Five stars hands down! Jake and Beckett were amazing! This is not our first surf school for the kids, and I must say: what a difference these guys make! First of all the approach is totally different: besides technical it incorporates nature in the teachings and the knowledge of how to read the waves, what to do when you wipe out, how to read currents, weather, what to anticipate, how to be prepared for the unexpected, and the complete awareness of your surroundings including other surfers just to mention a few! As I mentioned before, kids were enrolled in other surf school last summer, but the difference in their skills was monumental after just a few first lessons with Jake. He has an amazing ability to connect with the kids, making it easy to understand the technical aspects, overcome their fears and most of all he makes it fun! We are very grateful and looking forward to the next season! read more

My 10 year old son attended the school for a week and had a blast. He wants to do it again next year. If he's happy, I'm happy. read more

Awesome surf camp! My daughter really enjoyed being part of this camp. The instructors are incredible - she learned to surf right away and spent the week trying to get better and enjoy as many ways as she could! Definitely coming back for a few more days this summer. read more

My 5 year old attended and fell in love with surfing. Huge team and 1:1 coaches in the water which made it feel safe and fun. Great team and spirit would highly recommend! read more

My kid had an amazing time at Badass Surf School. Jake and his team had a great time and the kids were excited to go back every day. My son has done other surf camps where he was bored at times, not here. He had a great time all day! Highly recommend and look forward to doing it again. read more

Badass Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Venice, California

My experience at Bad Ass Surf School was absolutely fantastic, thanks to Jake and his coach Caroline. Jake is the ideal surf coach for any beginner looking to truly understand the sport. While many surf lessons promise to get you standing on the first try, Jake goes beyond that. He makes sure you leave the lesson with a deeper understanding and a genuine fondness for surfing, a sport that is so therapeutic in so many ways. From the second we met him, his passion for surfing was evident and incredibly infectious. He was patient, educational, and understanding, making my little brother's lesson an unforgettable experience. Caroline was equally phenomenal, offering expert guidance with a positive and supportive attitude. Together, they made a fantastic team. If you're looking for a surf lesson that's more than just a quick photo op, but a genuine entry into the world of surfing, look no further than Bad Ass Surf School. read more

Our daughter had an amazing experience today at Badass Surf School. Her surf Instructor, Jake, is an excellent teacher. He was fun, patient, professional, kind, engaging, and completely present. He helped her work through her mobility issues, and consistently encouraged her to be her personal best. Thank you, Jake, for getting our daughter hooked on surfing. She is already looking forward to next week's lesson. read more

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My 4yo daughter did 2 weeks of surf camp this summer. She loves to swim so we thought she'd like surfing, but the camp went so far above and beyond our expectations! Not only did she enjoy boogie boarding, learning the basics of surfing, and playing beach games with the other campers, but she also learned about resilience, focus, team work and doing things "because they're hard." In just a few days, her outlook on facing challenges and doing her best improved so much! We're so grateful to "Coach Jake" and are looking forward to many more surf sessions for all our kids (and even the parents!) in the future. read more

Our son and his BFF had an incredible time at Bad Ass Surf School for camp this summer. They just turned five and the confidence Jake and his team instilled in him will live on for years! The camp has a mixed age group so my son had lots of variety in his day in terms of play / mentorship, as well as great attention from counselors in term of water safety. They're tough on the kids (in a good way), and really get to experience that classic Venice vibe. read more

My 6 year old and 2 of his friends had a great week at Badass Surf School. The coaches were super friendly and the kids were excited to go every day. They loved surfing and being in the water everyday. My son is already asking when he can go again. read more

Jake at Badass Surf is awesome! Not only is he a great coach, also a stellar human. I've been surfing for years so I was looking specifically for someone who could help me improve on what I was already doing. Jake gave me so many pointers that are usable. His teaching isn't your average - "cheer you on" he's that plus how to improve. I really love that he talks about rules of the waves and respect for other surfers. Often it's not discussed, but surfing is a major culture and Jake teaches both sport and culture. I feel Badass and can't wait to go back! read more

Awesome surf camp, my son had an amazing experience, was able to start surfing from day 1! He also loved that he was actually in the water most of the day whereas other beach camps the time in the water was limited. Here he had freedom and he loved it. We'll definitely be back. Thanks Jake! read more

We spend a few weeks in LA every summer. My sister shared a few surf camps that she thought my 6 year old would enjoy. My son and I looked at the choices and Badass Surf Camp was the clear winner. Jake was awesome to communicate with throughout the sign up process. Leading up to Camp starting, my son was feeling nervous about going because he didn't know anyone at camp. After day 1, my son asked if he could come back to camp again next summer. By day 3, he was trying to negotiate us staying in LA for an entire summer so he could spend the summer at camp. Jake and his crew were so warm and welcoming...and FUN!! My son has had the BEST week at camp! Definitely the highlight of his summer. read more

Our 5yr old did his first surf lesson with Jake and had a BLAST. Jake was extremely understanding and patient, and when our son got scared and needed some time to run around on the beach, Jake went with the flow and slowly got him back interested in the crabs. Totally amazing introduction to the waves, and our 3yr old even got to jump on for a bit. Can't wait to come back for more lessons and highly recommend. read more

Badass Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Venice, California

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I had a blast at Badass Surf! Jake, my coach, helped me understand key signs to look for in the wind, waves and tide to find a great ride. The onshore instructions were thorough and I felt well prepared in my form and approach as I entered the water. I got up on my first try and had a fun time on the water. Jake helped my timing on the first runs, but also showed me how to read the shoulders and get the timing ideas down myself so I can be self-sufficient. Overall, it was a great day, I got tons of runs over the two hours and really enjoyed it! Would recommend! read more

Badass Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Venice, California

Unforgettable five-star experience at Badass Surf School! Jake and his crew really outdid themselves, ensuring my niece had an amazing time. Their excellent communication from the start made everything smooth and reassuring. read more

Kids had a blast at surf camp!! And I had a great time in a private lesson while the kids were out in the water learning too! They know how to work with a range of ages and make it fun, thrilling and comfortable enough for those with no experience! Thank you Jake and your team for an amazing week!! read more

Been hitting Venice with my high schooler the last few weeks with Badass. Jeff has been our guide to reading waves, reading position, reading lineups. Sparked a new activity that my high schooler thinks is cool enough to do with her ol' man. We're geared up and stoked to keep the momentum going. Any day in the water or on the water is a better day. I'm digging breaking up my open water swim game with learning to surf even at an old age. Stoked to share it with my daughter and hope my oldest and youngest can share a love of the ocean together down the line. Thanks Badasses. Highly recommend Jeff - cool ol' dude with a lot of knowledge as a waterman. read more

We were encouraged to not use a wet suit bc the water was warm enough to tolerate without one. When we paused to put on sunscreen because of this unexpected change, we were told that sunscreen shouldn't be used on the front half of our bodies bc it can lead to us sliding off of the surf board. While I'm sure this is true, it is incredibly irresponsible to urge against sun protection. The link between skin cancer and the number of lifetime sun burns has repeatedly been proven, and such discussions should occur between patients and their doctors only. We did, however, take the time to apply sunscreen judiciously, despite repeated comments from the instructor regarding how unnecessary this was. I hope that the instructors will think twice before providing such potentially dangerous recommendations in the future. read more

Love Badass surf school. Just finished my second batch of four sessions, and feeling more confident each week. Jeff Byrnes is an excellent coach, not just concerned with getting you on the waves, but of paramount safety awareness in the ocean. He teaches surf etiquette and some fun surf history. More importantly, I get Jeff every week, whereas other surf schools I've tried have assigned different coaches which makes it hard for them to give you individual feedback. Jake Mcnulty, the owner is also great. Communicative, supportive, and great attitude. Can't recommend them more, especially for adults learning to surf a bit later in life. read more

Never surfed in life, and because of these guys, was able to get on the board a bunch my first time out on the waves! Jake and his teachers have been teaching for a while, and they go over all the steps you need to get comfortable going out and getting on your board. Even in a group of people, you get 1on1 attention. They make sure they get to everyone multiple times. I would highly recommend them! read more

This is such a great team- my son struggles with social skills and he repeatedly asked to return to the beach to surf and boogie board with the instructors. We especially loved Jake, Andrew, and Stephanie! We can't wait to try out 1:1 with Jake after camp ends ! read more

I booked a ton of different week long camps for my son this summer and this was singlehandedly his favorite one. Jake and his team are fantastic. My son learned a ton of skills and had so much fun. It was reasonably priced as well. Couldn't ask for more! read more

Five-star experience at Badass Surf School! Jake and his team went above and beyond to ensure an incredible time for me and my kids. Their communication was impeccable from the get-go, making us feel informed and at ease. Safety was their top priority, and it showed in every aspect of our sessions. When the swells got pretty big one day, Jake smartly adjusted the plan without compromising the fun. His expertise and understanding of our needs ensured we still had a blast while staying safe--an impressive feat! What truly stands out is the fantastic environment they create. It's an absolute joy to learn from such a knowledgeable and fun-loving team. Jake's ability to balance safety with keeping spirits high is commendable. Living nearby, we feel fortunate to have found Badass Surf School. We're thrilled to become regulars, knowing that we're in the hands of a team that's truly all-world. Highly recommended for anyone seeking top-notch surf lessons with a focus on safety and enjoyment!" read more

Had a blast taking a lesson with BASS with Jake. Myself and three friends went out on a Saturday am and learned the basics of surfing / safety on land before each getting into the water individually for our first ride. Everyone stood up and caught numerous waves. We had a great day. Can't wait for our next lesson read more

Badass Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Venice, California

Jake and his crew came through when all my kiddos wanted to do while in CA was surf. He was holding a summer camp and after doing a whole day of camp agreed to offer private lessons to my kiddos at the end of the day. And you would have never known he had already worked a whole day - he was high energy, super great with the kids, kept them learning and having fun. You can tell he values safety, competence and fun!! read more

One of our most memorable family outings. we signed up for 2 hours of beginners instruction from Jake's guys Teddy and Jeff. they had us up on waves in a short amount of time and we had a blast. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Venice Beach. read more

Badass Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Venice, California

Had a great class with Jake and the other instructors. I appreciate how they taught the fundamentals on land before going in the water. They have a good instructor to student ratio and even had an instructor taking pics from the beach. I'm a surfing newbie, and I was able to catch a few waves in my first surf class. Having instructors to help you time the waves and tell you when to get up is much easier than trying to figure it out yourself. read more

We met Jake at a special needs surf day through A Walk On Water. He spent about an hour on the waves with my daughter. She loved every moment of it! We are so grateful for experiences like that. It's rare to find someone so in tune to her needs and unique way of doing things, but he just rolled with whatever she needed to make that a very memorable and enjoyable time. Now she really wants to do a longer camp with her new favorite surf instructor! read more

Badass Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Venice, California

We had a phenomenal time. Jake is patient, competent and really good at putting people at ease so that they have a good time surfing. Highly recommend read more

Legit. They were on time, clear instructions on where to meet, brought all the gear, gave a good lesson on wave timing, pop ups, and swimming out. Then it was into the water with great supervision but enough freedom and flexibility to go for it and really learn by practicing. Throughout, we felt well taken care of and safe. It was sad when the lesson ended but we'll be back for sure. read more

Ask for Jake!! Went out with my friend- both of us first timers. He was personable and a very hands on instructor! We felt very comfortable and safe. It was a great first time experience and we plan on scheduling another lesson with him. Learned a lot. 10/10 good time! read more

Jake's lessons are as advertised by the name, bad ass! Jake is a great teacher, on and off the water. He demonstrates patience, clear communication, and fun and personally tailored tips and tricks to help you understand and succeed. his lessons are more than just stand and grin glory shots. Jake is a passionate about surfing and guides you to understand the culture, and science of reading the waves, and being in touch with the ocean. Jake stresses safety along with fun and understanding. I had a great day out with him, i had no doubt at the end of the lesson that I didn't become a better surfer. read more

Had a blast!! I did a group surf lesson - 12 students and 5 instructors. It was such a fun experience and I learned a ton - from proper paddling technique to wetsuit care. The instructors were committed to making sure each of us understood the basics of surfing and water safety. They were also hilarious, had great rhymes to remember what they were teaching, and included everyone in the group. Once we got in the water, all of the instructors were so helpful and encouraging as they sent us on the waves. Highly recommend! read more

Jeff was amazing with our first time surfers! He was very thorough with his instruction and very patient in the water.

i feel like i can now actually rent a board and surf myself, unlike after surf lessons elsewhere that i've taken in the past. 10/10 a few details, my nephew and i took two lessons together this week with our very own instructor. i've taken a surf lesson or two before but my nephew was completely new. what i liked about this company was that it really felt like a personal experience. our instructor jeff had some really detailed tips for both of us, individually, even though we, at different surf levels, did the lesson together. jake, the owner, seemed really passionate about developing surfers, which is why we decided badass surf school. even though i'm no badass, surfing sure was with these guys. read more

I took a surf lesson with Jake of Badass Surf and had a blast. It's always good to have company in the water, tips on balance, foot positioning, reading the waves, encouragement and support. Jake gave me all of that in one lesson and I look forward to the next our next paddle out! Jake is kind, light hearted, fun to be around. He loves the ocean and thrives off of seeing his students perform in the water. He's knowledgeable and can translate his surf experience clearly and simply for beginners. It's very clear that he loves his job. Highly recommend Jake as surf instructor! read more

The name is what caught my attention. The reviews were why I chose to have my first lesson here. My experience during my lesson is the reason why I will be coming back for more! Badass Surf School did not disappoint! Whether you are in it for the experience or if you are in it for the long haul, Jake's teaching philosophy and techniques are stellar! He is very thorough, and I found that everything he taught me proved important while surfing for real, which I did before the end of my first 2-hour session, without any prior experience, thanks to his guidance! read more

Jake is the best! He was so patient with me during my first ever surf lesson. I didn't know what to expect and was pretty nervous but he made the experience SO FUN. I accomplished way more than I expected to from just one lesson. Highly recommend for newbie surfers!!! read more

Best surf lesson I've ever had! I've done two with these guys now, they really teach you the lessons and tips you need so you can get out there and try on your own in the future, which no one else has done in a lesson before! Jeff is the read more