Meet Pink Pineapple Surf: A Girls-Only Surf School In Manasquan N.J.

Clad head-to-toe in neon pink and proudly bearing a pineapple as their mascot, Becky Burt’s New Jersey surf school, Pink Pineapple Surf, is here for the girls. Forget what you’ve heard about the state, although there isn’t a palm tree in sight, New Jersey’s surf breaks are as good as any – especially in the coastal town of Manasquan, home to the East Coast’s girl’s only surf school.

A native New Jerseyan and surfer in her own right, Becky Burt spent some time working for Surfing the Nations, a Hawaii-based organization that gave her the opportunity to teach kids (including young girls in hijabs) how to surf in places such as Egypt and Israel. Years later, when she returned to the Jersey Shore, Burt realized that even in the states girls needed a space apart from the boys to learn how to surf, cheer each other on and just be themselves.

During the summer, the surf school offers lessons for girls ages three and up. The only requirements are your own suit, towel, water and snack. Don’t worry, the Pink Pineapple crew will supply the hot pink rash guards and giant inflatable unicorns for photos. They also offer surf camps that include beach-inspired crafts including collecting clam shells for handmade necklaces, art projects and other take-home trinkets that keep them feeling connected to the sea.

As sunny as it may seem, the road to Pink Pineapple Surf wasn’t so easy. Like Burt and many other young women just starting out, being surrounded by competitive boys and male surf instructors can be pretty intimidating. Says fellow East Coast surfer, Ceili Brennan, “For a while I wouldn’t go alone and I felt really uncomfortable in those gaggle of boys. I wasn’t confident in my skills and instincts as far as looking at the ocean and assessing which beaches were better on particular days, and I ended up just following them around, which was fine for learning but uncomfortable. If there were ever any other people in the water, they would always talk to the boys and not me.”

In an interview with a local newspaper, Burt described just how transformative learning how to surf can be for many young girls, “A lot of times these girls think they would they never actually surf or really do it, and then they stand up and ride the wave. They’re so happy. And then they’re hooked. It’s a lifestyle.”

And it worked. Since then, Burt and her neon pink tribe have been teaching girls how to catch a wave season after season – introducing them to a lifestyle they may not have ever discovered on their own. Who knows? Pink Pineapple Surf might be coaching the next Stephanie Gilmore or Bethany Hamilton. One thing is for sure, their infectious energy and righteous spirit is a unique brand of girl power that’s inspiring babes of all ages to take on the world one wave at a time.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.