One hot September evening in 1977 while boogie boarding at 4th Street, an 8 year old sun bleached grom dropped into a wave, angled left, and felt the wave pitch out over him.

He found himself surrounded by water, yet untouched in the hollow of the wave, looking out toward the Manhattan Beach Pier through an almond shape frame of water. He felt the electric energy of the wave and heard a whooooo that made his skin prickle. The 3 seconds the wave held him inside were the longest of his young life. The vision, the sound, and the feeling he got as a gust of wind from the depth of the wave pushed him out toward the light was incredible, his first Pure Surfing Experience.

Jim was stoked, and wanted to share his stoke with all the kids in his 3rd grade class as he tried to describe the sensation that was still running through his body. His next step was to experience the tube while riding a surfboard.

The summer of '78, Jim's dad bought him his first surfboard at a garage sale for $15. His course was set. Endless hours surfing Manhattan Beach breaks, hitching rides with parents and older surfers up to County Line and down to San Diego in the early 80's until he could drive himself.

After searching the coast from Mexico to San Francisco and a few surf trips to Hawaii in the late 80's, Jim began traveling the globe in 1987 in search of, and finding, moments, sessions and days of Pure Surfing.

He returned to share what he found with family, friends, younger surfers, and the junior lifeguards he instructed from 1991-1999. He also shared his adventures with the community in "Hot Tip" articles he wrote for the Manhattan Beach Beach Reporter.

In 1997, Jim created the Pure Surfing Experience Surf School in Manhattan Beach to fill a niche in the Los Angeles area and offer top quality surf instruction to people of all ages with a desire to ride waves.
In our 11th year, we have taught thousands of students from Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, the Los Angeles area, and the world. We offer lessons at three locations: Manhattan Beach Pier, Rosecrans Avenue in Manhattan Beach, and Dockweiler Beach in El Segundo.

We are "Los Angeles' Premiere Surf School" and the Official Surf School of the City of Manhattan Beach and offer discounted community lessons for the City of Manhattan Beach Parks and Recs Dept.

In 2003, we added a complete online reservation and booking system to simplify the entire experience and this year we developed and launched a brand new website. Now you can shop at our online store and browse photos from your recent surf camp or surf lessons with us.