STORY TELLING

HAVING A PARTY? 

CORPORATE EVENT?

CAMP FIRE?

WANT A NEW EXPERIENCE?

I come to the event and tell exciting surfing and adventure stories. All my stories are true experiences and have a lesson or message in them.

Guitar Playing included upon request

TALKIN STORY – Story Telling with

World Champion Surfer

Kim ‘Danger Woman’ Hamrock

What is Talkin Story?

"Talking story" is the term used for taking

time out to share stories with one

another. In essence, the stories you tell

define the kind of life experience you

have.

Experiences - Stories - Life Lessons - Artistic Expression

Talkin Story has been going on as long as mankind has been around. Before written history there was oral history. Stories were told and memorized from one generation to the next so that the people would know the history of their people, their environment, heroic feats, best hunting or gathering grounds, ect.

Surfers have always talked story. Usually about the best waves or wipeouts they had that day. Or some radical maneuver they pulled off and of the perfect waves in far off tropical lands.

I would like to bring this age-old tradition back alive and share my myriad of experiences and life lessons through surf stories.

I feel that this is a very unique way of helping people dream again and be inspired by true-life stories. This is also an opportunity for others to share their stories too.

 Newport Beach, CA

If you would like to share your stories go to:

dangerwomansurf.blogspot.com

STORY TELLING FEES

$150.00 First Hour

($50.00 for Additional Hour)

       I was down in Central America giving lessons this summer and observing the teaching techniques and surf programs of the surf schools down there. On a whole I was absolutely appalled. They have no regard for safety and on many occasions the students would have a five minute beach talk, taken out into the water and pretty much left alone while the instructors surfed all around them.

       When the instructors did stay with their students and push them into waves it was directly in front of other people (including me). On one occasion I was giving a more advanced lesson to a couple of students and only rode a few waves for examples when this instructor from one of the local shops looked me right in the eye and shove the student into the wave directly in my path. That is bad enough but I was on the nose at that. If I had not been a good surfer and quickly back-pedaled and turned to avoid a collision, this poor student could have been seriously injured. The students were apologetic and I let them know it was not their fault but they should be aware that it is not right to go in front of another surfer already riding a wave and to always look both ways, like when you cross a street or pull out in traffic driving.

       After the third time I said “ mi amigo es no bueno, que pasa?” His reply was he was giving lessons so too bad. I explained I too was giving lessons and he simply says, “ I know but I have a lot of people to teach, besides this is my beach”.  At the same time this was happening one of the other instructors would stand right in the way and block one of my students (I only had two) preventing him from taking-off, while another instructor (they were all together) would push his student in. I decided the best course of action would be to end the lesson (tide was working against us at this point anyhow) and finished it later in the afternoon.

       This gave me an opportunity to explain once again to my students surf etiquette and proper safety precautions yet what are they teaching all these beginners? These new surfers would go out on their own and think it is O.K. to go right in front of other surfers riding a wave. Trust me I saw this over and over and had to work over time letting them know this is not O.K. and very dangerous. (This was when I was free surfing).

       I would go surf way down the beach away from everyone and an instructor would bring several students out into the line-up with disregard to the few surfers who were out there. I was also cut-off by the instructors while they were supposed to be giving a lesson. Not just cut-off, but then they would do a cut back on top of it pretending they didn’t see me (or hear me) and cause a collision. This happened more than once, right in front of their students.

       When I was relaxing on the beach I would see a huge group of students walk by (easy to identify because of the matching colored jerseys) and what I observed was about seventeen students to two instructors? What are they thinking? The only good idea is the jerseys warn the rest of us!

        Needless to say I contacted the owners of these surf schools and offered to train and certify their instructors letting them know my experience and qualifications, yet they were not very receptive. In fact most were down right insulted and found no need for it what so ever. I am very diplomatic and handled it in a sensitive manner knowing that they have a much more macho attitude as part of their culture.

       Mostly they just want to push as many students through the lessons as fast as possible having three to four scheduled times a day regardless of safety or the surf conditions.  I saw lessons go on whether it was completely flat at low tide or too big surf full of dangerous rips, crowded to the hilt with tourist or during rain storms with lightening. Trust me I saw it all!

       The sad part is I have witnessed the same dangerous actions in Newport Beach, California and at times worse! Like when I saw a student out in a huge group lesson with trying to learn to surf big heavy tennis shoes on! Or when on more than one occasion I would have to stop my lesson to go rescue the other schools student who was forgotten about during their swimming test prior to their lesson. (They must have forgot to keep count).

       The instructors here too have the attitude that just because they are teaching the hell with everyone else and push their students right in front of surfers coming down the line. The times when the students were pushed in front of me, I ask them if their instructors have taught them wave etiquette? After their initial fright of almost being beheaded they shake their heads no. I ask them very politely to go into the beach and ask their instructors to explain it to them.        The difference in Newport Beach is the city is allowing this and was not interested when I offered to certify the surf schools teaching in their city making it safer for residents and visitors alike.

       I am a Master Surf Instructor and the West Coast Director for the National Surf School and Instructors Association with over 17 years of teaching experience? What is wrong with this picture here?

       The question is what can we do? Is this happening around the world? Is it a losing battle? How do we teach safety if many of the instructors don’t?

Shouldn’t?