The Surf Continuum

Got into town without a board or wetsuit. Ive never surfed here and thought the best way to get on some waves is to get a lesson. Chris answered and was really helpful. I was able to get a surf lesson in Montauk the next day. Chris was very communicative and made everything easy. I picked up alot tips I will use in the future. Mainly not to rush my popup, im not used to riding a slow, gentle wave. Chris was a great teacher and I had a great time. Great for first time surfers or for people who have surfed before and want to get better. Chris setup a tripod attached is a picture of us on a wave, thanks Chris!

First, I’m an adult learner kook! Trying every day to be less of one. After being a long time listener and member of the Surf Continuum, I was so psyched to have the opportunity to book a coaching session with Coach Chris. After booking online Coach touched base to get a sense of where I’m at and what I was hoping to work on.
The day before the session we touched base again to discuss forecast, location, details. We met in Montauk at the spot and it was incredible. Both onshore and once in the water Coach went through our plan and the overall theories we would cover. With Chris’s deep knowledge, skill, and experience he was quickly able to identify areas of my surfing we needed to focus on. Even in this one session I walked away feeling more confident, informed, and ready with a plan of what to work on when I’m out on my own. He was super encouraging and communicative the entire session.
All this to say, I had a super fun session with Coach Chris, caught some fun ones in a beautiful spot, identified and worked on several areas that have been holding my progression back. I know for sure I will carry this with me moving forward every time I’m in the water. Looking forward to my next session in the near future. Thanks so much!

Coach Chris and Coach Ev are two of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. That includes educators, teachers, advisers—you name it. I first encountered them on the KookCast two years ago when I began surfing at the age of 55. For the first two years of my surfing, as I struggled to learn on Lake Michigan (I live in Iowa) and on trips to Florida and California and Oregon, my only source of information about surfing came from KookCast. But what a source! It was clear after listening to Coach Chris and Coach Ev for many, many episodes that they knew surfing inside out and had a principled and enlightened vision of how they wanted to educate surfers. It was also clear that they were wise, thoughtful, discerning, conscientious, and completely devoted to their students. I was lucky enough to travel with several other amazing and stoked continuum students to Baja this past February to work with Coach Chris and Coach Ev in person. It was an amazing week of surfing and learning and camaraderie (and eating!). Chris and Eve were both wonderful to work with. They were kind, generous hosts, and in the water they were attentive and encouraging and patient. They’ll challenge you and push you without ever putting you in danger or allowing you to put yourself in danger. They’re always specific and clear about exactly what you need to focus on. It turns out that after two years of surfing without a coach I didn’t have my fundamentals as dialed in as I thought. 😊 Chris and Ev started right from the beginning with me, and by the end of the week I’d honed my paddling and press up/rail set and had a solid foundation going forward. I was also able to see in Coach Chris’s excellent video footage, and from the video reviews with him and Coach Ev, what I was doing incorrectly or not doing at all. By the end of the week I had a much better sense of where and when to catch waves, how to paddle to meet them, and how to find my way to the open face. I could see the other students, all more advanced than I was, and all great sources of encouragement, making strides as well. In short, I highly encourage any aspiring surfer to work with Coach Chris and Coach Ev if you have the chance. They’re truly amazing humans.

Chris was an outstanding instructor in every way. Extremely knowledgeable, patient and encouraging. I now feel like I can go out on the water on my own with all of the tools he gave me. More important than anything, he’s a great person who I would trust to teach my kids when they are ready. Highly recommend!!!

I just had a fantastic two hour lesson with Coach Evan last weekend at San Onofre Beach in California.

Coach Evan is a great instructor- he clearly communicated fundamentals needed for continued success, and everything he taught he practiced. After catching a great wave, I was immediately able to find him again by recognizing his paddle form- the exact thing we had just gone over.

Coach Evan definitely helped me progress, he spotted skill gaps that were holding me back and adapted the lesson to address those gaps. I highly recommend the in-person lessons.

Chris & Evan are incredible surfers, nice humans and great surf coaches. I travelled down to Baja in February 2023 with them and it was an incredible trip. Every detail of the trip was meticulously planned out and so smooth, we laughed a lot and scored great waves!

I really enjoy their philosophy on surf coaching which focuses on the fundamentals. Even after spending lots of time in the water solo I really improved because of their coaching. I feel much more confident and calm thanks to The Surf Continuum! We did a mix of in water tips and really helpful video review after each session.

Can’t recommend this crew enough! Don’t miss out!

Had a miscommunication issue on my end, needed to end the online membership, left a voicemail. Chris swooped in, took it seriously, and got everything sorted in a flash.

His customer service skills are just chef's kiss, and his patience? Endless. I may have unfortunately ended my membership but glad to know how much this school/ business cares about their community. With service and communication like that, I would definitely come back!

Coach Chris and Coach Ev are really caring, and I had a phenomenal time on the surf trip to Baja. It was incredibly helpful seeing the footage from the surf sessions, which they broke down and explained what to focus on. The trip was a labor of love, and they showed us spots in Baja that were important to them, curating a great trip with amazing people. 10/10 would go again!

Surf Continuum is the absolute best!! I met Chris 5 years ago and he has totally transformed my surfing to a point where I'm able to be proficient on my own and know how to manage myself in various situations. His attention to detail, knowledge of surf technique, and passion for his students is unprecedented and I'm nothing short of grateful to call him a coach.

after 6 months of listening to Chris & Ev's podcast "kookcast", I signed up for their trip to La Mision, Baja California. I come from a background in the competitive marathoning world and have been surfing now for a little over a year... the first year struggles with the learning all the complexity of surfing--ocean knowledge, paddling technique, stand-up technique, finding the pocket... all have very difficult especially in my early 40's. I feel so much better positioned for longer and more fun surf sessions in the future.

I came away from 6 days with Chris and Ev with a dramatically improved base of knowledge and experience in all these areas. not only are the guys incredible teachers and coaches but they are incredible surfers... watching them surf some truly gnarly Baja storm surge with the type of ease that they did was revelatory.

couldn't recommend working with them more ... be it listening to kookcast, taking individual lessons or going on their annual trip to La Mision.

Super stoked to have found The Surf Continuum! Coach Chris and Coach Ev take surf instruction to the next level and are true pros. Super knowledgeable and passionate at what they do. I went with the two of them and a small group on a surf trip to Northern Baja and learned a great deal. The difference in my surfing back home is night/day!

The instruction during the trip was a good balance of information in and out of the water and as well as time in the surf to work solo in applying their coaching and advice. Coaching is bolstered by video and still images to capture repeated issues to help students connect with their progress and goals. Chris & Ev have a good understanding of their student’s capabilities and how to encourage their skills. Often this means going back to the very basics, the “fundamentals” as they say, which can be humbling and tedious if you have a fixed set of expectations (for yourself and the trip). If you are prepared to work hard and willing to leave your ego at the door, the gains can be tremendous. Spend some time with TSC literature on their website and listen to a few Kookcasts (podcasts) to see if their approach is right for you. Aligning with the theme of learning and growth, La Misión conditions were more challenging than I was used to versus the mellow breaks at home, but at least the water was 10 degrees warmer!

There’s surfing aplenty but the trip is structured with plenty of downtime to rest and to enjoy the beautiful and secluded beach at your doorstep. Accommodations were lovely and the food was fantastic, a mix of homecooked meals and favorite dining spots in the local community. TSC has a deep familiarity with the region and you’ll quickly see that this is a special place to surf (and learn to surf)! Highly recommend this trip (runs annually in the spring).

Coaches Chris and Evan are excellent surf instructors. If you are looking for coaching beyond being pushed into waves or glorified babysitting, they are definitely your ticket.

As experienced surfers with respect for all aspects of the sport, they have articulated a unique philosophy about what makes a more complete surfer and, importantly, how to get *you* there. This means not only are they talented at setting appropriate goals for each session, but they understand what skills you need to work on, fundamentally, in order to level-up at each step of your journey.

This winter I travelled to Baja with them for a week’s surfing and thoroughly enjoyed my time! A measure of a person’s character is taken by the company they keep. By that ruler Evan and Chris are great human beings—the crew that signed on to travel with them in Mexico was fun, easy going, and a pleasure to meet. We had a blast. Ev and Chris kept us safe, very well fed, and busy with great waves, excellent food, and fun side trips. There are a ton of logistics managing 8 folks on a surf trip, and these guys handled everything with a cool, confident, demeanor. I would definitely travel with the Surf Continuum again.

Coaches Chris and Ev are outstanding and teach the respect for surfing that our sport deserves. From a technical standpoint, their approach was explained in a way that was easy for me to understand and implement. They took my surfing from novice and put me on a path to intermediate in just a handful of sessions. If more surfed and conducted themselves the way Coaches Chris and Ev teach, we'd have better surfers and more enjoyable and respectful line-ups. Thank you Coaches

Very short version: The Surf Continuum is an incredible resource for learning/enhancing/refining one's understanding and skills on the ocean. Coach Chris is thoughtful, attentive, and patient and really values supporting his students to be self-sufficient and capable in their individual surfing journey. Everything one puts into being part of The Surf Continuum is worth the effort.

Longer version: I chose to work with Coach Chris and The Surf Continuum when I decided - at age 60 - to learn how to surf, having grown up near and in the ocean, but never took the leap into board surfing. In addition to being pretty athletic in multiple sports, I really value teachers/coaches who think and care about bringing a thoughtful approach to fundamentals, and how complicated physical activities are a series of skills that can be learned and practiced to foster self-confidence and competence. That doesn't seem to typify what one finds online when looking to learn surfing (e.g., "we'll put you on the waves in 2 hours or less!!"), but is what I found in The Surf Continuum. So glad I did when I was visiting family on Long Island (I live in Virginia).

I arranged a series of daily coaching sessions with Coach Chris, about a month in advance. Then, I joined The Continuum online, as a member, to watch videos and really try to mentally understand their approach and philosophy. And, to visualize doing the things Coaches Chris and Ev talk about. That was SO useful as a mental foundation when I started my sessions with Coach Chris in Montauk NY.

The first couple of days we started our sessions on the shore, talking through things before starting in the water -- from reading the ocean that day, to carrying the board properly, to what we were going to work on that session, to how to just start positioning oneself on the board and begin to maneuver. Again, the online materials were incredibly useful to prepare my head for what body was experiencing when we actually got into and on the on the water. Coach Chris paddled next to me that first day, watching all the little, tiny things that make the difference between floundering and moving with grace, from simply paddling to stopping, turning, and shaping one's relationship to the ocean and the surf.

Each of the next two days was similar, as we progressed through the fundamentals, building on the previous days coaching and putting the skills I was learning into parts of a whole. With each new skill and insight he taught me, Coach Chris made sure I felt confident and secure on the board and in the surf, on my own. It was SUCH a contrast to some other students saw really near us, with other instructors who were literally towing people around on boards and shoving them into waves, basically babysitting rather than coaching.

By the third day, I was paddling into waves, pressing up, and riding the waves down the line. I felt really good, and was looking forward to the next couple of days when Coach Chris was preparing to guide me in moving to surfing in a standing position. Unfortunately, each of the next two days, the surf was flat and crumbly and wasn't providing the waves that would allow me to take the next steps. Coach Chris was really honest and candid with me when we met up those two mornings, and said we could go out on the board, but I wasn't really going to learn anything and it might not be the best use of a coaching session. So, I "banked" the sessions we didn't do, and I'm DEFINITELY going to return and continue my journey with Coach Chris (and maybe Coach Ev sometime in the future, if I make extra time visiting family in California).

Bottom line: If you're reasonably athletic, want authentic surf coaching, and working with thoughtful, fun, interesting, and just-plain-nice folks, do consider The Surf Continuum. And, especially if you're a beginner like me, take advantage of their online resources -- it's incredibly valuable for learning some key concepts before you're out on a surfboard trying to get your body to do something new and beautiful.

Enjoy!!!

Grateful to have had the chance to work with Chris. I was a subscriber to the website and trying to learn at a distance from Japan. I happened to be visiting Long Island for a family reunion and scheduled two nights in Montauk to have the chance to surf with Chris.

Some of the other reviews mention a return/focus on the basics - Chris was laser focused on making sure my fundamentals were solid, paddling, breathing, weight/orientation on the board. He quickly diagnosed some of my key bottlenecks: feet not together, in a rush to paddle and stand up. He gave me advice I will never forget, to "create time" by keeping my head up, expanding my sphere of awareness, and settling into the wave patiently before trying to stand.

After one lesson with Chris (I wish I had had time for more), my sense was that he is a teaching with a deep, deep connection to and appreciation of the waves and the surfing community. He cultivates that same connection in his students. After one lesson, I left feeling more confident about my surfing, with a few key things to work on, and a profoundly deeper sense of place in the water.

I flew from the East Coast to the West Coast to go to the surf trip with Coach Chris and Coach Ev and it was a truly life-changing experience! They fostered a sense of community, made us all feel safe and really helped us grow as surfers. As a beginner surfer, I really appreciated the way that they helped me get through any challenging situations. I did truly feel like family on the trip and I really appreciate these guys. The surfing was amazing. I learned so much. They keep you really grounded, which is good because it can end up being about scoring the best waves. They really Help keep you focused on the fundamentals, which is something I really value as an Athlete. Also because they are so passionate about everything surfing, it makes everything that much more fun. They also are very good photographers and videographers who get the best shots I’ve ever been a part of.

I would highly recommend for trips and lessons and their podcast.

Hands down best surf coaches! I feel lucky to have found The Surf Continuum. Coach Chris and Coach Ev are leaps and bounds above the rest in terms of their approach to teaching, coaching, and training. They truly care about your progress as a life long surfer. I take most of my surf lessons with Coach Ev out in California, and also get to work with Coach Chris on their surf trips. If you ever get the opportunity to travel with them on one of their SURF TRIPS you NEED to do so!! I promise, you will return a better surfer!!

See you guys in the water!

10/10; Chris is a top notch instructor and teacher. Learned a ton in a short amount of time.

Big thank you to Coaches Chris and Ev for helping me develop the fundamental skills critical for surfing. Appreciate the detailed instruction on each skill along with insight on how to navigate lineups, read waves, identify take-off spots and combine all the fundamentals to catch waves and ride down the line!

The best surf insight and instruction that you will find. There are great surf coaches and online tutorials out there, but these guys are something special. Their focus on fundamentals - bringing things back to the basics of the basics - is really unparalleled in the surf tutorial world. I’ve been an avid online fan and have experienced their coaching first hand in the water. If you’re looking for gimmicks and cheat codes for getting better, keep scrolling. If you’re looking for two quality human beings who are dedicated to teaching surfing the right way, look no more. You will NOT be disappointed.