university of surfing

Very friendly and helpful instructor, AJ. I did a private 2 hour lesson having previously surfed. AJ helped me get up to speed quickly and gave me great advice on the best path to becoming a better surfer.

Very nice staff. Friendly and helpful. The group was not huge and there were plenty of experienced staff to help get newbies up and make sure they all felt safe. Several instructors were great about blocking big waves so new surfers didn't take too much water in the face while paddling out. There was a little confusion about where to meet. The address given was for the Taco Bell and they meet in the parking lot next to it. We were looking for a building. The experience was great, they provided all the equipment, and encouragement. My son (13) and I (44) had never surfed before and we both would do it again. Great place to take a lesson!

Signing up for lessons online was easy and fast. Signed myself, 23 and 11 year old daughters up for lessons. Both had a blast and said "this was the best thing we ever did." Matt and his staff are informative, safely conscious, and patient. My daughters are already asking when are we going back.

Matt is very easy to work with - he knows the local breaks well, has a lot of experience and also knows his subject very well. This is your connection if you are looking for surf lessons in the Bay Area.

Wow, that was awesome. 1.) Booking was weird online, so I had to contact Matt. Matt was very responsive, his turnaround time to my multiple emails was quick. 2.) The instruction was awesome, especially for a first time. We spent most of the time feeling out how to actually "ride" a wave. I had taken surfing lessons in Portugal and I had to do everything on my own, I spent two hours struggling than actually riding a wave. I like that they help you and when you're ready to do it on your own, you can get a board and get started. 3.) Just really nice people and fun experience. Matt is funny, sarcastic, and everyone is down to earth. Lastly - I had purchased groupons and similar coupons online for two surf instructors in Santa Cruz and in Santa Barbara, my instructors never showed. When I got to the beach, it was very easy to identify University of Surfing, they were prepared and ready to go. Would definitely do it again!!!!

I recently took advantage of a Groupon for surfing lessons for my 9yo daughter. It was a great deal. I've never surfed before, and didn't know what to expect. After finding out that his sister was getting a lesson, in true sibling fashion, my 10yo son HAD to have one too. The online reservation process was simple, but we only had one Groupon! Doh! When we arrived, I spoke to Matt, the owner, and he extended the Groupon rate to my son as well. I thought that was an awesome thing to do. The kids had a blast, and all the instructors were top notch. Matt kept my daughter engaged, even when she'd "take a break" to play in the surf. He kept encouraging her to come back out and get on a board. My son was relentless in his effort to ride a wave. His instructor, whose name I didn't get, stuck with him and really helped him make the most out of his time in the water. It was a great experience. There were surfers of all ages in our group, and it really seemed to work. The instructors kept track of the students, and it seemed like they were very safety conscious. Overall, we were very impressed with the operation and staff. Now that we're alumni, we get that great rate for any follow up lessons! We will definitely go back, and I highly recommend University of Surfing!For spectators, bring a long-lens camera for good action shots, and a blanket to sit on the beach and watch. Also, layer up, because in January it started out a little breezy, but ended up almost 70 degrees! Conversely, the summer can be very cold. Realistically speaking, it's the Bay Area. You never know what you're going to get at the coast from one hour to the next!

I did not attend any class here but the surfing was great. NorCal surf shop is within walking distance from the beach and offers board and wetsuit rental and very decent prices. The shore has a few hidden rocks and the water is pretty cold so booties would definitely come in handy. Linda del Mar beach offers a beautiful view while giving you the chance to ride some fairly clean waves that were about head-high and bigger when I was there. And there is a Taco Bell right in the middle of the beach in case you like surfing and terrible food.