Beach Life Instructors- Dedicated, adventurous people

SPI Sessions has a unique approach to our staff. We call ourselves ‘Beach Life Instructors’ because we believe we share more with the student than just a surfing lesson. We are well-rounded individuals with love for all things friendly to our beaches and lifestyles. We maintain a rotating staff of 4-5 Beach Life Instructors and staff throughout our full camp sessions.  In a lesson setting, we maintain a 1:4 ratio of staff to student, providing necessary attention for adequate surf technique and stoke.

 

Picture of Aarin Hartwell

Aarin Hartwell

SPI Sessions Founder

Aarin Hartwell is founder and owner of SPI Sessions. Her experience as a traveling and sponsored athlete, led her to aligning her passion with her entrepreneurial skills. She is the proud mother of Brixton Liam and partner to Brendan Jennings. Hartwell is at her best when she is working with children and in her expertise field of water sports. Aarin earned a National Championship at the USA Surfing event and two Texas State tiles in 2025. She currently is the Vice President of the Texas Gulf Surfing Association, Founder of the SPI Surf Team and newly elected SPI City Council Woman .

Picture of Sebas

Sebas

Surf & SUP Instructor

Chef, surfer, and action sports enthusiast, Sebas joins us from his home town in Tulum. As a full-time travel guide and exotic cuisine expertise back home, Sebas loves taking a break to coach surfing and stand-up paddle boarding on SPI.

Picture of Gaines Burns

Gaines Burns

Surf & Skate Instructor

He might work just so he can take surf trips- and that's cool with us. Gaines, is a retired Art teacher from Hanna High School who enjoys teaching people of all ages how to surf. Gaines is not just a Texas State Champion Surfer he's also quite a skateboard legend. Gaines enjoys spending time with friends and surfing at Isla Blanca Park and taking multiple surf trips Mexico each year.

Picture of Christina Thompson

Christina Thompson

Surf Instructor

Avid surf-skater and surfer, Christina is a licensed realtor with a love for Christ and sharing her passion for surfing with the community around her. Christina brings organization, creativity, and a business mind-set to our crew.

Picture of Simone

Simone

Surf & Kite Instructor

Traveler, photographer, and action sports enthusiast, Simone joins us from his home town in Tulum. As a full-time kiteboarding instructor back home, Simone loves taking a break to coach surfing and stand-up paddle boarding .

Our Commitment to Safety- Certified, Professional, Experienced

Safety is our first priority as proven by our six years of camp operations and safety record. We follow guidelines and training from both American Red Cross and United States Lifeguarding Association to ensure the safest and most rewarding experiences. We always keep a student to instructor ratio of 4:1 and all of our instructors have certifications in First Aid, CPR, and are Open Ocean Trained. We also carry a comprehensive insurance package.

We do take a significant amount of time in our water related programs to share our knowledge of the ocean. We teach about how to safely swim in open ocean, how to avoid and escape rip currents, how to respect other water users, and awareness of marine life. Campers will learn so much about the ocean that it will increase their comfortability and maximize their amazement and experience in the ocean.

We are very proud to have a strong staff of vetted individuals eager to share the joy of surfing and eco-awareness.

   CPR/First Aid Certified  

   Open Water Safety Trained  

  Experienced Action Sports Coaches