The surfing class meets in front of the Island Water Sports store, which has recently been redone, before heading to the beach. (Photo by Liz Dzuro)

Deerfield Beach's Island Water Sports (IWS), surf shop to the masses, has been around since the late '70s and has made the waves next to the Deerfield pier a hot spot for surfing. The pros who work at the shop started doing surf lessons for the general public over 15 years ago and to this day are still doing it every Saturday at 7 a.m.  

IWS provides the boards and instructions and it's completely free. During the summer, the surf shop gets about 100 people a week wanting to learn how to surf and about 60 a week in the winter. 

Ten-year instructor Ian Tussing, along with seven other instructors, meet in front of IWS and then head to the beach for a short but thorough safety school. The group then works on the basics of paddling out, catching the wave and standing up.  

Once they think everyone has gotten the hang of it and is comfortable on the sand, they head out into the water for about an hour and half of practice time. The only time the lessons are canceled is if the conditions are dangerous for the riders, like if there's lightning or rough waters.  

If you don't think you have mastered the basics at first, there is no limit to how many times you go; it will only cost you your time.  

Island Water Sports
60 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 392-9328

Liz Dzuro
Senior Photographer

If your adrenaline-junkie alter ego is waiting to be let out this summer, then Ski Rixen USA is the place to get its fix. Known to most as just Rixen, it's located inside Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach. This place lets you glide over the cool waters of the lake going 18 mph strapped to a wakeboard or skis on their motorized tow rope cable system. 

Rixen cares about safety first and foremost. New riders have to watch and understand a safety and instructional video even before paying, and there is a waiver you have to sign every time you ride. But don't feel intimidated if you're going for the first time. 

“Ninety percent of people are first timers,” says cable operator Jeff Trudeau. 

Once you've got your ski pass, you can use any type of Rixen's equipment without any extra charges, although you do have to do a lap on a knee board before upgrading to anything else if it's your first time. Once you've gotten the hang of it, but still want to improve, Rixen has coaching in group lessons held monthly through an announcement on their Web site, www.skirixenusa.com, or private lessons taught by the guys from Team Ski Rixen. 

Team Rixen is a group of five guys that compete in wakeboarding competitions all over the world, and two of them hold world titles. 

If you get your own equipment, you can hit all the ramps, kickers and sliders and do tricks like a Railey, which “looks like Superman,” Trudeau says.   

The rock music is always blasting from speakers outside the pro shop and the vibe from the riders waiting in line is clear that they are stoked to get out on the water. Summer is all about having the time to try something new and Rixen is there waiting for you. 

Ski Rixen at Quiet Waters Park
401 S. Powerline Road
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
(954)429-0215
www.skirixenusa.com

Rob Mapp of Deerfield Beach gets some air off a small wake while coming around a corner at Ski Rixen. (Photo by Liz Dzuro)