This was our son first time taking a surfing lesson, and as an adult with special needs, he was anxious and nervous going into the session. We weren't sure how it would go, but coach Elliot made all the difference. He was incredibly patient, kind, and understanding of our son's needs. The first couple of attempts were tough- our son was nervous about riding the waves and facing the unknown. But coach Elliot never rushed him and offered steady encouragement the whole time. By the third try, everything changed- we saw a big smile on our son's face, thank you Coach Elliot for creating such a positive and supportive experience! read more

Buyer Beware! Shockingly this company stole $700+ dollars from us. Our two boys were scheduled for a week of surf camp. We received a text message at 7pm on Sunday, the night before camp asking us to change our time (we could not change because we had other plans scheduled), not to mention, you text at 7pm the night before? We asked for a refund, they agreed. Here we are nearly 1 month later and they have not returned the money. It is beyond bizarre. There are many more reputable companies we have had good experience with. See text correspondence with the company below, it is the same # listed on the website. We will be pressing forward with legal action. Im guessing the owner spent the money and just doesnt have the cash to pay me? The owner has commented to this review, and again, I think it lacks honesty, see my photo's for proof. She states she canceled the camp due to rough surf conditions, #1. the surf conditions were very calm, see attached historical weather report. #2. Her text message led with, other kids have unenrolled, WE HAVE LOW NUMBERS and would like to cancel. (they are smart, she may have tried to steal their money too). see Screenshots. This is a masterclass on what not to do, if you own a company and royally mess up. Just own it. Please return our money. read more

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Oliver was great. Awesome instruction and patient. Surfing ain't easy in the Pacific! Good communication. Hassle free.

I could not recommend this company more. The way they communicated and helped my son enjoy his first lesson was amazing. We were disappointed that we couldn't have the surf lesson at the beach that we were at, but when Helina called and explained that the surf was too dangerous and that safety was the first priority, I was more than satisfied to change. The price was better than most of the other companies in the area. Cody, the instructor was very patient and kind. And I will most definitely be using them again. read more

Wavehuggers - Cody and my son getting in the water for the first time. - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Caleb the instructor was calm and patient, really liked his style of teaching, all around great dude.

Cady was great with the kids. I highly recommend! Took lessons in La Jolla. I can t say enough about the great experience. Top notch!

Great experience! Tim Deal was the best! Resonated priced. They provided all the equipment. I feel that I learned a lot and I'm confident that I can improve my skills with practice. Highly recommend read more

I had my first ever surfing lesson and loved it so much! I booked an individual lesson with Max for two hours, and time flew. Max was thoughtful and detailed in showing me foot position, shoulders up, etc, at exactly the moments I needed. He did a lot of work to position and sometimes push me forward so I could focus on one thing before adding the next. I caught my own waves! I didn't even think I would stand up, and I was popping up the entire time. For any beginner worried about cold water or not being a strong swimmer, you get a wet suit and stay pretty shallow. I was honestly afraid to try surfing before this, and because of Max I can't wait to go back. read more

Wavehuggers - Me after my first surf lesson with Max the pro! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Had a blast! Cady was phenomenal with our big family and wide age ranges! Everybody was up on waves and wanting to do more by the time the lesson was done! read more

Wavehuggers - Surf lessons at La Jolla! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Kelsey was good natured and relaxed which helped me feel relaxed. She was very encouraging and helped me regain my confidence to get back into the surf after a nearly 30 year absence. She answered all my questions and coached me on the skills I wanted to focus on. I caught several rides, one really great one that gave me a high for the rest of the day! Thank you Kelsey and Wavehuggers! read more

I purchased a private 2 hours group lesson for my son and his 3 friends at 10:30 today. This was their first time surfing. Their lesson was with River. River was a very thorough instructor who placed safety first. He made sure that my son and his friends were ready before they went into the water. He had them practiced on land for a good 30-40 minutes before allowing them to head into the water. He was with them in the water taking turn to guide them. Thank you, River! Please remember to tip your instructor since they work very hard and I don't know how much they get paid by the owner. He had back to back lessons without any breaks because right after my son's lesson, he immediately had another lesson. My son commented he was still teaching when they left at 4:00pm. I wanted to note that your time begins with trying on the wetsuits and selecting your surfboard. This process of putting on the wetsuits, surfboard selections and traveling down to the beach took about 30 minutes. That's 30 minutes of wasted time, your money. I know of other companies who have you go 15 -20 minutes early to get all that done and the actual lesson would begin at the beach. However, not the case here. So our 120 minutes was actually more like 90 minutes. Hence I took off 1 star. Also, they said you can text them if you have questions. I texted and emailed but did not got a response back. read more

Wavehuggers - Practice on the sand first for safety before entering the water! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

My sons and I had a fantastic experience with Craig. Booked a 2 hr session and he helped us all get up on the board. Even started catching some waves on our own. Craig is an all around great guy and made everyone feel comfortable. He even offered up suggestions on fun things to do while we were in town for the week. read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

My kids loved the surf camp! They have done it twice already and want to be back again. Drew, Ollie and Nate were caring and fun. All kids learned quickly and got to catch some bigger waves. So much of the excitement! We also got a lesson for Dad on Father's Day and he really enjoyed it too. Elliot was super helpful! Great company! read more

Elliot was an amazing instructor! Great time, very friendly. Extremely professional booking service. read more

Cady is the best! I had an amazing time during my first ever surf lesson Will definitely be back next time I'm in La Jolla read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

The good: I booked a 2 hour single day lesson for my older brother as a birthday gift. His instructor was Sabinka. She was great with communicating with us through text and was very responsive and upbeat. My brother enjoyed how she had him do yoga stretches afterward because it's something he never did in other surf lessons he's taken. He said it was very useful to stretch in that way afterward and most instructors neglect that. It was $170 and he had a great time. He said he was out of shape but was still able to get a up on the board a dozen times and had a good workout. He said his ribs hurt afterward from the exercise but wishes he could surf daily as a routine exercise. There was free street parking at the Redondo beach location. Surfboards and wetsuits are included in the surf lesson. There's a public restroom where you can change nearby. The bad: There are lots of stairs from the parking to the beach so be prepared to carry your surfboard! The interesting: We originally booked the Hermosa beach location but our instructor said Redondo had gentler waves. read more

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Amazing experience! I had no surf experience, the instructor was super friendly and helpful. She was on time, was very flexible about my fears, strengths, weaknesses, etc. It was easy to schedule and easy to find where to go. 10/10 read more

We had a 1h1/2 surf lesson with Deborah for my 14 yo nephew from France and myself and it went really great! Deborah explains everything so well, she's incredibly patient, always joyful and super skilled and she very visibly enjoys being in the ocean, swimming and surfing and everything. She made our time in Manhattan Beach with first time visitors unforgettable! Merci Deborah read more

Had a great time. The instructor was fantastic with my 9 year old daughter and she started getting up. She wants to continue doing lessons and get better at surfing. read more

It was my first time ever taking surf lessons! Prior, I've only swam in pools and had very limited experience swimming in open waters. I was very intimidated by the ocean- I still am, but my instructor (Elliot) was so patient, accommodating, encouraging, and kind! I think Elliot is a great representative of how Wavehuggers operate- with care, openness, knowledge, and down-to-earthness. If you are an adult looking to learn to surf, you really are in the right hands with Elliot and Wavehuggers! They make the beginner surf experience a memorable and lovely experience! read more

I recommend Wavehuggers. Jake is a fantastic instructor. He took the time to teach about the basics of surfing etiquette, components of surf board, stretching exercise and the lesson itself. The wetsuit is provided and we had a great time. Highly recommend Jake read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Absolute blast! Cady provided a great surfing lesson. Informative, yet brief so you don't get information overload. We did a brief safety and basic training on the beach and majority of the lesson in water (best way to learn surfing). She helped a lot throughout the lesson. From finding me a right waves to providing constructive feedback after each attempt. Cannot ask for better lesson as a first timer! read more

What a great day out on the ocean with Instructor Logan! I started surfing about four years ago but only get to do it once a year. Logan provided some fantastic feedback and encouragement throughout the two-hour session. I hit several waves and worked through the paddling, standing up, and identifying incoming breaks. It was a fantastic experience to have guidance as I continue to understand the ocean and this unique sport. I strongly encourage anyone seeking to learn how to surf to try WaveHuggers. The cost is minimal compared to being safe on the ocean and your well-being. I am looking forward to my next outing; I am definitely exhausted today after using muscles unique to surfing. Thank you again, Logan! read more

We had such an incredible experience with Wavehuggers! Our group of seven showed up late and they were kind enough to wait for us so we could still enjoy the full lesson. I've had surf lessons before, but this was by far the best experience I've ever had. Both instructors, River and Diego, were truly exceptional. Diego brought such great energy and patience to the group, making sure everyone was comfortable and having fun. River went above and beyond explaining everything in detail, keeping us safe, and helping us really learn how to catch waves the right way. Together they made it an unforgettable day. I highly, highly recommend Wavehuggers--and if you can, definitely ask for River and Diego. You won't regret it read more

great lesson and super communicative! would love to do it again. everyone was so nice!!

Jade was a great instructor for my first time surfing and very knowledgeable about the area. Had a great experience and would definitely book with wavehuggers again! read more

We had the best private surf lesson with Aidan in Carlsbad this week! My boys (8 & 16) were both able to get up a few times even though conditions were tough for new surfers. Aidan was an excellent instructor. He is passionate about surfing and teaching the best technique. We hope we can do another lesson with him the next time we're in San Diego. Great experience for my kids! read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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I was in a bind! My son wanted to surf for his 12th birthday and 2 days before his scheduled lesson with another surf school they cancelled, yikes!! So I called Wavehuggers out of desperation and they totally hooked us up!!! We got our intermediate lesson all set up, super last minute on a sunny Saturday no less. My son's instructor Logan was awesome. He had a fun energy and when my guy got tired, he helped paddle him out so he could catch more waves. My son caught at least 10 green waves that day and had the time of his life. Everything went perfect for his birthday lesson. So incredibly thankful for Wavehuggers helping us out. read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Tim is an incredible instructor and a wonderful person. The whole experience was so fun and incredibly educational. I am now hooked on surfing and forever grateful to Tim! read more

Elliott is incredible! Wonderful lesson! Highly recommend! My daughter (21 years old) was standing up and surfing by end of lesson.

We booked this experience last minute (day before) on a whim, and we couldn't have asked for it to be any better! David was absolutely fantastic and had both our kids (ages 5 and 9) comfortable on a surf board very quickly. They were both able to stand up and surf (not every time, but both at least once!) and just really had a blast trying it out. Communication and scheduling was quick and easy. I would absolutely recommend trying a lesson! read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Cady was THE BEST! She listened to our requests for a diverse group of ages and skill levels, and really made sure we were all comfortable in the water. We all got up and rode many stellar waves thanks to her advice. My three kids ages 10, 13, and 15 are all convinced they want to spend everyday surfing. read more

Wavehuggers - 10 year old surfing with Cady of Wave Huggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Great beginners surf lesson with Elliot. I learnt more than in my first two beginner sessions combined. After this lesson I'm confident to surf independently. read more

Chicanos and all in between, listen up!! My ole lady took the 3 smallest of the tribe of 6 out with a few short hours they sent out a feedme vato out to hook my chongos up! My little hommies were riding waves by the end of the coolest 2 hour class we've ever had our kids take. As a dad , I felt like a million buck after watching there proud faces turned back at me with huge smiles looking for praises. I was impressed that due was totally chill with the chongos and got them rolling.. Elliot rocks and wavehuggers made it all happen with the time it took us to drive from the High Desert to the beach - fedme!! We were hanging 10-bruh lol Seriously, the money was nothing to the experience we're got for a lifetime of something new! Dirt bikes and dunes aren't the only gangsta activity for the chongos - get yours out with wavehuggers and you won't regret it either - hasta migo read more

Wavehuggers - My 14 year old nervous - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Cady was amazing, we had such a blast and she was very easy to understand. She got us in the water and up on the board quickly, and we had so much fun. Highly recommend! read more

Our instructor, Cady, was fabulous! She was thorough and engaging making sure we understood both the mechanics and safety elements of surfing before we got in the water. We had a semi private lesson so my husband and I received Cady's full attention and coaching when we each attempted to surf a wave. Would definitely do this again if we ever get to the La Jolla area again. And yes, I did get up the board! As a first time surfer it was both a surprise and a thrill. Thanks, Cady! read more

Wavehuggers - Cady and I post lesson - a happy surfer! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

This is definitely the best way to learn how to surf for the very first time! Even in making the reservation only a day beforehand over the telephone, Helina was very kind in making sure that there was availability and that booking the surf lesson went smoothly. Helina also explains that there is an email that is sent out that explains what to bring to the surf lesson, and who the surfing instructor is. I recently did a private 1 hour and a half surf lesson with Oliver in Huntington Beach, CA, on Wednesday, July 17th. It was definitely a great time. This was my very first time trying surfing. First off, I recommend parking on the metered parking on PCH (the one that overlooks the beach), and then walking down. Also, the place where you meet your surf instructor is at a storage container close by the metered parking on PCH. The storage container acts as a place where you can put your belongings. You are provided with a wetsuit and a beginner surfboard. Then what happens is the instructor will lay the surfboard on the sand, and the instructor will teach you about the different parts of the surfboard, and about the ideal conditions for a surfer. The instructor will also teach you how to stand up on the surfboard. The next part is actually getting in the water and trying to stand up on the surfboard. This is so incredibly difficult to do, especially with this having been my first time surfing. But, my instructor was so kind and he laid the surfboard out in front of me, I got on the surfboard, and with every wave that was caught, I tried to stand up. Alas, in the end, I couldn't stand up on the surfboard. But, my instructor said that I came inches away from standing up (like only my back leg needed to come up), and that he said I did amazing for my first time surfing. Then, after the time in the water and catching waves is over, you walk back with the instructor to the storage container, you take off the wetsuit, and you gather your belongings. There is also a little water hose nearby where you can rinse off the sand from your sandals. It was definitely an awesome experience! Shout out to my surf instructor Oliver for being so kind and friendly and for helping me catch the waves! I will definitely be booking another lesson in the near future because I very much want to be able to say that I stood up on surfboard (and surfed) this summer! That would be so awesome! Anyways, overall, I definitely recommend this surfing experience to anyone looking for a memorable experience and looking to try something new for the very first time! read more

This was our second time using Wavehuggers on a SoCal vacation and both times have been excellent. Our surf instructor this time was CJ. He was personable, encouraging and efficient. He had our family of four (two parents, two teenage daughters) up and riding waves (or trying to catch them) for the 2 hours of our lesson. He gave us the basics and then was out in the water with us the helping each of, tweaking our form and letting us learn through repetition (the best way to learn). We had a great time!! A must do experience if you want to get quality time in the ocean and work on a new skill. Highly recommend! read more

Sabina was my instructor as we convened at Redondo Beach. I only surfed one other time. She was very patient & observant with my lesson. I highly recommend her! Awesome! read more

Wavehuggers - SABINA WAS PATIENT & AWESOME! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Tim did an amazing job teaching us (family of 4, aged 7 - 45) during our 2 hour lesson. We were complete beginners and he wasted no time in getting us in the water. We all loved it! Tim really looked after us and he worked so hard (physically!) as he was in the water the whole time helping us, guiding us is, keeping us safe. Would 100% recommend! read more