ABOUT ISLA SURF SCHOOL
founded by peter melhado in 2015
Prior to founding Isla Surf School, Peter worked at Nantucket Surfari and Locals Surf School in the northeast for many years, graduated from The College of Charleston in 2014, worked as a private surf instructor in Costa Rica, and traveled the world in pursuit of perfect waves and unique cultures. Peter witnessed some of the best and some of the worst surf schools during his work experience and travels and cultivated an idea of what a high end surf school should look like. Peter founded Isla Surf School in 2015 with the goal of providing Charleston and Folly Beach with a genuine surf experience and a variety of packages suitable for all levels and ages. With his years of experience in the industry and his passion for the sport, Peter has established Isla as Charleston's leading surf school.
Reed has been pivotal in the progression of Isla Surf School. While living in Charleston, Reed worked every role at Isla up to Director of Beach operations in 2020. Reed was a favorite among out five lesson package clients who valued his vast knowledge, fun teaching methods, and positive attitude. Reed moved to San Diego in 2021 to start our sister company SD Surf Coach which specialized in coaching new surfers or those who have hit a wall in their progression. Reed’s west coast operation is a fantastic way for our customers to experience a new surf town with quality waves and everyone’s favorite surf coach!
Isla is also a strong believer in bettering our community. From the little stuff like beach clean up to our work with our two non-profit partners, bettering our community through the power of surfing is very important to us. Please check out our non-profit partners The Warrior Surf Foundation & The Ripple Effect.
A highlight reel celebrating our third year in business.
Peter Melhado -Founder of Isla Surf School
Reed Melhado, surf coach extraordinaire.
Isla Surf School Staff Photos 2021 back to 2015 (2020 not pictured)
Isla Surf School-Meet some of our Surf Instructors
Meet some of Isla’s amazing private surf lesson and summer surf camp instructors. We boast an impressive group which ranges from folks born and raised in Charleston and Folly Beach and those who were drawn to the area for its beauty and attractive quality of life. Our staff includes veterans, teachers, head beach lifeguards, college students, and of course, full time surf instructors! We pride ourselves and having a qualified, personable, and fun staff. We bring a tremendous amount of surfing, ocean, and teaching experience from the top down and our emphasis on safety is bar none. Our veterans (Aaron, Tommy, Connor, Josh) bring leadership and lifesaving skills to the table, our beach lifeguard contingent (Stephen, Nadia, Faye) bring years of guarding, managing, and training the lifeguards of of South Carolina, and the rest of our staff without formal lifesaving training from the military or beach lifeguards undergo certification every year. Our mission is to serve Folly Beach and the greater Charleston area with the most professional, safe, and fun surf lessons and summer camps taught by the most qualified team.
Shane -Director of Beach Operations
Shane was Isla’s first surf instructor back in 2015. Shane and Peter operated the after school program during the first months of Isla’s founding. Shane went on to be the head summer camp instructor for the 2018 summer season as well as a lead private lesson instructor. We are delighted to have Shane back in Charleston after a three year hiatus in corporate America. Shane brings a tremendous of enthusiasm and professionalism to the beach everyday and is a pleasure to have in a management position!
Monica - Head Surf Instructor
Monica has been with Isla since 2016. She started as a junior camp instructor, quickly became the head summer surf camp instructor, and is now one of our lead private lesson instructors. Monica brings passion and hard work to the beach everyday and it has been a pleasure to watch her grow as a person and instructor.
Jake “The Snake” - Head Surf Instructor
Jake is born and bred in Charleston and started working with us when he was just 15. He has a work ethic and positive attitude that rivals the best. He is obsessed with surfing and sharing his stoke with the adults and kids he works with. Jake spent a few years working our summer camp and is now one of our lead private surf lesson instructors.
A A ron - Legend & Private Surf Lesson Instructor
We are blessed to have Aaron on our team. Aaron is a proud Army veteran and his primary role is the Director of Surf Operations for The Warrior Surf Foundation. On his days off from his important role there he is one of our lead private surf lesson instructors. He is universally known as the positive stoke warrior on Folly Beach. He brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and enthusiasm to our team and you will never see him not smiling. We can all learn a lot from him and are grateful he calls Charleston home and is a part of our team.
Meri - Logistics Master
Meri is a 3rd Grade teacher & during the summer a staple at Isla Surf School and Folly Beach. She is the glue that holds all the moving parts of summer together. Meri is a master at organization and customer service and we are so grateful to have her involved with our operation. We love having Meri on the beach everyday and we couldn’t do it without her!
Tommy- Veteran and Private Lesson Surf Instructor
Tommy is a combat veteran who served in the Army National Guard, and a student at College of Charleston where he studies accounting and computer science. Originally from a small farm town in South Carolina, surfing has always been in his blood because his mom was a surfer in the 60's and early 70's. Tommy loves surfing because it is fun, peaceful, and the ocean is an important part of his daily life.
Nadia - Private Surf Lesson Instructor
Although Nadia just joined the team in 2021, she logged more hours on the beach and in the water than some do over years. A long time Folly Beach lifeguard, Nadia moved over to becoming a surf instructor due to her love of the sport and working closely with her clients. Nadia brings her unique instructional skills from her years as a lifeguard and spent in the peace corp. that was both refreshing and educational for our entire staff. Safe to say we all learned from Nadia and were humbled over the course of 2021.
Brant - Private Lesson Instructor
Brant, a Folly Beach local, has been on the Isla team for several years now and although he has come and gone due to travel and his work as an assistant teacher at The Ashley Hall School in downtown Charleston, he is always welcomed at the beach. Brant has a vast knowledge of the ocean and surfing and is a true people’s person. Brant makes friends with everyone and is phenomenal at working with all ages, abilities, and personalities.
Nathan - Head Summer Surf Camp Instructor
Nathan is a collegiate lacrosse player who spends his summer working as part of our team. He led our summer camps for the 2021 season and was a huge hit with our campers and parents. He is genuinely one of the nicest people you will meet, works hard, and brings years of lacrosse coaching experience to the beach. We look forward to many more years with Nathan!
Kate - Private Lessons & Camp Instructor
Kate was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, SC and is a freshman at the College of Charleston. Kate splits her time between teaching our summer camps and private lessons and is a hit with both our campers and adult lessons. Kate and her sister, Lee, are some of the nicest people you will meet and a pleasure to work with. They bring a calm, cool, & collected attitude to their teaching and ensure our campers and lessons have a safe and positive surfing experience.
Connor- Private Lesson Instructor
Connor is an Army Veteran who came to us in 2020. Since then, he has been a constant presence on the beach working on our team as well as with The Warrior Surf Foundation. While he is a relatively new surfer, he has put in an outrageous amount of time in the water to hone his skills and since moving to Folly Beach in recent years he has become a fantastic long boarder.
Lee - Private Surf Lesson & Camp Instructor
Lee is Kate’s older sister and soccer player for the University of South Carolina where she is a senior. Lee split her time between camp and private lesson for the 2021 summer and her kind and gentle approach with some timid campers and lessons was a fantastic addition to our team. We are very grateful for her “can do” attitude and hard work this summer. Hopefully she will be a pivotal part of the team come 2022!
Jack - Private Surf Lesson & Camp Instructor
Jack is a student at the University of South Carolina and a local to the Charleston area. His family has deep military ties and he is an adrenaline junky. Off the beach you can find him jumping off the tallest cliffs he can find. Jack is an incredibly hard worker and personable young man who is a pleasure to have on our team. He is a fantastic instructor who is both patient and encouraging and we look forward to more years with Jack!
Carson - Summer Surf Camp Instructor
Carson is the glue that holds our camp instructors together. She has unbelievable motherly instincts and ensures the safety of both our campers and instructors. Carson is incredibly hardworking and responsible and is a huge asset to our camp team.
Ike- Private Surf Lesson Instructor
Ike joined our team in 2020 after moving to Folly Beach. He is a goofy and delightful person who is addicted to surfing. Ike has committed the last few years of his life to surfing and it shows. He is a fantastic instructor and gets along with everyone.
Stephen - Private Surf Lesson Instructor
Stephen spent more than 20 years of his life in ocean rescue, has trained more than 1000 lifeguards, competed on Charleston lifeguard teams, won USLA regional events, placed top ten at national events, and leads both Isla Surf School and The Warrior Surf Foundation in yearly ocean rescue training. Beyond all of that, he is a humble and nice guy who just loves the ocean and sharing his passion with our clients.
Alex - Private Surf Lesson & Camp Instructor
Alex is a lifelong Charleston local, a freshman at the College of Charleston, and a great addition to your private lessons and summer camp team. She is an avid long boarder and brings a gentle touch to instructing our campers and private lesson clients. She excels working with young girls, but is a pro no matter who she is working with!
About Isla’s Surf Lesson, Summer Surf Camp Instructors
We provide professional instructors who are CPR/AED/First Aid Certified and many are former lifeguards from around the world, the best equipment, and the widest range of lesson and tour options. Our instructors range from former pro surfers, veterans, college students, and all have years of experience under their belt. We have secured a franchise contract with the City of Folly Beach and carry comprehensive insurance for all of our activities. We pride ourselves on giving the best, safest, and most fun lessons on the beach. Book a lesson/tour with us and experience the Isla difference.
This video above highlights some of our favorite moments from our first three full years in business. We have had the most amazing time meeting people from all walks of life, making new friends and partners, and growing the business. We have had so many fun moments at summer camp and during our private lessons and some incredibly powerful moments doing our non-profit work. Thank you for the continued support and we look forward to being a positive force in the Charleston and Folly Beach community for many years to come!
Head to our VIMEO page for all of our videos!