I Keep Saying It’s My Last Trip to Surf Ranch … But Then This Happens

Another year is in the books at Kelly Slater Surf Ranch, and even though I keep saying it’s my last, I find myself coming back to run coaching trips. Eight years ago, I was brought on by Kelly Slater Wave Company to understand why surfers were missing waves and to develop a paddling and takeoff program. From there, I co-coached on other trips before hosting my own in 2022.

The results continue to reinforce the value of preparation. This year, our group nearly matched last year’s priority takeoff percentage at 87%. Pro takeoffs improved from 80% to 86%, and poach takeoffs rose from 85% to 87%. These numbers are significantly higher than what we typically see from surfers who arrive without pre-trip coaching (58%).

Preparation begins three months before arrival, focusing on three key areas: wave knowledge, paddling and takeoff technique, and mental and physical readiness. The difference is clear - those who commit to the process show up more confident, more relaxed, and better equipped to enjoy the experience. The numbers reflect it, but more importantly, so does their time in the water.

This year also marked a shift in format. With only 12 surfers and three priority spots per heat, each participant had more opportunities and repetitions. While it raises the cost, it significantly reduces pressure, allowing for deeper progression and a more enjoyable overall experience.

The coaching team made it all possible: Jim Cegelnik, Wally Puha, and Casey Figlewicz. Alongside the incredible Surf Ranch staff, they helped create an environment where surfers felt supported every step of the way.

But beyond the metrics, coaching, and wave count, something more meaningful happens on these trips.

Family forms.

Family is often defined by blood, last names, and shared ancestry. But in reality, it’s built through shared experience. It’s the friend who celebrates your wave like it was their own, the person who asks you to retell a ride or a wipeout, the conversations that drift far beyond surfing. These moments, small and fleeting, create bonds that go deeper than biology.

Family is how people make you feel. It’s being seen without needing to explain yourself, supported without hesitation, and welcomed without condition. Over the course of the trip, I watched these connections take shape in real time - in the water, on the deck, and in the spaces in between.

At Surf Ranch, even the hospitality staff feel like part of that family. Returning surfers strengthen those bonds year after year, while new faces quickly find their place within the group. There’s something about surfing itself - the shared challenge, the vulnerability, the joy - that naturally creates connection. Layer on top of that the world-class experience Surf Ranch Lemoore is known for, and it becomes something truly special.

That’s what keeps me coming back.

Not just the waves - but the people, the connections, and the family that forms along the way.

Here’s to another year. Maybe I’ll do it again…

Until then, I’ll see you in the water.

Highlights video:

Video by Surf Ranch Lemoore.

Photos by Casey Figlewicz, https://www.instagram.com/casey_figlewicz/ 

For more information on coaching trips, workshops, and Private 1-on-1 coaching for Paddling Technique, feel free to reach out.