more glides, the tips were spot on. As a participant in many extreme sports I was very impressed at the safety protocol this team has developed. We had a small incident offshore and as a team Ralf and Jaecey acted swiftly, calmly and efficiently. I look forward to my next trip to Maui and some more sessions with this dynamic duo.
I cannot recommend Jaecey enough! She is truly a pure water woman who understands the ocean. I am already a stand up paddler, but am trying to gain confidence to SUP surf. She took me out on some gentle waves. The outing began with on the beach instruction starting with board basics and ocean safety tips, many of which I didn’t already know. Then came time to hit the water! What I enjoyed most is we each wore waterproof headsets that allowed us to communicate. Which was an added incentive as Jaecey would give me encouragement to catch specific waves especially when I was hesitant. I was able to catch a bunch of waves on my very first session with her! I left Maui with the confidence to now hit the waves here in my hometown of San Diego! She is the best!
My husband and I wanted to try surfing with stand-up paddle boards. we setup a lesson with Jaecey. She was great! She brought us to a nice beach that had perfect size waves for us (beginners). She was patient with us and had a lot of good tips on how to tackle the waves. We definitely recommend Jaecey as an instructor!
You guys did an excellent job today giving me a great experience – it was exactly what I wanted.
Kristian Mulholland
I live on Maui and have been taking classes on and off with Jaecey for three years. I did some private lessons on technique, some guided downwind runs, and some couples lessons. She was great at getting my wife (who is athletic but has a fear of the ocean) much more involved in water sports. I also took some classes with Jaecey together with a paddling partner in preparation as a relay team for the Maui to Molokai race. Both of us were able to increase speed and endurance, and benefited from Jaecey’s analysis of our technique, and coaching input. Using waterproof wireless mics she was able to give instruction in real time on Maliko downwind runs in rough conditions. She also worked on several emergency safety maneuvers, including towing a damaged board or an injured partner, and how to handle an equipment failure miles offshore. Within a few weeks I had opportunity to use these techniques to help out a novice paddler whose leash had broken in a fall on the outer reef. Jaecey’s in-depth knowledge of paddling, her ability to explain maneuvers in simple terms, and her concern for safety make her a great teacher for beginners and advanced students. I have also recommended her to friends as a surf teacher, a coach for sup classes, and a guide for a great downwind run for people less familiar with the channels and currents. Well worth the time and investment!
We took a SUP lesson with Jaecey and it was wonderful!!!There were 3 of us, myself, my husband and our 9 year old daughter. Jaecey was calm , patient and encouraging. She gave us lots of great tips and suggestions for safety. It was a windy day , so not the easiest, but Jaecey made it fun. My daughter especially had a ball. Jaecey is such a strong and accomplished paddleboarder ( training for some big races at that time) that I think she is such a great role model for girls.
Jaecey is a phenomenonally talented downwind coach. You will find her incredibly passionate about SUP and a great coach to start your downwinding with to get the basics down solidly. Jaecey has a unique way of coaching using earphones and microphones so that the pupil can hear instructions in real time and receive corrections on the famous Maliko run. I’m a big fan of real time error correction as a way of motor learning, and its just a fantastic use for SUP to change your technique in tough real world conditions. The biggest thing Jaecey taught me was how to read the water much better than I had. I have to admit that after years of down winding and now 6 M2Os I was pretty clueless about where the bumps were and how to catch them properly. Jaecey’s techniques worked like a charm and I got more bumps than ever!!! I paddled in Cardiff California and ran into her rat pack, who were totally in love with Jaecey and her passion for SUP and revered her as the local SUP rock star. Regardless of your level, try a lesson with Jaecey – Guaranteed you’ll learn a ton! I did!
When you take a lesson with Jaecey, you get more than just instruction on technique and “how to SUP.” Jaecey will teach you water safety, ocean awareness, and how to handle strong winds and heavy chop. Jaecey exceeded my expectations and went above and beyond what I hoped for in a teacher. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge and will give you everything she has to help you succeed. I have learned so much from Jaecey and my confidence on the water has increased tremendously. From a first time beginner to an experienced waterman, you will greatly benefit from Jaecey’s insight and wisdom. Whether you want to stand up and catch a wave or do the Maliko downwinder, Jaecey is the person to call!
I took several on-water intermediate SUP surf lessons with Jaecey and I cannot overemphasize just how fantastic the experience was.
First off: She uses shade hats with built-in microphones so she can give you real-time, immediate feedback while you are on the wave. This is absolutely instrumental in allowing you to adjust and understand in the moment what you need to do to be successful and improve while in the water.
Second: Jaecey is an incredibly generous water woman and brings so much aloha to the visitor learning to surf or downwind on Maui. Even on non-lesson days, she let me know surf and wind conditions around the island, and made suggestions, and checked to see how I was doing in my progression.
If you have limited time on Maui and want a fantastic private instructor in order to improve your SUP abilities, I highly recommend Jaecey.
Thank you for making Maliko more accessible for Maui paddlers. You’ve been a big part of why paddling has been dominant in the state. Hats off and heartfelt apparition for your aloha and commitment. Small business of the year! Hands down. Mahalo Nui Loa!