The story goes that soon after relocating to California, the Duchess of Sussex gave her husband a special gift: surf lessons and some time at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch. Meghan’s gift turned into a genuine hobby for Prince Harry, and he still goes to the Surf Ranch regularly and he still gets guided lessons from surfer Raimana van Bastolaer. Harry has even taken Archie to get some lessons from Raimana too. Well, Raimana recently chatted with Surfer.com about his friendship with Harry and how he hopes the whole Sussex family comes to Tahiti.
What’s a member of the British Royal Family to do when they step away from their duties of standing and waiving, lavishness, and nationalistic adoration? For Prince Harry, since he backed off from his role as the Duke of Sussex, and married the American actress Meghan Markle, he picked up a few new hobbies. One of which being surfing. And he has a particular spot he frequently indulges in this obsession.
Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, nestled about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is one of the world’s first and best manmade wave pools of the modern synthetic surfing boom. And it happens to be Prince Harry’s preferred spot of choice. He’s been witnessed riding artificial waves in the massive lagoon multiple times. And he has one of the best coaches in the game: Raimana van Bastolaer.
The Tahitian-born bodyboarder, big wave surfer, and now surf coach to the stars said: “I thought I had to say, ‘yes, sir.’ Or, ‘yeah, Prince.’ You know whatever. And, ‘sorry, Prince.’ All these things. But he was totally opposite of this. Easy-going, humble, really humble. Really humble guy. Really respectful guy. Really good listener. He’s up for anything.”
And after all those trips to the Surf Ranch, Raimana added:
“We became really close. We became friends. And I cannot wait for him to come to Tahiti.”
It appears that the surfing fascination is something solely for Harry – meaning, Meghan doesn’t join him on his trips to the Surf Ranch. He’s also not very vocal about his surfing obsession, keeping it somewhat under wraps, with the clips coming from Raimana. As for Meghan, Raimana is hopeful she gets hooked, too:
“Meghan never came. And I’m looking forward to her to come. Or I’m looking for Meghan to come to Tahiti. Once she rides the wave, she might have to come more often. She’ll be all over it. If you see this, look at this. [Turns his camera out his window.]”
Over the years, Harry has dropped a lot of money on Surf Ranch sessions (rumored to be $50,000 a pop). But hey, it’s paid off. He’s the only Royal ever to get legitimately barreled.
I think I’ve said this before, but it feels like Harry is such a natural athlete, he could probably pick up any sport and excel at it very quickly. If Meghan had given him a tennis racquet, he would have figured that out in a year. If she had given him golf clubs, he would be a regular on the links. And it’s funny that Meghan isn’t like that at all – while she’s into fitness and she does yoga, she’s NOT sporty. So no, Raimana is not going to get Meghan on a surf board in Tahiti. If Meghan goes to Tahiti – and I hope the family goes!! – she’s going to be drinking pina coladas by the pool.
Meghan’s man, aka Prince Harry, is full of surprises!
He’s an honorary Californian now 🏄♂️🌴🌊 pic.twitter.com/hukP2j1B5P
— Julieth ❀ (@troubleshade) October 17, 2024
I LOVE THIS!🎉🏄♂️
Prince Harry’s been out surfing again at Raimana World.🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/D2M0QAmPFJ
— Senior Lieutenant Zandi Sussex (@ZandiSussex) January 31, 2026
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images, Instagram.
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- Aspen, CO Prince Harry loses the Polo finals championship against his best friend, Nacho Figueras Pictured: Prince Harry, Nacho Figueras BACKGRID USA 18 DECEMBER 2025 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Sydney, AUSTRALIA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Bondi Beach Life Guards and greet the public at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 17 APRIL 2026 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Sydney, AUSTRALIA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spend the afternoon on Sydney Harbour sailing with Invictus Australia. Pictured: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle BACKGRID USA 17 APRIL 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: KHAP / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Duke of Sussex is presented with a Western Bulldogs scarf during a visit to Movember at the Western Bulldogs HQ at Mission Whitten Oval, in Footscray, Melbourne, on day two of the royal trip to Australia. Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex Where: Melbourne, Australia When: 15 Apr 2026 Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club after meeting volunteer first responders, during a visit to Bondi Beach, on day four of the royal trip to Australia. Volunteers from the organisation, founded in 1907, played an integral role in protecting beachgoers and saving lives during the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14 Featuring: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Where: Bondi, Australia When: 17 Apr 2026 Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Veteran Joel Vanderzwan presents the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with flip-flops with the inscriptions ‘G’ day Hazza’ and ‘G’ day Megs’ as they take part in a sailing event with members of Invictus Australia in Sydney Harbour, on day four of the royal trip to Australia. Featuring: Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex Where: Sydney, Australia When: 17 Apr 2026 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
I do enjoy the surfing videos with Prince Harry but I’ve been a fan of surfing videos and being a spectator at the beach, but I’m like Meghan I’m the spectator in this sport lol.. I lived on Lake Superior so “third coast” surfing videos are my favorite the surfers come out of the water covered in ice hanging from their faces.
I hope we get photos of the Sussex’s in Tahiti sometime soon, it’s such a beautiful place.
Everyone who actually knows him and/or Meghan likes him/them and says similar things, which tells us a lot. And its nice to see him developing a newish hobby in California.
I’m kind of surprised Harry hasn’t started golfing yet but maybe he does and we just have no idea.
Lili will be surfing before Meghan. I don’t know why but I think Lili is going to be very athletic.
Lol, Meghan definitely by the pool in a fabulous pareo.
I think the daily rental/services for the entire facility is $50,000, but there can be up to 10 surfers.
Yeah, Meghan surfing? Ain’t no way😂
The Royal duties of standing and waving. 💀🤣
And yes, Becks, you’re completely correct. People who have actually met and worked or socialized with Harry and Meghan only have nice things to say about them.
Sorry, I’m laughing at the description of Harry’s previous “royal duties” as “standing and waving, lavishness, and nationalistic adoration?” I don’t think it was meant as shade from the surfer website, but it reads like a diss.
oh I think it was absolutely meant as shade!! I mean, its a pretty apt description, lol.
According to the British press, Harry doesn’t have any friends in the US. Anyway it’s activities like this that convinces me that Harry will never go back to royal life.
I am so grateful and proud that we got Harry in the divorce, as an American custodial officer. ;-D ….they can keep the other brother. I say us and them, even though I live in England. He’s happy there, good luck to him.
🤣 love that.. “we got him in the divorce”😂..
Wait a minute…. I think Meghan *does* surf – or at least she has begun, because there is a video of Meghan speaking in Australia and she definitely says “My husband and I have begun to surf…” or something similar, which definitely gives the impression that she also surfs. When was this interview recorded?
I know this was well intentioned, and I have no doubt that Harry is very easy going and good at blending into whatever social environment he’s in, but “up for anything” is not something I’d want to be called after about age 30.
For a surf magazine to describe the location as “nestled about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco” is amusing. It’s accurate but considering how big the state is, delightfully unhelpful.
I agree that Meghan isn’t surfing. It’s interesting because of the yoga (and running?) but she likes her feet on the ground. It’s cute. I can see the kids easily doing it though, too.
And I thought “up for anything” is nice. I see it as being willing to try new things, willing to say yes instead of his first instinct being “no.” (His brother’s instinct is no, always, and contributes to why he seems so awkward and rude all the time.) My goal is to be open to new things and experiences. Learning to surf is still on my list!
And sigh. I’d love to be invited to Tahiti, it always looks so stunning.
Re up for anything, that probably is the meaning and I’m sure it’s meant to be nice. Am I alone in that in my youth it meant willing to get up to some serious stupidity? 😂
Rebel Wilson is on my list for trying to bully Meghan.
I don’t know about Meg surfing, but I can see her on a jetski, or sailing, maybe even water-skiing… 😎🌊🌊🌊💙