Maurice ‘Maui’ Goodbeer is a fun and energetic person whose goal is to help inner city kids stay off the streets by keeping them entertained and teaching them how to surf and paddle surf, for free. He learned when he was just a kid in California, and now he is using that knowledge for something positive after a family tragedy.

What is the difference between paddlesurfing and regular surfing?
Stand up paddle surfing is the original surfing from Hawaii back in the old days, the Kings would paddle on these huge 30-50 ft boards and they would bring their families to transfer them from one island to the next. Eventually, they started catching waves on the board and they started getting good at it. Regular surfing started after that, when they started making the boards a lot smaller, and it became very popular, but paddle surfing is coming back!

How would you describe paddle surfing?
I would describe it as a very spiritual majestic feeling on top of the water. It’s like walking on water, and you can see everything that’s underneath it. You get an amazing work out, you develop a good balance. and you can get good at it a lot faster than regular surfing. The board is bigger and more stable, and you’re already standing up so it’s easier.

What is the first thing you should know before coming to a class?
Just know that you are going to have fun! Relax, wear decent clothing (that’s important), and have sunscreen because you are standing up in the water.

How much are the classes and where do you teach?
The classes are free to inner city kids and I do teach locals and tourists by donation. Surfing is the greatest gift; it’s priceless. Classes are every Saturday from 12-2pm at South Pointe, Miami Beach.

So we know you’re from California, how did you end up in Miami?
I came here after my brother died, it was very difficult to handle so I wanted to get away. I came here during Katrina, thinking that there would be waves, but the waves are different over here. it was not what I expected, but it’s a great location nonetheless so I stayed.

Waves are not very usual in Miami, what’s the best spot to surf?
Any place is the best place to surf, as long as you’re out in the water. I wouldn’t say Miami has nice waves for surfers, when there is a swell which is rare you will see a line up of like 200 people wanting to surf. It’s not a great place to surf, which is another reason I like to teach kids here, it encourages them to get away and move on to another area because of the surfing. When surfing calls you, you have to answer the call.

Tell us a little bit about your non-profit organization StreetWaves.
Street Waves is an organization I founded on behalf of my brother. He was brutally murdered by a 16 year old gang member in 2003, and at his funeral I made a promise to help inner kids. It was a very unfortunate situation, but i’m turning it into a positive one. So now I spend all my energy, and i’ve dedicated my life to helping these kids that are looking for a way out, and we take them to the ocean. Our mission is to get them off the streets.

And finally, what’s your IN place in Miami?
I like South Beach, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove. I love Nespresso on Lincoln Road, I spend a lot of time there.

To learn more about StreetWaves, click here. Come out and spend time with them in the ocean!

Photography by: Marco Graziani

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