**PLEASE IGNORE THE TWO 1 STAR RATINGS BELOW!** I was a little nervous about visiting California Windsurfing in Foster city because of the two reviews below. I said you know what? I'll give them a shot. We arrived early this morning, to our surprise there was already three groups before us waiting in line as they were being helped by Susie. She maintained her cool joked around with the kids while they handled paperwork and payments. When it was our turn (2 groups) she greeted us with a smile and told us unfortunately there was a wait as all the pedal boats they had available were already rented. In the meantime we processed paperwork and payments. She pointed us in the direction for bathrooms if in case our littles needed a bathroom break before boarding our boats. One the others returned again she was very friendly to them and helped get them out of their boats. She called us over to get our jackets on and into our boats and off we went. The experience was awesome we all team worked and went into the lagoon peddled under two bridges and enjoyed people watching on their kayaks or stand up paddle boats. When we returned we were asked our time went if there was, Susie asked our kids if they had a great time and also as they had sports jerseys on and made small talk with them while we took off our life jackets. Before leaving we asked Susie's husband Steve if at all he had any Allen keys to help fix our bike seat before heading out and he did! He helped our child with the seat and shared a story of him riding as a kid. All in all this felt like we were visiting and chatting with a neighbor or friend. We were treated nicely, had a great time and even got a little workout in! This didn't feel like a customer to owner transaction whatsoever! Here's a little feedback in regard to the other reviews. We appreciated all the signage (not handwritten) posted to keep our groups in check and away from areas they weren't supposed to be in. The signage on their building was great we got to see pricing, rules and briefs to each one of their equipments to rent. The Pedal Boats had marked reminder like where to steer, disregard water which was a great reminder when we needed guidance on where to move our boat. The boat also had a little 'cubby' in the back to store water bottles/bags if needed. We opted for a 1 hour rental and our boat cost $60 ( 3 people x $10 for 30 minutes) we left 12:05 and when we came back it was 1:03. We were mindful if we had pedaled out 30min it'd be smart to make it our turn around marker to not risk a late fee (which was stated when we signed our rental agreement) When we arrived someone else was there to help us exit the boat who was also very friendly. All in all this was a wonderful experience and I hope everyone comes out and gets a chance to support this family operated business and remember have a little patience when you arrive as this is a first come first serve location and sometimes the groups ahead of you may not fully be mindful of the line behind them, I promise if you wait it out and make it to Susie you won't be disappointed! read more

California Windsurfing - Susy and my husband twining - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

The lagoon is one of Foster City's most distinguishable features. The boathouse near the Rec Center invites you to get right in! The process of walk-up renting was quick and easy. I got a single sit-in kayak for one hour ($20). A staff member helped me sit into the kayak and, with a gentle shove, I was on my way into the wide open and calm waters. Kayaking offers a unique way of exploring the city that you cannot do on land. Navigate the waterfront properties, go under bridges, and get as close as you can to the birds. I stumbled upon a duck hangout near Catamaran Park! Just keep track of the time and the staff will be there to welcome you back on land. Until the next adventure! read more

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It was a nice sunny day at Leo Ryan Park, so my bf and I decided to go kayak in the lagoon here. Well, we weren't the only ones with the same idea. There was a bit of a line and I can see the owners were trying to accommodate everyone they could. Because it was so busy, we couldn't get a double kayak, unless we waited ~1hr, so we went with the pedal boat. Although it was fun floating around the lagoon, it was super slow (as they are) and it made it difficult to turn around in when you get stuck at a dead end. The pricing was okay... it was $10 per 30 mins per person and CASH ONLY. I would definitely recommend an hour if you are going with pedal boat. I give the whole experience 3.5/5. I appreciate the owners trying their best to accommodate, but it was clear that the most popular option was the double kayak, but also the limited option, as others were also waiting for one of those to be available. read more

California Windsurfing - Pedal Boat - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

It was a nice day, so I wanted to go stand-up paddleboarding on a Sunday evening around 4 to 5 PM. The staff were really helpful. We just had to sign a waiver, give one driver's license, and pay $20 per paddleboard per hour in cash. An hour was the perfect amount of time. The experience was seamless, easy, and affordable. The workers were friendly and helpful, and parking right in front was pretty easy around the time we went. Highly recommend! read more

California Windsurfing - Paddleboard rental - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

The staff was extremely helpful in finding us a kayak that suited our experience level. I got a sit in kayak. It was $10 per person for half an hour. They have a large selection of other gear. The water was nice and calm. Parking was tricky since the lot fills up. Plan ahead to get a parking spot during peak hours. read more

California Windsurfing - Prices - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

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We had fun paddleboarding but their business practices are pretty shady. We got back to the dock on the dot when our rental expired, took the boards back on land ourselves, and waited around for the staff to finish speaking with another party. Ten minutes passed and they said we brought our rental back late and had to pay $20 extra! We tried telling them we made it back on time and were just waiting for staff to be available, but they were set on charging us for the extra time we spent standing around. read more

When selecting a company to rent non-powered watercraft from one assumes a friendly, helpful atmosphere; unfortunately California Windsurfing is the opposite. Atmosphere, you arrive at the building with multiple large white signs handwritten with a sharpie stating "STAFF ONLY" hung on plastic fencing. The plastic fencing covers the entire building with the exception of a cut out hole from which you may speak to an employee. The message is clear: stay away, do not approach. Second, the boat ramp is nonfunctional, the company has another sharpie sign saying slippery. The company does not powerwash it, and does not clean up the trash on the unusable boat ramp; thus you must enter your craft from their dock. The message remains the same, we really do not want business. Lastly the outdated lifejackets, the orange ones which go over your head are hand marked with a sharpie with a phone number covering one side of the vest that looks as though it was written by a young child. The message is that we really do not care. If you bring friends for a day on the water this is not the location, the message is we do not care, we do not want you here. read more

I had a great Saturday afternoon in Foster City thanks to California Windsurfing! My friend and I rented a two-person kayak together for $10 per half an hour for each person. The process is very smooth: you hand over your drivers license, get fitted in your life vest, get your paddle, the employees help you board the kayak, and it's smooth sailing from there. We had so much fun paddling around the lagoon, the weather was very peaceful and we even managed to get a few Polaroid shots in. Even though we were initially worried, neither of us fell in and our phones remained dry and safe! I'm glad that such an experience exists in the Peninsula. It's great for both family and friends, and manages to get an arm workout in too! read more

California Windsurfing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

A solid spot for kayaking enthusiasts--quite, scenic and stocked with decent gear. The equipment is well mainteined and the vibe is super chill. That said, keep in mind they require proof of raining or certification to rent. Prices are a bit on the higher side. read more

The California wind surfing is so amazing I got a good experience there with the grease amazing I recommend paddle boating it's a good experience 5 stars thank you sue for helping us.5 stars amazing best first time on paddle boating.they also take your drivers license or id befor you go in the boat perfect bonding time ps . 30 mins is good on paddle boats read more

California Windsurfing - There's so many grease - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

Enjoyed a sunny Thursday afternoon in Foster City on a pedal boat thanks to California Windsurfing! Got there right at opening and staff were patient and polite in helping me get on the pedal boat. Rate is $10/half an hour and they take your driver's license and payment before you go out on the water. The directions for steering the boat are written on the boat itself and it's super easy to navigate as you pedal. This was my first time pedal boating and I will definitely be back! It was a great experience! read more

California Windsurfing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

Friendly and helpful staff. $10/half hour of SUP rental (including board, paddle, and PFD). Although the equipment is a bit dated (would have liked to have had a leash tether to the board), it's a good value for the price. They also rent out kayaks, pedal boats, and windsurfers and provide lessons. Cash only. They do have a drawer to store your keys or small valuables but you might want to just lock them in your car. Bathrooms by the Parks & Rec Center. read more

We visited this place on a Friday afternoon, shortly after opening time. It was a bit a windy that day but still the weather was still relatively sunny and nice. The staff was super patient and polite in helping us get started with our kayak. For kayaking, it costs $10 per person per half an hour (regardless of whether it is a kayak or a double kayak). The owner was also nice enough to not charge us, when we came in 5 minutes past our return time. The views are beautiful and it's interesting kayaking in between houses (not much nature to see, but still pretty to see and fun to explore). The only thing to keep in mind is that this place only accepts cash and to keep an ID handy (because you need to leave it with them, while going on the water). Will definitely be back in the future to kayak again and try other water sports! read more

Came here for the first time the other day. It was really fun would recommend getting over 30 minutes because time flies by soo quickly. Service is nice and social. Nobody here makes you feel like they're bothered by you and gives helpful tips. read more

California Windsurfing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

Cash only! So make sure to bring some $$$. From my understanding it is $20 per person per hour for any of the rentals - stand up paddle board, single or double kayak, and pedal boat. Highly recommend arriving before they open and stand in line because there is limited stock - first come first serve. So if you are going with a group, make sure everyone is there to start the fun since timing starts right when you pay. You will have to sign a waiver and provide your DLs along with your payment - it will get returned with any cash change when you check back in at the end of your ride. Water is salty AF so make sure you dress appropriately or else you will have salty stains all over from the splashes. If you don't plan to get wet, I suggest doing pedal boat then kayak with some minimal wetness. Also, love that this is pretty local and I don't need to travel to Tahoe or anywhere farther to enjoy some fun water activities! read more

Took a kayak lesson here recently and really enjoyed myself. The lady taking the reservations and managing the place was very friendly and helpful. I called a few days in advance and she was really quick in getting me the desired time slot for my lesson. My kayak instructor was helpful and fun too - taught me some good techniques which gave me confidence to navigate a kayak by myself. They do not accept credit cards (cash only) which made it slightly harder. And I do think the prices are a little higher but they are the only option around in this area, there isn't a lot of competition. read more

California Windsurfing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

This place is AWESOME! My family was out on the water SUPing, kayaking and paddle boating ALL weekend! The people are super friendly and accommodating. Masks and social distancing are happening Bring cash but you don't need that much - it's cheap! It's like we went on a lake vacation right in Foster City! Best time ever- amazing!!! read more

California Windsurfing - Perfect day on the water! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

1) This place is CASH ONLY! They don't accept any electronic payments (i.e. Credit/debit, Vemmo, Apple/Android Pay, etc.) so definitely make a run to the ATM beforehand. 2) Come relatively early if you can - their rentals are on a first-come-first serve basis. I went on a Saturday morning after it opened and they still had plenty of boards and kayaks available. It never hurts to claim yours earlier rather than later. I rented a paddle board and it was only $10/half hour - what a steal! 3) There is a huge parking lot located off to the side of the rental location. If you brought your own gear, try to come earlier so you can get a parking spot much closer to the water. 4) Bring a dry pack and a waterproof phone pouch if possible. Unfortunately, most of the boards don't have an elastic criss-cross string at the front of the paddle board where you can secure your bag under and it stays intact. In any case you fall over or your board flips, at least your belongings will float on the water and remain dry! Also I'd recommend wearing sandals with straps or water shoes so your flip flops don't float away. Overall the people running this joint are super nice and welcoming. As for the water itself, it was super refreshing and not cold at all. There are mild waves but luckily this is an enclosed lagoon so you won't be experiencing rough tides as normally found in large lakes and the ocean. I'd highly recommend coming out here on a warmer day so you can enjoy the last bit of summer! read more

Poor service. Letting people behind you cut your line when you were waiting just the place the lady specified. Without asking or confined with you let next people take on the boat just in front of your eyes. Lie to customers and not worth your waiting and time. Lying said call the husband name and controversial saying didn't find my husband only seeing me. What a poor lie. You only saw me didn't saw my husband and just lie saying you called my husband name. Is that difficult for you just talk to me without moving your one step? Because I was standing there watching what you did to the next customer. So unorganized and money driven place. Excuse is letting flow go because your eyes didn't follow the basic waiting line rule. Poor place. read more

Always friendly and supportive great staff quick and easy to get your family out on the water. The owner and her husband do a great service for this community and make the water accessible for everyone regardless of whether or not you live on the water you can enjoy this amazing Foster City resource resource read more

Great to see you were open again Sue and Steve . Always a great time with you at the Ryan Park Lagoon . Great rates and great help and tips on staying safe and having fun. Of course all the free parking there is available is also "a PLUS" :O Ria read more

I was boring at home during the pandemic and decided to step out with friends to enjoy outdoor for a change. This place is sort of in a private canal with HOA homes which offers a sense of safety feeling that you won't drift out to sea haha. There are not too much motor boat coming and going which is a plus for most beginners. This prevents the water from stirring and cause wakes/ripples which disturbs your balance. The pricing/rate is average similiar to other spots. Rental equipments are a bit worn and used but you are simply just renting for a couple hours. I wouldnt care too much unless you are looking to own one. The water is saltwater but it does look decently clean. I believe this is due to the HOA type of area that strictly keeps the water clean. Would definitely recommend this spot. read more

Love this man-made lake. It is so calming and such a nice little boat or paddle. Now if I could just afford one of those apartments on the lake. The people (family?) running the place was super nice. They let us leave our bag in the little shack. They are very organized with assigning the boats and the small child pulled our boat in. Rock on kid! What strength for a small child. Some boat options include: Paddle boats Kayaks - one or two person, $10/half an hour (or a double is $20) Stand up paddleboard (or SUP if you're cool) - $10/half an hour. Work that core. A few more... Bathrooms in the community center (type place), but no showers. We happened to run into some little remote controlled sailboat races while kayaking. They were not very nice as we tried to escape in a panic. Not cool, dudes. Not cool. (Sunday afternoons) Plenty of parking! Glorious hallelujah! ------------------------------------------ Fun, fun, fun in the sun and h20. read more

If you have never gone (Sup!) stand up paddle boarding, this is where you want to start. You can rent for 1/2 for if you don't want the whole. Kayaks, paddle boats Etc, fun times on the water. Magic plastic doesn't work here. CA$H only (the PAPER stuff you pull out from your atm) ... don't be too disappointed because their prices are better than anybody else at $10 for half hour! They intentionally do not accept cards to keep their prices down. Bring sunblock, your GIANTS hat/visor, good balance, a clear mind and nothing else but good company or head solo... water & sun are my homies. read more

Ok... bring more cash..... now they charge 20$ per PERSON!! For pedal boat... (per hour) I went there with 2 kids.. so it would cost me 60$ instead of 20$...( I had only 20$ with me and we didn't go(((. read more

This place is great! Come on a weekend day around noon, bring cash, leave your valuables at home, and bring some clothes you wouldn't mind getting wet. The couple and their cute dog who run this place are really nice and friendly. I've rented a kayak from them before and recently tried supping (stand up paddling). Cash is easiest and then you give them your car key to hold onto and off you go. I advise you to go early like noon when they open because the Foster City wind picks up and you don't want to be out on the water when it's super windy, trying to get back to their dock when the currents are pushing you down to the dog park. It's not fun. This operation is very safe, they have life vests and you can even take windsurfing lessons from them. read more

California Windsurfing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

This review is for windsurfing lessons! Steve was so helpful and patient while teaching us how to windsurf. He gave us some important and useful tips that helped us a lot during these lessons. This is a great place and a must visit :) read more

Really enjoyed my Stand Up Paddle boarding here. Just $20 per hour or $10 per half hour. More on that later. Tip: The water maybe choppy until you cross over to the area near the buildings on the west side. Tip: be aware of the the direction of the wind if you are a newbie; as it can work against you on the way back. Customer service: fine. Parking: easy. Tip: they rent kayaks, paddle boats and other fun stuff! read more

First of all life-jackets are very old, dingy, and dirty. You better take your own life-jacket! If you don't like waves when you are paddling or kayaking, Central Lake is great place for you. I have no doubt that you will admire the view. I grew up in a place where crystal clear waters, and Central Lake's dark water scares me. I don't want to even imagine falling into this water. I don't know the same for you. read more

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While driving back from the Foster City Library today (yes, I can read), I noticed some kayakers, windsurfers and paddle boaters/pedal boaters in the water at Leo J. Ryan Park. After coming home, I did a quick yelp search, and found out you can rent equipment right there! My husband was unenthusiastic about getting out on the water, but I somehow managed to usher him in to the car, keep the conversation going, and make it to California Windsurfing before he could protest. To get here, just park at 650 Shell Blvd. (at the Recreation Center) and walk toward the water and to the left. You'll see the green building with all the equipment out. You can rent kayaks, windsurfing boards and sails, and paddle boats/pedal boats. The prices are extremely reasonable ($10/half hour for the paddle boat) and included in the price is the life jacket and/or wet suit (if you are windsurfing). The staff members were nice and helpful and we were out on the water in no time. They also offer windsurfing lessons which are also reasonably priced ($110 for 6 hours of lessons over two days). Just keep in mind they don't take credit cards (as of 5/10/09) so bring cash and a valid ID. If I can fool Pete in to it again, we will definitely be back. However, seeing as he is on to my plan, it might require heavy sedation and then he wouldn't be very helpful with the pedaling. If I can't convince him, I will just rent a kayak or windsurfing equipment and go on my own. This is a beautiful spot and a great place to spend an hour on a beautiful day. read more

California Windsurfing - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Foster City, California

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We took the windsurfing lesson with Guppy. Clear instruction, beautiful lake. Once you go into the water, it's actually really doable to start steering and propelling yourself around (although you will fall off a couple times). It was super fun, I felt like a sailor. Highly recommend! You have to call to book, it's only 6 students/day read more

This has always been my go to spot for a quick kayak with friends. I was beyond excited to find out that they finally opened back up during this COVID shutdown. They provide hand sanitizer and spray down all equipment so I felt very safe getting out of the house and onto the water. It's been a long time and I feel so relaxed having been able to get some sunshine and fresh air...wearing a mask of course. read more

We great time. The customer service was good and the kayak was sturdy. I recommend this for bugginers.

Thanks for the quick reply! Sorry to hear about your signage woes- that's no good for business. It want fantastic weather, so we I bet the boats weren't visible. We'll try again next time! read more

A solid rental place! Convenient location. You don't need to make a reservation. We rented a double kayak for one hour and it was $40. That seems reasonable given other places I've been to in the Bay Area. There are two things I would change: 1) they're cash only. There's a Wells Fargo ATM 2 blocks away that you can use, but taking cards would be ideal. 2) the area you boat in isn't beautiful wilderness- it's like a big pond in the middle of a business park and condo neighborhood. read more

First time renting from this place and I must say, the lady we talked to seemed nice, but we felt she wasn't very honest. Why? Well, we paid $30 ($15 each) to rent a two-person kayak and which allotted us 45 minutes each of kayak time. The time was about 3:15 and she told us instead of 3:10 she'd put us down for 3:15 (it was 3:14). We arrived back 10 minutes early because it was really windy and the water was choppy/we had to paddle hard back to fight the current. However, she didn't refund us our $10 and even after I pointed out to her that we didn't use our full amount of time. It turns out she started us at 3:10 and not 3:15, but even then, we arrived back 10 minutes early. What a dishonest lady! I could have reported her, but I decided to post about this instead. read more

great place to go for kayaking or standup paddle boarding fees are a little pricey but then again what isn't expensive these days in the Bay Area :( Still find it a bit odd that the water has artificial blue dye read more

Come on take credit cards and electronic payments! Cash is dirty unsanitary and inconvenient. Your excuse that you did customer survey and most preferred cash is preposterous. Let customer pay how they can. Seems very fishy accounting move. read more

I think you have us confused with another renter. That is not what happened to us. This happened back in September and I messaged your business privately but you did not reply. read more

Visited a coworker in Foster City for the first time. She suggested paddle boarding and I must say -- It was so much fun. The staff were very friendly and forgiving. They allow you to start your clock as soon as you tell them. $10 for a half hour rental for a paddle board, paddle, and life vest per person. Definitely felt like I was in a serene screensaver. Will go back next year when it's warmer. read more