Terry Simms Story

Terry Simms is a pro surfer, elite surf instructor, and owner of Terry Simms Surf (TSS). Born near the shores of San Diego, CA, Terry caught his first wave at the tender age of five and never looked back. Fast forward to the ’80s, and Terry found himself on the idyllic shores of Kauai, where he entered his first surf contest and discovered his innate talent for competitive surfing. This sparked a blazing career that lasted for 15 years. From 1984 to 1998, Terry rode the waves as a professional surfer, earning a coveted spot as an ASP world-rated, top-ten longboarder.

The pinnacle of his career was the unforgettable year of 1997 when Terry graced the cover of international surf magazines four times. Surfer’s Journal, Longboard Magazine, and Pacific Longboarder featured Simms and his self-made style. During this same period, Terry felt the call to share the stoke with others who needed help to access wave, launching one of the first-ever surfing programs (with Shared Adventures) for physically challenged surfers in Santa Cruz. This altruistic event laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to spreading the joy of surfing. This event was also one of the early harbingers of the global adaptive surf movement.

After hanging up his competitive jersey, Terry embarked on his professional teaching journey as the Head Beach Master at California’s inaugural surf camp, San Onofre Surf Camp, founded by the legendary Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz. Under Doc’s tutelage, Terry absorbed invaluable surf wisdom and was also schooled in the practices of Doc’s mentor, the world’s first surf ambassador, Duke Kahanamoku.

In 1998, fueled by his passion for sharing the surf experience, Terry launched his own company, Simba’s Surfaris, which later evolved into the present company, Terry Simms Surf (TSS). Nancy Opitz Simms came on board in 2011 to help manage the business and develop new partnerships. TSS has grown year after year with a client base of over 350. With clients riding waves with him for over 20 years, Terry’s influence has left an indelible mark on surf enthusiasts of all ages.

In addition to his lifelong career as a surfer, Terry spent four years in his early twenties serving in the US Coast Guard. The water safety experience and life-saving knowledge he gained during this service are deeply embedded into his practice as a surf coach and have enabled him to safely and successfully guide clients in extreme surf conditions. This interest in water safety also led Simms to develop a new aquatic helmet. With the help of a small team and a committed group of investors, the SIMBA Sentinel helmet and SIMBA Actions Sports Inc. launched in early 2020.

Today, Terry, Nancy, and their daughter Indira call Ojai, CA, home, a stone’s throw away from some of California’s most coveted point breaks.