Compare prices and credentials, this is better for the money. This seems expensive because they want you to book all four lessons at once, but they will do a single. Matt is very direct and forthcoming, some may be uncomfortable with that. If you just want a lesson so you can say you did it, this might not be your place, but if you really want to learn to surf, this is your place. He will take care of tourists, though they're best suited to the serious-minded. He has maybe six hired instructors who are all great. They are all very patient. I highly recommend the four lesson curriculum. (Could you learn the guitar after one lesson?). Learn from best and take advantage of the excellent teachers. I can surf now. read more

I just finished the four session curriculum and I can tell you it is worth it!!! I also paid Matt for an in-shop council and I have an amazing board now, great equipment, and without question I ended up saving money, even with Matt's fee. He really put in the time to hunt down and find me a killer board. The reason I decided to join a surf school verses having a friend teach me or paying for one of the watered-down, one-lesson, shove-you-in-the-white-water options other schools provide is that I know from other sports that you get what you pay for. For example, I've been an aggressive snowboarder for years and learned by taking proper lessons from the get go. I've always been able to spot people who aren't properly taught--even the ones that have multiple seasons under their belt. They look sloppy and unbalanced. Sure, they get by, but why would you simply want to get by? Get the proper foundation to grow from so you can be safe, progress quickly, and have fun! Here's a tip, if it's off-season and you are thinking of learning surfing, DON'T wait; do the lessons before high-season. It's cold but that's what wetsuits are for. There are less people in the water, less people taking lessons so you get Matt's full attention (not that his instructors aren't top-notch, but he simply has more years of teaching experience), and you have time to practice and feel confident and ready when summer hits! I look forward to taking advance lessons once I am ready to progress to the next level. read more

I finished a four session curriculum with Matt Binswanger's Newport Surf School and it is well worth the expense. I had spoken to coworkers and friends who stated it would take years to learn how to surf competently, I can honestly say thanks to his school I have proven them wrong. What I have found from others is they learn flawed techniques that hinder performance and the simple advice he provided me from the beginning is preventing errors I see all the time here on the beach. Newport Surf School provided me the proper techniques and advice on equipment that I would not have gotten on my own. It has been a little over a month and I am handling 4-8 foot waves - while this is not that exceptional in the world of surfing, for my first few months surfing I am better than most on their own for this time frame. His introductory classes will not have you surfing professionally - but prevent mistakes that will hinder your learning curve. Matt will instruct you on how to get to that level of surf - the rest is what you put into it. If you do not want to work at it, it is like anything else, your skills will naturally depreciate and people lose interest. If you attend his classes, actively participate and stay after to surf on your own so that you hone what Matt instructs you. Also, if you are serious - do it once and do it right - buy the proper gear with Matt; his advice saved me over $600 dollars and I had everything customized for me. I also know many of the local surf shop owners from the experience and they have provided me with significant discounts (30-45% off) at their stores everytime I shop. Matt is a serious instructor, show up early and do not waste his time, he has plenty of other clients who want your slot. I know from riding with Matt on a surfing trip that his phone seldomly stops ringing. Overall, you have an excellent instructor to work with, if you bring the effort. You can check out the other schools, I did before going to Newport Surf School. Their prices vary, and they do not list their instructor's for you to follow up on. You might find a few bad remarks but those are generally from disgruntle clients who cut out last minute and expected no surcharge for a scheduled lesson. Just Google Newport surfing and research what is out their, I did and ended up going through Matt's instruction. You cannot learn any sport in a day and if you spread out the lessons like I did, you get time to practice. No regrets with it, I plan on advanced lessons in a few months. If anyone has questions about his school, feel free to contact me. read more

Stay away. Matt is one of the most ridiculous people I've ever encountered. I took the four lesson curriculum. The so-called "curriculum" is nonexistent. It's the same old push and cheer lessons as anywhere else only Matt is constantly trying to sell you something: more lessons, custom boards, consulting to help you shop for the perfect board. Constantly. During a lesson right after riding across a green wave for the first time he pulled me out to tell me how important it was to get the right board and how great his shaper's boards were. That's it, then he sent me back in. When after my third lesson I asked about "the curriculum" he pulled out a binder of old magazine clippings and photocopies from books. He guarded the binder jealously and kept saying it was proprietary even though it was a collection of other people's work. He fingered through the binder talking briefly about whatever happened to be on each page with no direction at all. That's the curriculum. Overall impression was a nutty guy who was desperate to make more money off me. Update 4/18/15. Matt sent this msg in response to this review: Matt B: What the hell is up with your negative review of my curriculum and staff?!?!?! I can't beleive the slander you wrote either claiming I didn't give you a full curriculum and it was like all the other lower level surf schools/camps pushing you in the white water??? You deffinately take the cake in the name "KOOK" which we locals give to BARNEYS like you who have nothing better to do with your miserable than to slam a true professional like me!!! You stay away, we real cool locals don't need idiots like you anyhow crowding up the line up with your uncool idiotic manic behavior!!! Stay back in N.C. with all your ass hole friends too!!! You need them!!! Stay away. read more

Young instructor was doing more surfing than teaching

After the past 2 1/2 years, I wanted to improve my surfing skills, and decided to take lessons. I signed up for the surf curriculum with Newport Surf School, in Newport Beach. I attended four lessons, and got a lot out of the experience. Some of the highlights that I valued most from my surf school experience were: 1. Someone actually taking the time to teach me how to track waves, read swell reports, and understand current and tides. What a difference that has made in choosing surf locations! Now, I surf all over the place! 2. Matt, my surf instructor, and his ability to board assess me. He helped me with the in-shop consult, and aligned me to the absolutely 'perfect' surfboard. Since purchasing the proper surf board, I have had several people approach me on the beach and comment on how well my board suits me and my ability. Matt has an uncanny ability to match his students to the perfect board! 3. The opportunity to surf with real professionals. Matt provides champion surf trainers to help teach his students. Jenna was my favorite. She was patient and taught me how to read waves and improve my pop up. 4. The ability to be challenged and move to the next level. Matt also spent time in the water with me, taking me to the outer break, positioning me on my board, corrrecting my movements as I caught waves, and challenged me to catch waves I thought I could never take. Overall, I feel like my surfing skills have soard in only four lessons, and Matt helped me to correct bad surf habits that I have repeated for the past 2 1/2 years. My fellow surf collegues have even commented on how much I have improved. If you want to take your surf skills to the next level, give Matt a call!! read more