About Us

Our Mission

Fernandina’s shoreline is where beginners find their first taste of the ocean in a safe, supportive environment — and where growing surfers sharpen their technique, learn to read waves, and push their limits. At Swellride, we make the most of our home break: gentle enough for first-timers, yet dynamic enough to challenge those ready for the next step. Wherever you start, our goal is the same: to help you grow, progress, and leave the water feeling accomplished.

Our Approach

Everyone is welcome — From first-time surfers to those ready to advance.

Personalized Instruction — Everyone learns differently! Small groups and private lessons tailored to each surfer.

Ocean Awareness — Safety, tides, and respect for the coastal environment are at the core of every lesson.

Experience that Counts — Over 60 years of cumulative surf experience.

Meet Our Instructors

Steven Parkin

Owner, Lead Instructor

In the summer of 1984 my Grandmother, Mama B, founder of Driftwood Surf Shop, sent me a Nash skateboard for my tenth birthday. Fair to say I was stoked!!! I spent hours on that thing, until it literally fell to pieces. Little did I know that Nash would be the beginning of many years of various board sports – skateboarding, snowboarding, water-skiing, wake-boarding, paddle-boarding, and, of course, SURFING!

I relocated to St. Augustine, FL at a young age, and my passion for surfing was born! During my first summer surfing I spent hours in the water every day, in every size wave, learning what would become the thread that has carried through my life.

Fast-forward 25 or so years, from one coast to another and back, I found myself managing Driftwood, learning the ins and outs of running a small family business, and of course helping local kids build their first new skateboards. That’s when I started teaching surfing, and when I discovered there is little else as rewarding as introducing people of all ages to the ocean - and to surfing.

Now, in 2025, Swellride Surf School is established, representing well over a decade of surf instruction tailored to each individual’s circumstances and surfing goals, with an emphasis on ocean awareness, proper technique, and safety. I am beyond stoked to work with a team of highly skilled instructors who, with myself, will happily guide you through the fundamentals of surfing, giving you the knowledge and awareness to be in the ocean safely. Hope to see you out there!

Our Team

Our team of instructors were born in the water - growing up in Fernandina the ocean has always been a few steps away. Each instructor has been surfing from an early age, giving them an instinctual understanding of the ocean environment - wind, tide, swell - and how those factors influence breaking waves. They will guide you along the process of learning the basics of surfing, giving you the necessary foundation on which to build your skills and knowledge.