Mitch's?! Simply the best. Love all the employees. Always greeted with aloha and they are kind,…read morepatient, and helpful. Great selection of goods as well. Didn't take any of pics but it's such a great little shop. Definitely recommend coming by even if it's just for a bar of wax

This place is awesome. Went in to check out their springsuits (as I needed a new one). They have a…read moreGREAT selection of suits - and their prices were actually better than what I was seeing at other shops. I tried on a couple and with the help of one of the employees who knowledgeably answered the questions I had (mainly about durability) - I ended up walking out with a new suit that I am stoked on. Totally recommend this place. Shop local!

Many thanks to the great instructors & staff at Progressive Surf Academy.  Cassandra schedules the…read moreclasses & is very prompt, organized and friendly.  My 14 y/o daughter had a 2-hour private lesson & we couldn't be happier with the experience.   We arrived a bit early, and met the owner Christian as he was about to start a separate group lesson for 9 adults.  Jacob was my daughter's surf instructor, and he's great with kids. He's very patient, friendly & knowledgeable.  After providing my daughter with a wet suit & surfboard, Jacob started the lesson on the beach by going over proper mechanics & safety.  After 10 mins on the beach, into the water they went. My daughter is a beginner surfer, with no prior surf experience.  Jacob developed an instant rapport with her that made her feel confident in the water.  Watching the entire lesson, I could see Jacob has a ton of teaching experience. His teacher modeling strategy is to demonstrate surf techniques that a student then attempts to mirror & repeat.   His communication skills are so engaging & effective that our class started at 11:15, and by noon, my daughter was standing on a surfboard for the first time, catching waves!   She was absolutely over the moon with the experience :) For 100% transparency, I'm not affiliated with this company & wasn't paid or received any discounts for this review.  My daughter had zero surf experience before the class, and we're both overjoyed with the quality of instruction & that she learned to surf so quickly in a safe environment.

It has been over 20 years since I have surfed as a young adult. I took some lessons at Progressive…read moreSurf Academy and they had me catching waves and standing up after a few hours. The instructor's (Christian, Jacob) and a few others (Dan, Joe) were amazing. The thing that impressed me most is their attention to safety. The ocean can be dangerous and this team made sure everyone was safe. For me it was truly a spiritual experience. I love the ocean and these guys helped me get back to doing something I loved to do. I am now looking to buy my first board and continuing my surfing journey. Thank you Progressive Surf Academy. I am forever grateful.

First time at Rusty's Surf Shop in Del Mar and such a great experience…read more We were in the area for lunch and ice cream and decided to wander in because our girls have been really excited about boogie boarding... and to be honest, we know absolutely nothing about it. We also love supporting small businesses when we can, so this felt like the perfect stop. Right when we walked in, we noticed how clean, organized, and well-stocked the shop was. There's a ton to choose from, which could feel overwhelming, but the two women working behind the register immediately stepped in and made the whole experience easy and actually really fun. They took the time to understand what we were looking for -- something beginner-friendly that the girls could enjoy without it being too advanced. One of the boards the girls were drawn to was actually more high-performance, and instead of just selling it to us, they guided us to a better option. Honestly, they saved us money and probably saved us from a frustrating first experience. They walked us through how to properly size the boards, explained what to look for, and even set everything up at checkout -- attaching the leash and showing the girls how to use it. They also gave a few quick tips that made us feel way more confident heading to the beach. That kind of service is rare. We also picked up a rash guard for my husband (great quality, he loves it) and a cute little shell bracelet that was perfect for the beach vibe. Is it the absolute cheapest place you'll find a bodyboard? Probably not. But the quality, the guidance, and the customer service more than make up for it. You're not just buying a product here -- you're getting help from people who genuinely care that you have a great experience. We'll definitely be back next time we're in Del Mar.

Rented a surfboard and wet suit for the day. Took less than 2 minutes to get and return at the end…read more Smooth and reasonable pricing! Would 100% recommend.

Family owned which is rare. Awesome items reasonably priced and clothes last. Check it out and…read moresupport them! Will return soon.

Rented a surfboard here and it was a fantastic experience!!! The board I rented was a longboard…read morethat was wonderful in the water (I even tried to buy it from them!!!). Excellent customer service from start to finish. I will definitely be back!

Picked up my new board today. Worth the wait! Joe is the…read morereal deal, old school, genuine and transparent. He specializes in boards for bigger and/or older surfers but will customize specific for you. His clients range from locals to top celebrities and athletes. Take a number though, he serves you in the order of your request. If you call, you will no doubt talk directly to Joe. He is not a salesman but more of a "tell it like it is" kind of guy. Full of passion for surfing and a bit bristly. If looking for custom, think about any graphics or color you may want in advance. If not the assumption is it will be white. I wanted mine simple yet recognizable.

Before buying a board off the rack it is worth considering a custom board from a shaper like Joe…read moreBlair. He will listen to where you surf, how well you surf and paddle, your goals, your size, etc... and not only recommend the right board for you, he may event let you demo one. That is an amazing service! Excellent hand made surfboards and SUPs, made by a local craftsman. And his prices are quite reasonable too! Cliff Keller

Just up the coast from cardiff is Encinitas and Hansens Surf…read more I know i need nothing but another shirt. might be ok. I bought my custom XX pro boogie board here. So far, just in Maui and Drl Mar. in search of the perfect wave.

We had a fantastic experience at Hansens in Encinitas! My fiancé and I stopped by on a lovely day…read moreand checked out their snow sale. I tried on a bunch of jackets and pants--shoutout to London at the fitting rooms, who was lovely! I initially left with a total of $381.58. But later, I noticed a couple of discrepancies: the jacket's discount was miscalculated and the pants were mislabeled as XS when they were actually smalls. After some research, I found the items for less on Amazon, so we called Hansens. My fiancé spoke with them, and they were willing to price match. Enter Patty, the awesome manager! Patty was incredibly kind and helpful--she matched the Amazon price and gave me a partial refund right on the existing order. I didn't even have to drive back to Encinitas or hassle with a return. Thanks to Patty Bolton and the team, everything was made right--and I'd absolutely recommend Hansens to anyone! 5 stars

Got my husband a class for our wedding anniversary gift. My…read morehusband enjoyed the class. It was perfect surfing weather that day. The instructor always responded to our emails and texts quickly. Also met us an hour early to accommodate our changed schedule.

Grant is a great instructor. He worked with my 10 year old son and helped build his confidence. I…read morerecommend Grant for surf lessons.

John, the owner, is a great guy and a wealth of good advice on Kitesurfing, SUPing and surfing…read more Lots of inventory and always willing to source what anyone needs. I'm glad he's in our area

I have been here a few times and found the service excellent. It is a family owner run business and…read moreit shows. When it came to updating my new SUP I know I wanted to use this shop. Others I had visited in the area just came across as too cool for school and not always helpful to someone who needed the right advice and help. They let me demo a board for a few days with no pressure to buy. It worked! I bought a ridiculously expensive carbon SUP from these guys this week and I love it. I am glad they got the sale. They, John and his wife are really worth chatting to and good people. Their shop is quite easy to miss but when you go in, it is as an Aladdin's Cave of goodies with the help, knowledge and service you need to make the right purchase.