by Heidi Trilling

Dave Alexander of Open Ocean Surfing, Half Moon Bay. Photo: Heidi Trilling.

Dave Alexander is a natural athlete.

A former schoolteacher and coach with a lifelong appetite for sports — football, baseball, horseback riding, soccer, team swimming, and a host of others — Alexander’s ultimate athletic arena is the ocean.

“I consider myself a naturalist,” Alexander says. “I’ve always loved nature more than anything. Hiking, skiing in the mountains, all outdoor sports. … But I feel most comfortable in the water. … When I was little, I’d ride rafts, bodysurf with a kickboard or even a piece of foam I found on the beach — I loved it!”

Alexander parlayed his love of the ocean into various professional involvements: helping organize the Half Moon Bay Surf Classic years ago, filming big-wave events for the surf industry, and currently acting as beach marshal for the Mavericks Surf Contest.

But he is best known for his thriving Coastside business.

Open Ocean Surfing students catch a wave. Photo courtesy of Eric W. Nelson

Alexander owns and operates Open Ocean Surfing in Half Moon Bay, offering surf lessons and surf camps for children and adults of all ages. A pool of dedicated, certified surf and water safety instructors help Alexander monitor the students. Warm-up exercises, running, and Alexander’s own original game of “waterball” are incorporated into camp sessions.

Open Ocean’s popular programs draw students from all over the Bay Area, from across the United States, and from as far away as France. Five-year-olds as well as senior computer programmers have been taught to ride waves.

“Surfing is a beautiful sport!” Alexander says. “No matter how old you are, you can learn to surf. It’s great mental exercise as well as physical. … And it gives you that stoked feeling, that rush of excitement.”

Upcoming programs in the works at Open Ocean include surf travel packages to Costa Rica. Back here on the coast, private surf lessons for individuals and groups are offered all year. Year-round surf camps accommodate the school calendar and are held during summer break, winter break and spring break. Check the Web site for details.

Wait. Surfing during winter break?

Young student triumphs under the watchful eye of Dave Alexander. Photo: Heidi Trilling.

Alexander explains: “Many people are used to thinking of ‘Christmas’ and ‘skiing’ together. People don’t think of surfing as a winter sport, but it is. It’s an all-year-round sport.”

What about cold weather?

“People forget: Some of the best weather here on the coast is in fall and winter. Water’s at its warmest. Wave conditions are often better for a beginner.” Alexander laughs. “Surfing’s also less expensive than skiing; you don’t need a lift ticket!”

He adds: “Everybody has a blast. That’s why I love surfing — and teaching it.”

Long-time Open Ocean surf instructor Alex Moore agrees. “Dave is always out there with a smile on his face. … He’s great with all ages. … We make sure everyone stays within what they consider their safety zone. If little kids are scared, we’ll surf only 5 or 10 feet from the beach. And we’re right there; we hold onto their boards. … By the end of the week, they’re usually completely over their fears. … Dave just loves being out there with students, and it shows. That’s why everyone loves taking lessons from him.”

What about safety?

“Respect for the ocean is number one,” Alexander says. “Teaching safety is a priority; you need to know what can go wrong out there, so you can prepare yourself. That’s absolutely essential knowledge.”

Alexander stresses that being neighborly is a safety issue, too.

Open Ocean Surfing camp group. Photo: Heidi Trilling.

“The attitude and aggression you hear about — there’s no place for that. We all started as beginners. Some people forget that very quickly. Whether you’re bodyboarding, bodysurfing, longboarding, whatever … people need to respect each other, stay out of each other’s way, help out when needed, and enjoy the ocean together. That’s essential, too.”

He continues: “Every place has its own dangers. Maximizing your awareness of them will minimize your fears … and your injuries.”

Alexander should know. He’s had bumps, bruises, cuts, rotator cuff and whiplash injuries, and the dreaded “surfer’s ear” from cold wind and water exposure.

“If you could warm the water up by 10 degrees,” Alexander says, “this place would be paradise! But I’m not complaining. It’s pretty great now. ”

Parents think Open Ocean is pretty great, too.

“It’s relaxed and non-competitive. You can sit out and build sand castles if you need a break. Dave makes it low-key and lots of fun,” says Dyan Chisum, whose 6-year-old son Ty is learning to surf.

Former schoolteacher Jenny Axelman adds: “This is my sons’ first time in full wetsuits, and they love it. Dave’s a wonderful combination of gentle, encouraging and motivating. My kids want to come back every day.”

Alexander says: “For me, being in the ocean environment is exhilarating. The nature of it, the vastness of the ocean … it’s the largest living thing on the planet, so once you are immersed in it, you feel the energy and power of it.” He smiles. “And you always walk away feeling better mentally and physically. And that’s a great thing.”