Things to Do in Gardena

After years in a lucrative corporate career, California native Matt Rosas abandoned his desk job and plunged into a passion he'd nurtured since 1976: surfing. At Malibu Paddle Surf, he continues to catch waves and transfer his talents to students and high-profile Hollywood companies, including Sony Pictures, ABC, and the WB. Matt now focuses his attentions on the sport of standup paddleboarding, formulating his lessons as two-hour, total core workouts where pupils master standing, paddling, turning, balancing, and techniques for falling safely into the arms of a nearby octopus. Armed with provided wetsuits, boards, and paddles, students tear across currents and often experience up-close meet and greets with dolphins or seals. Experienced boarders can rent gear and exercise solo by surfing swells or dragging their boards up and down a sand dune.

Certified by the American Red Cross in first aid, CPR, and AED, instructor Chris Silva fosters a safe and positive learning environment as he teaches the subtleties of surfing to eager students during group and private lessons. A maximum of six surfers share Chris' attention in the group lessons, allowing for plenty of individual coaching while making strides toward standing up on the board as well as the hoods of moving cars.:m]]

When instructor Matt Rosas compares surfing to "riding energy from the sun," his words evoke the freedom and carefree attitude that has come to be synonymous with the sport. He hopes to instill that same effervescent feeling in his students and customers at Venice Beach Surf School, where he draws from more than 25 years' experience teaching surfing and standup paddleboarding lessons. In the churning surf and on the white sand beaches of Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey, and four other Southern California beaches, he coaches paddlers in the basics of catching waves, standing, and running over the biggest sand castle on shore. He also arranges rentals of water-sports equipment to let visitors explore the waters on their own.

According to Los Angeles magazine, brotherly duo Matt and Christian Shubin channeled their lifelong love of ocean sports into Poseidon Stand Up Paddle Boards, located walking distance from the pier. Their shop stocks all of the necessary gear for oceanic outings, including squat Starboard paddleboards that easily slice through the surf. Pro riders design and test-drive C4 Waterman boards before presenting them to amateurs, who propel watercraft with the store's inventory of lightweight but powerful carbon and fiberglass paddles. Accessories such as leashes, roof racks, and repair kits secure and beautify paddleboards without tacky layers of eye shadow. Customers may consult the expertise of an online board finder to pinpoint the right fit for their frames, aptitudes, and preferences.

Santa Monica Bike Rental rents out bikes for 1-, 5-, or 10-hour blocks, letting customers tour Santa Monica and Southern California's nearby beach cities. Located just a tricycle's throw from the Pacific Ocean, the rental shop serves as the perfect starting point for rolling explorations of Santa Monica State Beach, quaint side streets, and public recreation areas such as Ocean View Park and Santa Monica Pier. The business rents both standard beach cruisers and electric G-bikes—powered scooters that can zip down Santa Monica's shopping district or travel up the Pacific Coast Highway and on toward Malibu.