Surf's Up

Lisa and Brian Kodzis have found their rhythm in life, and they spend part of each year at the Ocean House helping guests find their own rhythm out on the water, too. The husband-and-wife team hail from Westerly, Rhode Island, and for years have spent three months every winter on Oahu in Hawaii. They pack up their three kids and dog and head to the surfing mecca of the islands, where Brian surfs multiple times a day to train, and to get inspired by the latest techniques and gear. Lisa, who also teaches yoga, “her first love,” at Ocean House and in Hawaii, focuses on paddleboarding during the resort's high season. She’s been doing the sport long before most people in New England had ever heard of paddleboarding.

“We were among the first people to bring it to the Watch Hill and Westerly area,” she says. “When we first tried to buy a paddleboard on the East Coast, they weren’t even selling them. We had to use makeshift long boards and make our own paddles.”

Every year from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of September, they bring their love of the water and board sports to Ocean House, leading activities that are offered for guests. They and their team of instructors work with guests of all ages and skill levels, and provide all the necessary equipment, for anyone who wants to try surfing or paddleboarding. There’s also the option of trying their latest interest, eFoiling, which is available to Ocean House guests 16 and older.

“This will be our third summer offering it,” Lisa says of the eFoil, which has a foil (kind of like a vertical leg) beneath it that lifts the board and the rider up above the sea. “This is electric, so you have a remote control in your hand, and you fly out of the water. It’s a lot easier for beginners because you have more than just the propulsion of the wave. A lot of people enjoy that, and it’s a harder-to-find item. The boards themselves are quite expensive, so this is a great place to try it while you’re on vacation.”

The beauty of the Ocean House setup, Lisa says, is that the Atlantic Ocean location makes it possible to try a little bit of everything.

“A lot of people think paddleboarding and surfing are the same, but they’re both unique. The eFoil is, too,” Brian and Lisa explain. “They each have their own element, their own form and technique. There’s something for everyone. They really are their own sports.”

Having all kinds of surfboards, paddleboards and eFoils available lets Lisa, Brian and their staff tailor lessons to the individual guest’s experience level. As long as people can swim, Lisa says, they are welcome to participate. And for more athletic guests, new technology like the eFoil can offer a different kind of challenge.

“For the advanced surfers, the eFoil is great because you don’t need much of a swell,” she says. “It’s perfect for advanced surfers who want to try something new. And it’s a learning curve, so you get hooked. Once you do one lesson, you want to do a couple more and master it.”

The peak season for water-sports instruction runs from June through September. During that time, Lisa, Brian and their team are available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, unless it’s too stormy or rainy to be safe outside.

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When riding an eFoil, guests hover above the water using an electric board.

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Paddleboarding and surfing are popular family activities.

A lot of people think paddleboarding and surfing are the same, but they’re both unique. The eFoil is, too. They each have their own element, their own form and technique. There’s something for everyone.

—Brian and Lisa Kodzis Ocean House Beach Activities Directors

They encourage guests to sign up for lessons in advance, so they can prepare all the equipment in the correct size (think wetsuits for surfers, life jackets for kids and adults alike, and helmets for the eFoil riders). Ocean House guests can also ask for an on-the-spot lesson, Lisa says, and if there’s time in the schedule, her team will make a slot available.

The reality, she adds, is that seeing other guests having so much fun out on the water simply becomes infectious along the beach.

“It’s ideal if people sign up in advance, but usually what happens is that we’ll have a prebooked lesson, and then people will see it, and they start coming up to request lessons throughout the day,” she says. “But it’s best to prebook because things stack up, and we don’t want to have to say no because there aren’t enough instructors.”

And, she stresses, just because she, Brian and the other instructors are all experts at these water-sports activities doesn’t mean guests should worry that they will feel overmatched. Her team’s goal is to bring the best of everything they know to Ocean House guests who might be seeing or trying these kinds of boards for the first time. The team goes out of its way to be friendly and patient, no matter whether somebody is taking an on-land lesson just to get comfortable with how a surfboard feels, trying to stand up for the first time on a paddleboard in shallow water, or learning to surf on a long board with a new technique that Brian just picked up from the pros along the prime surf spots of Hawaii’s Seven Mile Miracle.

“It shouldn’t be intimidating. Our instructors are friendly,” Brian and Lisa add. “We just want everyone to have a positive experience.”

For reservations, please contact beachactivities@oceanhouseri.com or your Guest Relations Manager.

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Paddleboarding is available during the peak season from June through September.

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Surfers are able to sign up for rentals or lessons.

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Instructors Brian and Lisa Kodzis hone their skills in Hawaii during the off-season.

Game On

Guests and groups are keen to learn the classic and social sport of croquet.

At Ocean House, one of the most scenic spots is the Croquet Lawn perched above the Atlantic Ocean. Families and guests of all ages sport their croquet whites for lessons and friendly matches on the tournament-sized lawn. There's even an on-site professional who teaches how to perfect a croquet stroke and use the proper technique. Stephen Morgan, a national croquet champion, is the resident pro at Ocean House. Known as the "wicket slayer," he shares his enthusiasm for the sport and teaches all skill levels. Want to make a day of it? Come for croquet and cocktails, followed by a leisurely lunch at The Verandeh.

To Book: In-house guests may contact their Guest Relations Manager; outside guests may call destination services at 844.724.7218.