I haven't surfed in a very long time so I decided to sign up for a class with University of Surfing just to get back to it. We were led by Mikayla and AJ and the process was wonderful. Everything is included with the price you pay - wetsuits, boards, booties, pictures to be taken on your phone, etc. Also there were so many nuances and details that we wouldn't have thought about that they took care of like bringing hot water to the beach since there is not hot water with the showers. Here are some of my favorite things about the lesson: - AJ and Mikayla are both extremely knowledgeable about surfing and are happy to share information about the sport and such. Not to mention that they are extremely nice people. - The way they teach you surfing would allow you to go by yourself in subsequent visits to the beach. - Linda Mar waves are actually not crazy in July timeframe so it's a pretty great place to start learning how to surf as a beginner. - The weather is fantastic and makes you very motivated to want to continue to catch the waves. Also, surprisingly, its not too cold since you are in a wetsuit. Would definitely recommend surfing with them if this is your first time surfing. I will also say that I now have more confidence to rent out a surfboard myself and try to practice surfing in the future. The "lesson" part is just the first 15 minutes and afterwards its just practice and waiting for the right wave to hit. Happy I got to have this experience! read more

University of Surfing - Linda Mar - Surfing Near Me - Pacifica, California

It's not easy to ride a wave for beginner but I already in love with surfing. Thank you Matt for encourage us.

We had a great time celebrating my 50th by taking some surfing lessons for the first time. The instructors were so nice and so patient. Laura is from Hawaii -- and the young man, Tim, was a super person to spend time with helping me catch the waves for the very first time. The instructors are experienced, friendly, supportive, and know their surfing. They are also young, good-looking, smart, and unpretentious. I'll return as often as possible for instruction. I highly recommend either instructor for individual or group lessons. You will not be disappointed. Wetsuits, boots and board -- plus instruction -- were supplied for two hours at about $100. A real bargain, though I could only muster strength for part of the lesson. Yes, it helps to practice your pop-ups, work your core, and do some serious swimming on a regular basis in preparation. Even still, I loved the experience I got! If you love the ocean, being with some cool people, getting some fun exercise in the lovely sun and waves, this might be the ideal birthday gift (or any other occasion) for you too. read more

Matt showed my girlfriend and I a good time. He even honored an expired groupon and returned the money I overpaid. Dude is a good guy that shows the way of the surf. To newbies, get ready for a great whole body workout, it's a great use of fun and time. read more

Unfortunately I didn't have the same experience as other people are based on their reviews. I showed up for class today (6/25) at 9:45am (my class started at 10:00am). The instructions sent by Matt in the email directed me to a small parking lot south of Taco Bell, which was completely full. Since I'm not familiar with the area, I had to drive to the parking lot south of this one, park there, and walk back. I get there by 9:57, and I walk around trying to find the white Mazda MPV or the blue Honda, like the instruction said. I find neither, so I decide to give Matt a call. Matt doesn't answer, but Candice answers instead. "We are on our way" she says, "in 10 minutes". I'm not totally anal about time so I'm not worried about this; I decide to wait. She told me to wait by the bathrooms next to the parking lot. I think I'm in the right place, so I wait there for a while. It's 10:15 and I don't see anybody. I decide to call the mobile back. This time Matt answers: "I'm not there today, but Candice and other girl will be the instructors. Make sure you are in the right bathroom." So while I'm on the phone trying to figure out with Matt if I'm in the right bathroom or not, a guy walking by tells me "there are 2 more bathrooms in this beach, maybe it's one of those". So I tell Matt that I'm going to check the other bathrooms. I checked the other bathrooms (there is one behind Taco Bell, and another north of the beach). They are in neither. It's 10:27am, I'm completely frustrated, and I decide to go home. I don't like to give 1 star reviews. I'm a small business owner and I know how hard is to build a business. But this is what I would have expected from the University of Surfing: a) Be in the place at least 15 to 20 minutes prior to the start of the lesson. b) if you give people a cell phone, whoever is there at the site should carry it so people can call you and find out exactly where you are. c) Even if your customer is a total idiot when it comes to directions, what I would have expected from Matt was to say: "wait, i'll give candice a call and i'll give her your phone so she can call you back and meet you". d) carry a flag/sign on top of your car. send a picture of that flag/sign attached to the confirmation email. It will make it easy to see where you are. I'm going to try the school in Bolinas now. I'll post my review then. read more

After coming back from Oahu and seeing the surfers on the North Shore, I was inspired to get myself in the water and on a board as soon as I could. Idid a few google searches and also checked out craigslist to see if anyone was out there and close to what I was looking for.http://universityofsurfing.com/ caught my eye out of all of the different places I looked at for a few reasons. The price point was perfect and the fact that when I did contact Matt the owner, he was very responsive and willing to work with my schedule. That says a lot about an instructor that right off the bat is willing to work with their students. Showing up at the beach that first day of lessons I was a bit overwhelmed with all of the people out in the water. I felt at ease however with the attention to detail that was explained to me in the personal one on one instruction session. I was walked though all of the steps from start to finish on everything from how to position myself on the board to how to properly fall into the water. I was very much impressed with the lesson that was provided by Matt and http://universityofsurfing.com/ I am actually at this moment setting up another lesson with Matt this weekend. I was totally hooked after the first day and found a new great habit to keep up. read more

!@# ^%#& it's #^$*ing cold in Pacifica in the morning! That is, unless you happen to be wearing a 4/3 wetsuit and wading through water while dragging a surfboard behind you... Which is exactly what you'll be doing if you give Matt at University of Surfing a call: Staying warm on a !@#%ing cold Pacifica morning. I signed up for a 2-hour lesson with Matt and thoroughly enjoyed the session. Now keep in mind that surfing is probably one of the most difficult skills to learn ever, and so there's not ever going to be any two hours where you'll do more than just scratch the surface of the sport. With that in mind, Matt (and other schools like his) concentrates his teaching time on getting the student to ride at least a few times standing up on the board, which in my mind may not necessarily help build a solid foundation, but will definitely get the student stoked so that he'll want to continue learning. Kinda like learning to learn. Matt makes it easy too, by getting you to do something, then adding something new on each successive run: First just get on the board at all, then ride prone, then ride in a push-up position, then try to stand up. All the while he'll go on at length about various topics like looking at the wave, knowing the etiquette, knowing the surf spots, a bunch of stuff that you probably won't really hear or understand until well into the second hour. If there's a drawback to this method of "instant gratification" teaching to stand up right away, it's that you'll miss out on learning the importance of paddling and selecting/catching waves, both of which (I'm told) take much longer to learn and ultimately involve more skill. But then again, if I were made to spend two hours struggling to paddle a board out past that chop instead of just getting that "feel", I'd be pretty bummed. Four and a half stars for the quality of instruction, plus an extra half star because Matt is a genuinely stand-up guy *rimshot*. read more

Somehow, the notion of hanging out on a surfboard, riding the waves and being in the zone has held an almost mythical allure to me. Of course then the rational mind kicks in and I realize I'm the world's biggest klutz and that pulling something like that off would take a feat and a half. Fast forward some years and I see a Groupon offer for University of Surfing. Looking at the solid reviews, I went ahead and booked a session. Then one fine chilly late August morning, I assembled with a group of other would-be surfers in Pacifica and got ready for our lesson. The previous complaints about the lack of signage were addressed, as Matt set out a University of Surf Banner that was easy to spot. The group made quick intros, we were fitted with our wet suits and got to work on some practice in the sand. We were able to leave our car keys and other valuables in Matt's car during the lesson. Because the conditions were apparently really great for surfing, the dry component was short and we got into the water, which was great for me because I was shivering like mad in the wetsuit. Matt pointed out right away that surfing was about the experience of catching waves -- not about the perfect big wave nor having to stand up every time. With that attitude and mindset, we were all able to get out and enjoy ourselves. We also each got to have our own surfboard. Matt and Candace took turns assisting our group (about 10 people) so we all got or properly ride waves, pulling us out and even riding with us in tandem where appropriate. Overall I loved my experience and recommend it to any other person who's always been curious but never thought they could do it. read more

After my kid started surfing, I thought: why not me? I"ve always loved the ocean and retain a reasonable sense of balance. There's no reason, theoretically, that a 50 y.o. guy shouldn't be able to master this sport of youth. So, I signed up early this year for a lesson with the U. of Surfing. Matt runs a great operation - - quality gear, punctual, easy-going, and great instruction. Thumbs up for the Provost of surfing. Have to mention specifically how helpful Kyla, Kevin, and Tristian - - U. of Surfing's tenured instructors - - are. Super knowledgeable, encouraging, and patient. The faculty of the U. of Surfing would all get 5 out of 5 and a hot tamale on RateMyProfessor! Four months and as many lessons later - - I'm browsing CraigsList for my own board and trying to jimmy my work schedule for 2 hour lunches in Pacifica. Thanks to my alma mater . . .. read more

I never thought I'd surf... and I went to UC Santa Barbara... so that's saying a lot. I just didn't think I could do it. I'm not that coordinated and I'm not a great swimmer. So I felt pretty good when I bet my boyfriend a bowl of clam chowder that I wouldn't even be able to stand up. I figured, what's the worst that could happen? Free clam chowder? Except... I lost. How did this miracle of aerodynamics (waterdynamics?) occur? I owe it all to Matt Linton. He is a wonderful teacher. He's patient and experienced and he gave me the confidence boost I needed to get up on the board. I had such a great experience my first time out. I definitely want to try again. If you're someone who has always wanted to surf but has been afraid or unsure if you could do it, University of Surfing is your place. If I can do it, you can definitely do it! And it's so much fun! read more

I had a great day with UoS BUT I had two issues with them. If either of these didn't happen they would definitely get 4 stars. First issue: they board I was given to practice with was damaged. There was a flap dangling off the nose of my board which made it WAY harder to practice because it created friction while trying to ride out a wave. The board wasn't even replaced and maybe after 30-45 minutes I was able to try someone else's board when the got tired. Second issue!!!! Pretty gross but I ended up getting athlete's foot from the little booties we were given. That night of the surfing lesson my right foot became really itchy and red. The next day, bumps were visible. It just kept spreading all over my toes. read more

The University of Surfing is a great way to learn the basics - or even the more advanced aspects - of surfing! My friend and I really wanted to get some time in the water and have professional guidance and instruction in a "hands on" environment. Our instructor, Matt Cole, was very attentive and professional, and he had a great sense of humor. He also did a great job of reading our skill level and instructing accordingly. The instruction was both top notch and fun, the equipment was great, and we still remember what we were taught. Additionally, Matt took photos of us which he later sent to us via email or made available online. Thanks to University of Surfing for a great experience! read more

I've now taken 7 lessons with Matt and Coby from University of Surfing. And the entire community of teachers and their parent even came to some lessons for fun. People's main concern: it's cold. No, it's not if you are in the water with wetsuite, booties, hood and gloves. Just go in the water. I surfed in Dec and Jan and I not cold at all. Even if you don't know how to suit up the teachers will always pay attention to make sure you put your suit and accessories right. Learning: In Linda Mar where they teach there are waves for all difficulties. And regardless of how the days look there is always a section that is fit for beginners. Catching waves: Matt and the team go far and beyond to help you first catch waves and then to teach you how to catch them. It's always fun and you always learn something. Overall they have an amazing attitude about everything, they teach really well, they provide everything you need and it's as good as it gets. I can't wait for the next time I can visit and learn some more. read more

Wow, that was awesome. 1.) Booking was weird online, so I had to contact Matt. Matt was very responsive, his turnaround time to my multiple emails was quick. 2.) The instruction was awesome, especially for a first time. We spent most of the time feeling out how to actually "ride" a wave. I had taken surfing lessons in Portugal and I had to do everything on my own, I spent two hours struggling than actually riding a wave. I like that they help you and when you're ready to do it on your own, you can get a board and get started. 3.) Just really nice people and fun experience. Matt is funny, sarcastic, and everyone is down to earth. Lastly - I had purchased groupons and similar coupons online for two surf instructors in Santa Cruz and in Santa Barbara, my instructors never showed. When I got to the beach, it was very easy to identify University of Surfing, they were prepared and ready to go. Would definitely do it again!!!! read more

My husband has become slightly (is an understatement) obsessed with surfing lately. We bought a deal off Google Offers for a 2-hour semi-private lesson. We got lucky, and the third guy in our lesson didn't show up, so we ended up with a totally private lesson. Matt is very enthusiastic and seems to love his sport. He pretty much convinced us we should buy wetsuits, and then longboards if we decide we like surfing. Turns out, after our lesson, I think we might end up with a board or two. ;) Matt spent a lot of time on the beach teaching us the important things to remember while we're out in the water. Once we made it into the water, he pushed us onto waves and we both had some really long rides. Eventually we paddled out further and he helped me get on some bigger waves, letting my husband work a little more independently since he was more confident, occasionally yelling out advice to him. One of Matt's friends ended up hanging out with us, and I think the two of them got in as many waves as we did -- the surf was too good for Matt to pass up (extra awesome due to the King Tides)! Our lesson ended up 3 hours long -- my body was exhausted, my toes were freezing and my face hurt from smiling for 3 hours straight! I had a blast and ended up dreaming of surfing that night. I'm pretty sure we'll take another lesson from Matt. He made us feel really comfortable, not like posers, and made catching waves seem a lot more attainable. read more

I am seriously bummed! In August I bought an Amazon Local deal for an introductory surfing lesson. I was PSYCHED as I've always wanted to do this. Over the next few months, I called multiple times, left multiple messages, and never got called back. So I went to their website to schedule online but the online scheduler wouldn't work. Finally I emailed, saying "Please contact me as I can't get through and I'd like to book my lesson." Nothing. Really? My voucher is about to expire, so I reluctantly called Amazon Local and got a refund. I seriously don't understand how you can run a business like this. And I'm sad. I really wanted to surf! read more

Add surfing to the list of sports Poppy will never be good at. The instructors couldn't have been nicerand more helpful and Poppy very much appreciates all their efforts. Sadly, Poppy was a terrible turtle who exhausted herself an hour into the lesson, took a "break" and promptly feel asleep on her beached surfboard. Best nap she'd had in a long time. read more

I recently took advantage of a Groupon for surfing lessons for my 9yo daughter. It was a great deal. I've never surfed before, and didn't know what to expect. After finding out that his sister was getting a lesson, in true sibling fashion, my 10yo son HAD to have one too. The online reservation process was simple, but we only had one Groupon! Doh! When we arrived, I spoke to Matt, the owner, and he extended the Groupon rate to my son as well. I thought that was an awesome thing to do. The kids had a blast, and all the instructors were top notch. Matt kept my daughter engaged, even when she'd "take a break" to play in the surf. He kept encouraging her to come back out and get on a board. My son was relentless in his effort to ride a wave. His instructor, whose name I didn't get, stuck with him and really helped him make the most out of his time in the water. It was a great experience. There were surfers of all ages in our group, and it really seemed to work. The instructors kept track of the students, and it seemed like they were very safety conscious. Additionally, since I recently hurt my back, I wasn't able to help my kids out of their wetsuits afterward. The staff was very helpful to them, lending a hand with the awkward booties. Overall, we were very impressed with the operation and staff. Now that we're alumni, we get that great rate for any follow up lessons! We will definitely go back, and I highly recommend University of Surfing! For spectators, bring a long-lens camera for good action shots, and a blanket to sit on the beach and watch. Also, layer up, because in January it started out a little breezy, but ended up almost 70 degrees! Conversely, the summer can be very cold. Realistically speaking, it's the Bay Area. You never know what you're going to get at the coast from one hour to the next! read more

They were absolutely amazing!! If you're just beginning they're patient and perfect and just awesome

Came this past weekend to cash in my recently purchased Groupon for UofS. We had no issues making a reservation online and website in general was very user friendly. No issues redeeming my Groupon. We showed up a little early and didn't find it very obvious where we were supposed to go. FYI, just stay near the building with all the tiles on it, near the outdoor shower and the restrooms. Unfortunately the folks from UofS showed up a little late. I didn't check the clock, but I'm guessing maybe 10 minutes. Realizing they were running late, they quickly got us suited up and down to the beach. We were then greeted by Kevin, the main instructor, who is a Linda Mar local. Kevin was a fantastic instructor. He explained a lot of elements of surfing like learning to read the waves, knowing where to paddle out, and most importantly how to stand up. The 101 class is about as basic as a lesson gets. Instead of paddle out we walked out until the water was about 4.5-5' deep. At that point we got on the board and waited for the instructor to give us a push so we wouldn't have to paddle to hard to catch the wave. There were about 10 of us students, 4 boards, and 3 instructors. So everyone took turns on the board, which makes sense because the instructors needed to help all of us get going. I really liked the lesson, but after taking the 101 class I'm still not very confident I could go out on my own yet. I still have much more to practice/learn like paddling, and knowing when to stand up (rather than waiting for them to yell stand). Definitely worth doing! read more

I did a private class with Matt last sunday morning, he came early setting up the flags and wetsuits for the upcoming class. All I can say is he's the best!! Good teacher, patient, really encourages you to catch the wave and explains the fundamentals clearly (I just couldnt process all the surfing terminologies in one day). But dont worry he will email you a post review info of all the important details he discussed. He taught me how to paddle, stand and steer the board. I was able catch some decent waves with his help. He also taught me to always have fun and respect other surfers in the ocean. Will definitely be back after some practice. read more

Note: I have not yet had my surfing lesson with this organization. I booked 5 days in advance for a beginner lesson (will be this Sunday). The one star rating is due to the fact that the website has been down for two days, I have called the main number and left a voicemail saying I had a few questions before my class but did not hear back, and the advertised email address bounced back when I tried to contact that way. Starting to wonder if the class is still on... Hopefully, all ends well and I change my rating tomorrow? University of Surfing - get your act together. :-( Others - beware before booking. Stay tuned for results. *Edit (day before lesson): Heard back from the owner and got answers to my questions, along with lots of helpful details! Leaving review at three stars for now, until my class tomorrow. Super pumped! **Final update (day after lesson): I had an amazing time! Mostly due to the fact that any other people booked for the same time slot did not show up, so I ended up with a private lesson. :-) Instructor Tom was excellent. I cannot say enough about how well he took care of me, always looked out for danger, and made sure I got in lots of time on the board. Definitely something I plan to do again. Leaving three star review due to the disorganization of the company, but if I could give just Tom five stars I would! read more

Excellent place to learn how to surf. Setting in Pacifica is great and the equipment (e.g. wet suits, booties, boards, etc) that these guys provide is high-quality. Appropriate and helpful emphasis on safety and the instructor genuinely cared about helping everyone get better at surfing. Maybe a little bit overly sales-y but nothing obnoxious and at the end of the day, this is a business that wants to grow. Thanks to Matt & Matt and I'll be back for more! read more

University of Surfing is great! My girlfriend and I decided to do the intro to surfing course. Our instructor Laura was very helpful and fun to work with. It was a beautiful day, and surfing was extremely fun, but unfortunately my girlfriend sprained her ankle falling in shallow water. I can't imagine this is very common, but Laura was extremely accommodating and told us we could get a refund or reschedule even though the lesson was almost halfway over. I also got a very nice email from the owner, Matt, who said he would happily refund our money or schedule another visit. It's nice to find a company that takes such great care of their customers. We will definitely be back for another visit! read more

My review is largely for Kevin Rhodes, our lead instructor. He taught us how waves behave (anywhere in the world) and was great a pinpointing what we did well and where we needed to improve. I've always wanted to learn how waves and shores relate.. he did that with flair and insight. Kevin is a great instructor.. highly recommend! read more

I went July 4th weekend on my first ever surfing lesson and boy was I excited. I was part of the 11am class and it was a wonderful turnout. For $100 you'll get a two-hour lesson with wet suit, booties, board, AND AWESOME instructors. Matt, Will, and Candace were fab-fab-fab. Even on a very strong current morning in Pacifica, these three were just on it and absolutely fun to have. Will stretched with us, then gave us Surfing 101 with natural props included (sand). There may have been a lack of boards, but I didn't care. I had a spectacular time hitting the waves whether it be body or board. Matt is a great instructor, super fun, and quick to get you on your feet (literally). I did hit him on the forehead (eek) but he was so great nonetheless through and through. I will be back, very soon. With my daughter in tow, cause she was made for water and I want her to feel the way I did. I highly recommend U of S! read more

I've had three lessons now, and would highly recommend University of Surfing. Matt is extremely knowledgable and generous with his time in prepping for lessons and gear (wetsuits and booties are a LOT higher quality than competitors I've worked with). Matt is also incredibly easy to reach via phone and email, responsive, and flexible. When we've had to reschedule, even last-minute, he is very accommodating and hasn't even charged extra. Plus, he's very high-energy and positive, making for a super fun experience. Several things really set University of Surfing apart: 1) The one-on-one attention: I've never in my three sessions had a higher student to teacher ratio than one on one, and the instructors don't even surf themselves. You get way more practice catching waves than you would with any other school. 2) For my lessons they've had a goal of X number of waves that you'll do in the session, which is really perfect for setting expectations, getting your money's worth, and actually getting better. 3) Matt was kind enough to film some of my last lesson and edit together a few minutes of video -- all on his own time -- and it made for such a fun memento. That personal touch, generosity, and attention to detail is reflective of the whole experience you'll have with University of Surfing. read more

Had a really great session w/ Matt over the summer and became hooked on the sport. Matt is an incredible teacher and will get you riding waves sooner and more easily than you may imagine. W/ Matt's help, I was standing on the first three waves I attempted and even started walking and maneuvering the board by the third wave. That morning I easily got on 10-15 waves in about an hour or so's time. Since taking the lesson, surfing at Linda Mar has almost become church and I try to get out there on as many Sunday mornings as my schedule allows. I'm still trying to keep up w/ the regular surfers on the line but am pretty sure that w/ practice I'll eventually pick it up. Highly recommend University of Surfing and Matt as instructors! read more

I had an opportunity to surf last weekend with University of Surfing and I had a great time! I had done some research online and found them to be a reputable company so when I saw the Groupon for surfing, I just had to do it. I've been to Pacifica many times but never to surf, so I was quite surprised to see so many surfers lining up in the morning. To the left of Taco Bell, the beginners. To the right, the more advanced. Matt and his staff had wet suits and the surf boards ready for all of us. We had a brief talk on the shore about safety and how to paddle and how to catch a wave and how to stand up and how to fall. That took at most 10 minutes. I can appreciate that because I didn't pay to do be on the shore. I wanted to be out there in the water. The rest of the time was trying to catch waves. My class had 4 students. 2 adults and 2 kids. We all had plenty of time with the instructors to have them give us tips out in the water. The instructors also helped us catch waves. After about 1 1/2 hours surfing, I was spent. Surfing is a great workout. I highly recommend the University of Surfing. Matt and his staff were friendly and helpful. I'll be back for sure! read more

See all

Matt was awesome! I've always wanted to take a surf lesson and emailed U of S late Saturday afternoon to see if there was a spot available for the 8:00 am class the next day... I thought it was a shot in the dark but Matt responded quickly and had a spot for me this morning. It was more fun than I expected! I thought that since it was my first class we'd spend more time on the sand but we actually spent most of the 2 hr class in the water riding waves. Surfing is a lot harder than you'd think! I caught about 4 or 5 good waves. It was much easier standing up when Matt was pushing me into the waves and guiding me. I tried it on my own and I never got up but it was my first day so I'm not too brokenhearted about it. I'm so stoked that I actually was up and riding even with his help. I didn't expect to at all. Most awesome feeling ever! Now I know why surfers surf! I'll definitely go for more sessions and try it on my own as well. He also gave us an Alumni card for the next time at a discounted rate. There were 4 others in the class and I liked that Matt made sure to spend an equal amount of time with each of us. He even gave me pointers after I tried on my own which I appreciated. It showed that he was attentive to everyone even if he was 1 on 1 with someone else. Ps. This is my first 5 star rating on Yelp EVER. :) read more

Edited review. Full disclosure - I wish I could give 3.5 stars here. They're pretty disorganized, but the instructors are really cool and I had a great time. Caught a couple of waves. Managed to not look like a total idiot the whole time. Definitely made me want to try surfing more. If you can find them at the beach you'll have a good time. read more

Every year for my husband's birthday we gather our friends to take surfing lessons with Matt and his amazing crew. It's become a wonderful tradition, and even though my husband's birthday is in July (in the middle of the busiest season for surfing) Matt always fits us in. The team are so friendly and knowledgeable, and they provide all the surfing equipment you could need. It's so much fun, and great for beginners. We always bring newbies into the mix and everyone always has a blast. read more

I can't say enough good things about Matt Cole and University of Surfing in Pacifia, CA. Matt is very professional. He showed up early and even extended my private lesson an extra 20 minutes beyond the cut off time. Not only that, Matt allowed me to reschedule for later in the day when I experienced vehicle problems the morning of our 7:30am lesson. More importantly, Matt is a really cool guy who obviously has a passion for surfing and teaching others to surf. Probably what I liked the most about University of Surfing is their very direct, hands-on approach to surfing. After a very brief beach-side lesson on water and surf safety (15 min), Matt had me in waste deep water catching my first waves. With University of Surfing, you WILL be catching waves on your very first lesson. Seriously, I was riding multiple waves to the beach within the first hour. And let me just tell you, you will NEVER forget the feeling of standing up and riding your first wave. If that were not enough, University of Surfing's surf board mounted digital camera will catch all the action with multiple in-water photos. These pictures are memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. If you are debating between a group lesson and a private lesson, I highly recommend a one-on-one private lesson with Matt Cole or one of his top instructors. I would not have been up and surfing nearly as quickly without the intense instruction that is available when you book a private lesson. Go for it, its worth it!! University of Surfing exceeded my expectations. Being from Oklahoma, I assumed that surfing would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, it was so much fun I'm already planning my next extended vacation in Pacifica. In summary, if you have ever had a desire to learn to surf, don't try doing it on your own. Go with a professional that facilitates expert instruction, top notch gear, and memories for a lifetime. Go with University of Surfing. I give them my highest recommendation. read more

The best lesson - of any sport - ever. We planned and coordinated with Matt, and he was very accommodating. When we arrived, the entire staff was helpful to get us into the wetsuits & booties that University Surfing provided...and that was no small feat with the size (and attention span) of our group. The staff at University Surfing really know their stuff, are friendly, enthusiastic, funny, customer service oriented, and patient. We came as a group of six 13-year old girls, two 10 year old boys, and 4 adults. Kevin, our lead instructor, was able to teach to all of us in a way that each us was able to understand. He is incredibly personable, wise, and practical. When dealing with the power of the ocean and Mother Nature, he wasn't fooling around as he taught us how to observe the ocean. He was thorough in his approach - and went into great detail to teach us about the behaviors/patterns of the ocean and key fundamental skills so that we could build our surfing skills in the future. Like he said, "This is the first day of the rest of your surfing life." His assistants, Brandon & Jesse were also knowledgable in teaching us to get up on the board on a wave and to keep us safe. Obviously, we had our wipe-outs, but every single one of us got up on our board and surfed several waves in to shore before the lesson was done. My daughter and I will most definitely return for more lessons and we are hooked on a new sport! Thanks University Surfing for an awesome experience. read more

What a blast!!! I took one of their group lessons last weekend, and it was an awesome experience. I've wanted to try surfing for years, and these guys got me off to a great start. Seemed like everyone in my group was having as much fun as me. No competition or pressure, just a bunch of fun folks looking to catch waves and learn the basics. I went out on my own yesterday, and used a bunch of the techniques I learned in the class... I'm proud to say I caught 3 great waves all on my own! Thank you University of Surfing... you rock! read more

What an amazing experience! My son and I recently took a surfing lesson in Hawaii, so we thought it would be cool to try it closer to home. I figured we would catch more waves if we took a private lesson, so I arranged one via email with Matt, the school's owner. Matt gave us clear instructions on where to be, and we met up with him on the beach at the appointed time. We used Matt's wetsuits and booties which were all made by Hotline--a really nice wetsuit maker out of Santa Cruz. We went over the basics on the sand, then got right out in the water. Pacifica is a great beach to learn at because the waves break fairly close to shore (30-40 feet) and the break is super-consistent. Because the break is only in about five feet of water, Matt could easily stand/float near us and set us up to catch tons of waves. During our lesson in Hawaii, we caught about a dozen waves each. With Matt, we each caught about forty! We were both dog tired after a solid two hours of surfing, and can't wait to do it again. Thanks, Matt! read more

You have a guy that learns to play the guitar all on his own... he is great, he decides one day he will take lessons anyway, he becomes amazing. I decided to take some surfing lessons recently. I learned how to surf with my dad a while back but over the past few weeks I've been extremely busy and neglected my board and the waves.. when I finally went back, I realized I was a bit shaky and couldn't get my balance and mind right. I decided to give the U a call and sure enough they had me back on the waves in no time. I loved the methods, the vibe and just how relaxing and fun they made it all. If you don't know how to surf or even if you do, I really recommend this place. Enjoy. read more

I was part of a group lesson on an early Saturday morning (today). I'm not sure if my group was an average size, but there were only 4 of us on a very nice day weather and surf-wise. The class felt like a private lesson. We each received plenty of individual attention. They provide a wetsuit, booties, and most importantly, surf boards. The equipment was in very good condition. They had just purchased new equipment earlier in the week, actually. I wore my own suit, but they had Hotline suits and booties. The suits were 4/3mm and zipperless, which keeps more water out. My instructor's name was Kevin. He was extremely knowledgeable and very approachable. He has been surfing his whole life, and knows Linda Mar Beach intimately having grown up on it. We started with about 20 minutes of safety, how to "read the beach," how to paddle, and how to stand up/balance/steer. We spent most of the time in the water. He will emphasize doing things the right way and falling off, rather than the wrong way and maybe stand up but develop bad habits. That being said, I was able to stand up several times. We spent a lot time in the water. Everyone was tired at the end and we even had to take a break. Since there were only four of us, there were no waits. I would advise doing pushups and crunches if you have time to prepare for the lesson. Surfing is a good workout, so get plenty of rest the night before. There is a Taco Bell at Linda Mar State Beach, which is awesome! read more

U of Surfing instructors (I had Will and Tristan) are super-upbeat and their positive mojo just makes the whole lesson fun - even when you're getting battered in the face by waves, winds and sucking down sea water. I used a Living Social coupon so for $50 for a board, wetsuit and a group lesson, it was a deal. It was a little slow-going signing up, but Matt did eventually get back to me to confirm my lesson. I didn't have any problems finding the place (and I'm GPS-challenged) and our group of 5 were suited up and ready to go on time. I may not be a surfer girl at heart, but I recommend newbies sign up with U of Surfing to start. read more

University of Surfing IS the real deal. The instructors are friendly and had great tips, the surf was awesome, and the beach was beautiful. Laura is a great instructor and even took my friend and I out further to surf with the "Big Boys" after the lessonw as over, it was AWESOME. Matt is super flexible and a great guy. My friends and I had one day to do take this lesson and were having serious issues using Groupon's faulty system. He jumped through SERIOUS hoops to make sure we got out there including bringing in exra instructors with little notice. Matt's the man, and the time was unforgettable. read more