Meet Dave Gerber | Surf Instructor & Owner/founder of Miami Surf Academy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dave Gerber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dave, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
People say if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life, and I believe this to be completely true. I always wanted to combine my passion for surfing with my passion of entrepreneurship, and for me, starting and running a successful surf school is the embodiment of doing what I love. I also wanted to be able to share the joy of surfing with as many people as I can and I’m grateful to have the platform to do so. In another way I was looking to “prove” to people that you can actually find great surf in Miami – since the majority of people don’t even believe Miami gets waves. I’m also thrilled and feel lucky to be able to run a business in Miami – the best city in the world!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Miami Surf Academy is a passion project that I started after finishing freshman year of college at the University of Miami. I’ve always had a passion for sharing the joy of surfing through teaching, and have taught in various settings in Tel Aviv, New York, New Jersey, and Florida. After working as an instructor during my freshman semester for another surf school, I decided I wanted my own, with a different spin to it. I knew enough surfers from school, and from the local South Beach lineup, and after investing in some boards, asked them to join me as instructors on this journey which has been so amazing.

Many people visit Miami to enjoy its rich culture, stellar hotels, and world class nightlife, but neglect the fact that it contains a natural, tropical oasis with warm water and gentle waves, perfectly suitable for learning how to surf. Most people don’t even think surfing is possible in Miami Beach, and I’m trying to show people that it is, and it’s a great natural escape from the superficialities that can be associated with the Miami lifestyle. My business has something to offer for both Miami locals and tourists, including private lessons, group lessons, skill clinics, camps, surfing workout classes, and surfing bachelorette parties, where we surf, take photos of your bachelorettes, and then kick back on the beach with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries – something no other surf schools in Miami Beach offer. In addition to what is advertised on our website, I encourage my patrons to inquire about custom surfing events where my instructors and I will work with you to create a tailor made, alternative Miami Beach surfing experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime. In addition to all of our instructors being highly qualified surfers, many with competitive surfing backgrounds, they will double as your Miami Beach tour guide, pointing out geographical landmarks and sharing their history, and even recommending locals’ choice restaurants and their favorite nightlife spots.

Being able to create memorable surfing experiences for my students has always been a dream of mine, and through Miami Surf Academy I hope to show people that Miami is so much more than its clubs and restaurants, that it has great surfing waves, and to be able to get as many people surfing as I can!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My personal go-to Miami itinerary, whenever I have friends over that are visiting, would be a kickoff pasta dinner at Casa Isola in Sunset Harbor. Their spicy Rigatoni and Cacio y Pepe dishes are my favorite, but everything on their menu is amazing. For nightlife, Bodega is always fun. For breakfast, and any daytime snacks, Pura Vida is an all time favorite – go for the Miami Mocha smoothie or the Pesto Tuna Wrap. A fun thing to do during the day (besides surfing with us at Miami Surf Academy) is hanging out at a day beach/pool club, like Baia in the Mondrian hotel, and Joia Beach Club on Watson Island. Another great dinner spot is Abbale Telavivian Kitchen in South of Fifth, and the best Sunday brunch in my opinion would have to be Matador Room at the Edition hotel.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family, and friends, both physically and mentally. I have a lot of crazy (fun) business ideas, many of which are irrational, and I usually tell my family and friends as soon as they get into my head. So mainly, I appreciate them just listening to me over and over again. When it comes down to executing one of my business ideas, I have my best friends to thank for calling me crazy and to put a pin in it when my ventures are too irrational, and my parents, brother, grandparents and aunt and uncle to thank for supporting me and encouraging me on my more feasible ones.

I am especially grateful to my parents for giving me a lot of opportunities, and for instilling the mindset that I can be successful at whatever I do given I work hard for it, and that if I choose to pursue something I love, the hard work and success will come naturally.

Website: surfacademymiami.com

Instagram: miasurfacademy

Yelp: Miami Surf Academy (Miami Beach)