Gavin has been surfing in California since the age of nine; however, he first learned and fell in love with the sport in Maui. Since then, Gavin has developed a drive and passion for all types of ocean sports and enjoys anything “connected with the ocean’s power.” His love for the waves even earned him “most likely to skip school” during his senior year because he often skipped classes when the waves were pumping.
As an instructor, Gavin’s favorite part of lessons is having the opportunity to pass on the gift of knowing how to surf and seeing the pure stoke of students when they catch their first waves. “Each student I teach gains a skill and a memory they will never forget, and I’m glad to be a part of that,” he says. Gavin’s surf students have described him as friendly, encouraging, and knowledgeable.
Here on Oʻahu, Gavin’s favorite waves are located up north, and he specifically enjoys surfing Rocky Point. His go-to board when the conditions are good is a Channel Island OG Flyer, and if he’s longboarding, his board of choice is a Troy Elmore. Outside Stoke Drift, Gavin is working towards his degree at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. After graduation, he wants to work in real estate and property development while also creating his own clothing brand company that supports sustainability.