CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Hans Hedemann, right, and his son, Johann, 15, pose for a portrait at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki. Father and son share a love of surfing.

Thicker than water

One of the three kids of surfing school founder Hans Hedemann, 15-year-old Johann, is showing his father's passion for riding waves

A lanky, tanned teenager seems content to while the time away in the back of his dad's surf shop by perusing photos in a surf magazine. Soon, his dad -- a former pro surfer -- arrives.

Hans Hedemann Surf is nestled next to the Park Shore Waikiki hotel at the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues.

A class made up of Japanese and U.S. students has just broken up here. The neophyte surfers headed out to the beach just across the street to try their new skills in a calm ocean one late afternoon a couple of weeks ago.

As things quiet down in the shop, it becomes apparent that Hans Hedemann and his 15-year-old son Johann are as different in personality as they are in age. The elder is always busy running his independent business, splitting his time among its six Oahu locations and eager to talk. Johann, a sophomore at Mid-Pac Institute, is quieter but has already shown proclivity as a competitive amateur surfer.

One of Hans' three children seems to be the only one who, like his father, has really taken to the water.

"He has a passion to surf," Hans said. So much so that his son has competed in National Scholastic Surfing Association and Hawaii Amateur Surfing Association events. Since starting in the sixth grade, he is developing into a top-caliber wave rider.

The young man remembers riding on the front of his dad's board when he was only 3. Several years later, Hans and his wife proudly watched from shore as their youngster braved the waves himself.

"I remember him surfing this one wave where he got a real long ride," Hans said, "only to see him get scuffled by some rocks."

One of Johann's earliest memories is being at Queen's Beach at age 6 "with my dad paddling out with me and pushing me into my waves."

The elder Hedemann helped where he could, an extension of what he does in his business.

"Doing this school for the past 12 years, I surf with the students a lot, coaching them on the water. And I share this information with Johann, pushing him to try different things, different maneuvers. He enjoys competing."

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Hans Hedemann brings in a board after a surf lesson in Waikiki. "I surf with the students a lot, coaching them on the water. And I share this information with Johann, pushing him to try different things, different maneuvers," he says of his son.

"I also do yoga for flexibility," Johann said, "plus strength training in kempo (karate)."

The teenager also plays a bit of guitar, inspired by guys like Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Dave Matthews and Ben Harper. He's also in an acting class at the Manoa arts school.

"With a lot of the athletes nowadays," Hans added, "the kids are so good. They can now watch video online of competitions to help with their skills."

But one thing can't be learned, he said. A love of surfing has to come from within the individual. For the elder Hedemann, that meant stepping back.

"It was important to let him go out on his own as he got older, rather than hovering too much over him," Hans said. "Having (Johann) develop a sense of independence was important, so he could honestly gauge, 'Do I like this enough to pursue this more?'"

Over the last couple of years, Johann has become strong enough in the water to help his dad teach classes, which he did last summer. Through teaching, he's occasionally met celebrities.

"Adam Sandler is exactly how he is in real life as he is in his movies. And Cameron Diaz is really a good surfer."

As for himself, Johann prefers to work on 4- to 5-foot sets, turning off the top of the waves.

"I'm working on my air moves now," he said. "Even though I know a lot, I just have to keep going back out to learn more to gain experience."

"Discipline, I feel, is just as important for young surfers," Hans said. "Even though you may be a champion surfer, you have to learn to handle money from your sponsors, how to work with photographers and speaking to the media.

"Then there's the cross-training and the diet. The idea is to have as much fun while you can and be healthy to help with the longevity of your career."

"And I know I can get to that level," Johann said.