What an incredible experience! This was our 11-year-old son's first time surfing, and Cali Surf School made it unforgettable. The instructors were patient, fun, and amazing with kids. He was up riding waves and smiling from ear to ear! Safe, professional, and full of positive energy. We can't wait to come back! ‍ read more

This is my daughter's second year with Alex and Cali. Surf School. In fact, she's been asking for lessons, since her lessons ended last August. She was so excited to see Alex again and has had the most amazing time. Alex is so patient and thoughtful with our daughter Sammy that we feel so comfortable and confident in his ability. We love that in addition to teaching Sammy how to surf, she's also learning proper technique for swimming in the ocean! Highly recommend to anyone out there looking for surfing lessons! read more

My 13 yo had a great experience with his instructor, Houtan. Communication and scheduling was easy. He had the right size board and wetsuit waiting for my son and took some great pictures and videos on his GoPro during the lesson. I would highly recommend. My son has so much more confidence after his lesson. read more

My friend and I had a great time learning to surf with Alex. We both stood up on the board adter a few tries. There was a yoga stretch session at the beginning and everything was explained. I felt safe even though some pretty big waves (or so I thought) rolled in. I'd definitely recommend them for first timers wothout prior surf experience. read more

Want to learn how to surf on an awesome beach which an amazing instructor who makes sure you have fun and stay safe while doing so? Check out Cali Surf School!  Our instructor was Alex, I highly recommend him as your teacher.  He's completely chill, definitely has a surfer dude vibe.   Booking with him was easy, meetup was simple.  We had a blast learning from him and will definitely be coming back for more! read more

Alex is a brilliant and patient teacher. Coordinating a location, date, and time for the lesson was very easy and communication was great. Alex walked through everything including appropriate stretching, reading the water and break, surf etiquette, and safety both for myself and other surfers around. Once we got into the water, he gave me some great tips on how to get going, stand up, and ride the white waves. It was definitely a work-out and Alex was really attentive. You can tell he takes a lot of joy and pride in his work and enjoys teaching others this sport. I'm excited to practice up on the basics and then take even more lessons in the future to really get the confidence necessary to take on the waves. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Such a blast! Recommend renting a we suite, it helps so much! We learned so much and it was a lot of fun. I would recommend doing it in Malibu, it's a beautiful drive and an even more beautiful collection. read more

I got a lesson with Alex (one of the owners) in Malibu. I've always wanted to learn to surf but there's a lot to know - technique, how to read the surf, how to know when it's your wave. I tried lessons with some different people, and Alex at Cali Surf School is the best teacher and value (board and wetsuit included). Super positive, professional, and fun. He runs you through the fundamentals pretty efficiently and then gets you into the water. He totally worked with where I was at skill and fitness-wise, and made it easy to catch a bunch of waves. He gives feedback in a really upbeat way that makes it easy and fun to keep trying. I think he'd be a great instructor for total beginners (kids and adults) who want to try surfing and more advanced surfers who want to improve their technique. I also would recommend Alex/Cali Surf School to anyone who is interested in developing a regular surf practice. I read someplace that you're not considered an "intermediate" surfer until after you've surfed regularly for a full year, and I think Alex can go a long way towards helping you get there. Thank you, Alex! read more

Alex was very good communicating via text for booking and letting us know the location. He made sure that we had stretched enough and he taught us the safety, etiquette, and technique for surfing. The way he explained to us was easy and I was able to stand up on board. Yay. While we were in the water, he made sure that we were having a good time. He helped me to catch waves many times so I was very happy about it. read more

Want to learn how to surf on an awesome beach which an amazing instructor who makes sure you have fun and stay safe while doing so? Check out Cali Surf School! Our instructor was Alex, I highly recommend him as your teacher. He's completely chill, definitely has a surfer dude vibe. Booking with him was easy, meetup was simple. We had a blast learning from him and will definitely be coming back for more! read more

Great experience! I've wanted to try surfing for years but don't have the best balance or flexibility. Houtan was super friendly and patient, with some great tips that made it possible for me to actually stand up during the first lesson! Would highly recommend and look forward to taking another lesson soon. read more

Alex was a great teacher. He has all the equipment you'd need, but also was open to us to bring our own boards to learn on. Started the day with a few minutes of stretching on the beach, then learned how to handle the board while on land before diving into the water to put it to use. He was super helpful in the water, helping us catch as many waves as we can during out 90 minute lesson. I definitely recommend trying it out. read more

I had my first lesson today from Houtan and it was outstanding! Houtan provided the right size board, wetsuit and boots. The instruction and safety information were right on. The guidance and support in the water were perfect. The lesson and fun exceeded my expectations. I will be scheduling another lesson soon. I highly recommend the instructor and business. read more

Are they still in business????? I've emailed 4 times since Friday through their contact us page on their website and booked a lesson with a beach request for later this week and nothing. Tried contacting about the Groupon so disappointed. Don't have a contact me page if you don't check the emails. Don't have online bookings if you don't check them. Don't set up a Groupon if your impossible to get a hold of! read more

I took a 90 min private lesson with Houtan on Monday and it was awesome! I booked it super last minute but he made it super easy to coordinate and got me stoked for the surf lesson. It was my 5th time surfing, and he went through looking for waves and reviewed popping up. Then we got out on the water and I got to catch so many waves! It was such a fun time and Houtan is an expert at identifying waves. I would definitely recommend him to anyone who wants to learn how to surf in OC! read more

Houtan was awesome. He was so fun and easy going. I felt super comfortable and safe the whole time. Lesson was very informative and I learned a lot. I caught a few waves and definitely feel more confident to get out there by myself and join my family in the water. Can't wait to paddle out again, once my arms don't feel like noodles anymore. read more

I scheduled a surf lesson with Cali Surf School in Malibu for my dad, brother, and myself--we were not disappointed. Alex is an excellent communicator and gifted instructor. He made us feel safe, comfortable, and confident throughout the lesson. Additionally, he gave us recommendations for sight seeing and restaurants in the neighborhood. If you're looking for good vibes and great surf lesson, you absolutely need to check out Cali Surf School! read more

Alex and Houtan are by far the most empathetic, fun, patient, and knowledgeable surf coaches EVER! I often forget that they are my coaches and I wasn't just meeting up with a friend. You'll spend the entire time laughing and, consequently, the lesson slips by too quickly. I have had the privilege of being taught by both. They each have their own unique styles and contributions to your artillery. I have also introduced several friends to them and what I have seen friends accomplish in one lesson is more than I had done after attempting to surf for months, prior to finding them. If I could afford to see them every single day, I happily would. Surfing, unfortunately, hasn't come naturally to me, but having coaches that make me feel safe and confident does keep me enchanted and motivated. read more

Alex was awesome! He is a great instructor with patience and positive attitude. He was able to simultaneously teach 3 people- two young girls and an old man and all of us got up (some better than others). I would strongly recommend Alex to anyone who wants to learn how to surf! read more

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Huotong and Pedram @ Cali Surf School were wonderful and made are first lesson very enjoyable. We were a family of four. They took to time help us each individually in a personalized way that helped to accelerate learning. They gave us an informative briefing before hitting the water that helped us make sense of the broader picture. Again highly recommend! They were quality. We will try another lesson. Thanks, mike tazeen kehan and cezanne read more

My boyfriend and I tried Cali Surf School and we couldn't be any happier with our experience. Our instructor, Alex, was awesome from the get go. He didn't speed through any of the training and was very thorough. He was very positive and encouraging every step of the way. I highly recommend this surf school to anyone who wants to give surfing a shot! read more

I had an awesome experience taking a surf lesson from Houtan in Dana Point! I had previously taken a lesson in Hawaii and was unable to stand up. He was patient and taught me the basic skills before even entering the water. I paid for an hour and a half lesson and he ended up staying in the water with me for nearly three hours! He helped me to time the waves right and even pushed me into them. I could not have asked for a better time surfing! I can't wait to do it again! read more

Called Alex to set up a Surfing Lesson for my 10 year old daughter! He set me up with a time and place to meet! It was my daughter first time and he picked the perfect spot for her first time! My daughter enjoyed it and was excited standing up all by herself and riding a wave! I would recommend Alex to anyone out there! Can't wait to try it again! read more

Alex and his Cali surf school is awesome and he is passionate about surfing. He is really loves what does and he's not a guy who will just take your money but more about you learning it the right way. He was patient and had a smile on his face the whole time!!!! read more

Learning to surf with Alex was great! It was beautiful at Zuma Beach and we went over the basics of surfing. When we made it out to the water Alex would give me some coaching tips that helped me get up and stay on the board. I had plenty of crashes but those few times of catching a wave made it all worth it. I recommend Alex and his coaching and you'll have a great time! read more

Part of my reason for going to LA was to do a surf lesson. After much deliberating, I chose this school and ended up doing a lesson with Alex. It was awesome. He was very knowledgable, supportive, friendly and energetic. I had fun and really learned new tips for how to do it right. It was so good I ended up doing a second lesson -- and had the best ride yet. Definitely recommend these guys! read more

Alex is an amazing instructor. Great all around guy, positive and encouraging and patient. Thank you for the experience and memories. Can't wait to do it again surf's up read more

My 15 year old son wanted to learn out to surf while we were visiting Southern California, and I'm so glad we found Houtan. He is an amazing instructor, knows how to find the best conditions for even beginners, has awesome gear that actually FITS and isn't overly worn, and of course he's an incredible instructor. Thank you so much Houtan -- this has been life-changing!! read more

Alex is a very knowledgeable teacher and a ton of fun to work with. He was very quick to target the specific areas I needed to work on and helped me a lot. Rather than going through a checklist, Alex did a few quick checks to see where I was and then tailored the rest of the lesson to my needs. Best value in surfing - great teacher - money well spent - I am completely satisfied with our time together and in fact got a lot more than I paid for. Highly Recommended read more

Alex was awesome! Not only did he do a great job teaching us the basics of surfing, but also well balanced giving instruction and letting us learn for ourself while in the water. Also, we are new to the area and he kindly offered recommendations to places to check out. Thanks for such a positive first surfing experience! read more

Here's a tip for the thousands of you who purchased a groupon. Schedule your lesson but don't say you have a Groupon. Then show up with the Groupon. Otherwise, they will ghost you after they find out you have a Groupon. I've reported them and got my money back from Groupon. Crappy company, don't offer discounts if you don't plan to follow through. read more

Alex was awesome. He patiently waited while I struggled to find parking in Malibu, and still gave me the full 90-minute lesson. He also remained positive and encouraging in spite of my complete ineptitude on a surfboard. Strongly recommend! read more

My daughter had a private lesson and it went really well. I wish I could remember the name of the teacher, he's not a regular but says he often teaches and has hopes of organizing surf lessons for disabled students, yeah, he's a good guy. He was thoughtful, gave a lot of great tips and was very patient. My daughter said he was fun to talk to and cared about her experience. I highly recommend the school and staff. read more

Alex was a great surf teacher! Me and my friend took his 90minutes class and I personally learned a ton. It was my 1st time surfing and was able to surf some waves. I'd definitely do it again! Cheers read more

Houtan was a great instructor and made sure we were having a blast the whole time while also staying safe. He taught us how to look for the right waves, so hopefully we can try and catch some ourselves next time! Overall a great experience that I will be recommending to my friends! read more

I highly recommend Alex for your surf lesson. I've taken several surf lessons in LA but quite often surf coaches are busy with their own surfing and not really teach you how to surf. Alex is different. He's a great teacher. He sees how I catch (or not catch) waves, and gave me great advice every time. I could catch waves several times thanks to his advice. He also taught me where to wait wave and how to read them. That's something you cannot learn by yourselves. He's been surfing in Malibu long time and he knows the spot VERY well. Contact him if you want to improve your surfing skills!! read more

Can't recommend Alex enough! My 11 yo daughters 1st lesson was was an incredible experience. He had a great balance between the nurturing support necessary for her, and challenging her to do more. Definitely a pro! Would highly recommend his services to anyone. She looks forward to more lessons! read more

Alex was beyond terrific! I have a daughter with autism and she's had surf lessons before but Alex was hands down her best instructor. Thank you, Alex for giving my girl a wonderful time in the water and helping her develop a love for surfing. We will be back to see you soon:) read more

We took lessons from Alex last weekend and had an awesome time. He went over all the instructions of what to do and not to do so we felt confident - we stood up several times. He was really patient and encouraging. I would definitely do it again and highly recommend these guys! read more

Found this school through a group on and am so happy I did. My 16 year old had a blast. Alex is a great teacher. He worked with our schedule which was tight too. I left while they were stretching and going through the practice positions on the shore. When I started walking back Gavin was out pretty far with Alex and already lining up for a wave. The 90 minute lesson went by fast. My kid was up on the board 10 or 12 times, and not just up on the board, surfing all the way in. Alex provided a good quality board and an optional wet suit. Great day! Thank you Alex! We'll be back. read more