By Surf Education Academy
A La Jolla Shores Local with a Global Reach
If you’ve surfed at La Jolla Shores, chances are you’ve seen him—the smooth style on the retro fish, easy-smiling guy who greets first-time surfers and everyone with the same stoke as world champions. That’s Sean Brody, Founder and Executive Director of Surf Education Academy (SEA), and one of the underground most influential figures in modern surfing from California to across the world.
Sean isn’t just another surf coach. He’s a Southern California native, a La Jolla local since childhood, and a man who has taken surfing from the shores of San Diego to the Olympic Games, the Vatican, and even post-war Liberia. His mission? To make surfing safe, inclusive, and transformative for everyone, everywhere.
From La Jolla Grom to Global Advocate
Sean grew up in San Diego’s surf culture—paddling out at La Jolla Shores, learning wave etiquette from older locals, and developing a love for ocean safety early on. His professional roots started at Rusty Surfboards, where he worked his way from sweeping floors to becoming a surf instructor, photographer, and digital media manager.
By his early twenties, he had already merged two passions: surfing and community service.
Academic & Professional Credentials You Can Trust
Sean’s leadership is grounded in education as much as experience. He holds:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation from San Diego State University
- Master’s Degree in Hospitality Tourism Management (Emphasis: Sustainable Surf Tourism) from SDSU
(SDSU Hospitality Program)
This academic path laid the foundation for his work in sustainable surf tourism, where the sport becomes a tool for community development, environmental stewardship, and cultural exchange.
Surf Resource Network & Liberia: Surfing for Healing
Sean co-founded the Surf Resource Network, a nonprofit dedicated to using surfing as a force for good worldwide. One of its most impactful projects was Kwepunha Retreat and Kwepunha Surf Academy—Liberia’s first sustainable surf resort and education program.
This program gave local youth opportunities in hospitality and surf instruction while promoting coastal conservation and rebuilding community after years of civil war and the Ebola crisis.
(BBC Travel)
International Surfing Association: From Gold Medals to the Olympics
Sean’s influence extends into surfing’s highest governing body—the International Surfing Association (ISA)—where he:
- Advised 97 National Surfing Federations worldwide.
- Was instrumental in getting surfing recognized as an Olympic sport.
- Conceptualized and produced the first-ever World Adaptive Surfing Championship.
Through this work, he connected grassroots surf communities with elite-level competition, ensuring accessibility and representation for athletes of all abilities.
(ISA Official Site)
Adaptive Surfing Leadership
In addition to his ISA work, Sean serves as Head Coach for Team USA’s Adaptive Surfing Team, guiding them to multiple gold medal victories in the ISA World Para Surfing Championships. His coaching blends high-performance strategy with empathy and inclusivity, empowering athletes to surf—and win—at the highest level.
(USA Surfing)
In a feature with American Surf Magazine, adaptive champion Liv Stone praised Sean for his dedication:
“Our coach, Sean Brody, is the best… he helps us with heat strategies and training at a high level… we’re prepared for anything.”
(American Surf Magazine Interview)
Surf Education Academy: Where Safety Meets Stoke
Back home in La Jolla, Sean built Surf Education Academy to bring world-class surf education to local beaches—focusing on safety, quality, and inclusion. SEA’s programs include:
- Surf lessons for all ages and abilities
- Summer surf camps for kids
- Adaptive surfing programs for individuals with disabilities
- A martial arts-inspired “colored leash” progression system to track skill development
- Hands-on ocean safety training
- Environmental stewardship and community volunteer programs
SEA is also BBB4Good Verified, a rare distinction for small businesses that demonstrate measurable community and environmental impact.
(BBB4Good)
Recognition in Media & Industry
Sean’s work has been recognized in major outlets like:
- The New York Times
- BBC
- ESPN
- Surfer Magazine
- The Inertia
- Surf Park Magazine (where Sean is Editor-in-Chief)
His essay Why a Surf Family Matters in Surfer Magazine is now widely referenced in surf culture discussions. Or most recently, check out how Surf Education Academy received high honors of ‘Top Surf Schools” statewide given by Surfer Magazine.
(Surfer.com)
He’s also shared the surfing message on the world stage—speaking at the Global Congress for Peace in Vatican City and presenting Pope Francis with a surfboard, symbolizing surfing’s role in unity and peace.
The SEA Difference: Why Learn Here
When you take a lesson with SEA, you’re learning from a team shaped by Sean Brody’s decades of global leadership. This means:
- Proven safety protocols backed by international training standards.
- Coaching for all learning styles—from young kids to adaptive athletes to advanced surfers.
- Local La Jolla knowledge that keeps you in the right spot, at the right tide, in the right conditions.
- Credibility you can verify through academic, nonprofit, and industry leadership.
The Ocean Is for Everyone
Sean’s philosophy is simple: surfing belongs to everyone. Whether you’re a kid paddling into your first whitewater wave, a Paralympian chasing gold, or a retiree rediscovering the ocean, SEA has the resources, patience, and expertise to get you there—safely and joyfully.
“Every wave is a chance to learn. Every surfer deserves the opportunity to try.” – Sean Brody
Book Your Surf Education Experience
If you’re ready to surf La Jolla Shores with a team led by one of surfing’s most accomplished and inclusive leaders, book your lesson or camp now.
- Book Surf Lessons
- Learn About Adaptive Surfing
