Wavehuggers

4.7 (289 reviews)

Surf Schools

Open • 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

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Wavehuggers - Instructors Helina and Heather take a bachelor party surfing! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Wavehuggers - Instructor Quinn helps these awesome ladies catch their very first waves! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Wavehuggers - These bags are perfect for beach days and shopping! Post a photo of your lesson and tag @wavehuggers to receive yours! - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Wavehuggers - Another happy Wavehuggers' student. - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Cody and my son getting in the water for the first time.

Stephanie N.

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.

Me after my first surf lesson with Max the pro!

Angie L.

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.

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!

Practice on the sand first for safety before entering the water!

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.

Krystal D.

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.

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

Brenda L.

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.

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Kayla H.

3 years ago

I had a great lesson with Dylan- his instruction was clear and gave me a lot of confidence going into the water. The lesson was both informative and entertaining! I appreciated that he coached me step-by-step, then let me go on my own, and gave me great constructive feedback if I didn't make it up, or was off-balance. Booking and communication was easy, and they provided specific arrival instructions, which can be difficult in Santa Monica. I would 100% book a lesson again, and plan to in the future! read more

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Todd S.

3 years ago

Had a great experience with surf lessons from Wavehuggers and we highly recommend them. My partner and I are in our mid 50's and wanted to learn how to surf. We booked a lesson with Wavehuggers and had a great experience from the time we booked the lesson until the time we finished. We quickly and easily booked a lesson over their website. Wavehuggers provided great communication letting us know next steps. Our instructor Logan met us the morning of the lesson at T Street in San Clemente on time with wetsuits and surfboards. He provided a great intro lesson on land before taking us into the water. My partner had never surfed before and she was nervous but Logan did an awesome job making it a fun and safe experience for both of us. We highly recommend Logan as an instructor and Wavehuggers if your looking for surf lessons. read more

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Helina B.

Hey Todd! Thanks so much for your positive review. We're so stoked…

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Ty M.

497

6 years ago

AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Thank you so much Melody, Helina, James, Davis, Kaylee, and all the other instructors!!! This summer we put our two daughters (5 and 7) into the surf camp at 9th and PCH in Huntington Beach for the 12pm-4pm class. They had so much fun the first week that they begged (literally) for a second week, and then a third week... Yes, it is an investment, but in our minds we understood that you cannot put a price on the memories, the experience, and the fact that our girls have now fallen in love with surfing. Thanks to Wavehuggers, I can take my daughters out surfing any time now and they know exactly what to do and they are so comfortable in the water, which is this daddy's dream come true! Instructor James especially went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our daughters were having a blast every day! I also saw him go out of his way to have fun with the other small kids, which is what surfing is all about...having fun and being stoked to be in the water. This was one of our COVID "silver linings" this summer. I highly recommend Wavehuggers and the incredible service they are providing. Keep up the outstanding work everyone!!! Mahalo plenny!!! read more

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Deeana G.

247

3 years ago

I did a 1x1 lesson with Sabina who was awesome! She was thorough on instruction and execution. She walked me through how she assesses waves as they come and provided me guidance every step of the way. I will definitely consider another lesson with her. read more

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Harriet W.

2 years ago

Cady is a great surf instructor! She has been encouraging, informative, and sensitive to the needs of our 9 year old during her lessons. Our daughter loves having Cady as her teacher and Cady does research before each lesson to make sure the lesson is at a good location with ideal waves. Cady excels are building rapport with her students. read more

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Helina B.

Hey Harriet! Thanks so much for the positive review! We’re so stoked…

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Marcia P.

3 years ago

I bought a 3 lesson package because I wanted to learn to surf by laying down good habits, so I took lessons 3 days in a row. Since I have experience as an open water swimmer in lakes, rivers and the oceans, I could concentrate on learning surfing skills. Surfing is HARD! But it is FUN! My instructor was Sabina and her critique of what I was doing was spot on. She was punctual, and spent every minute of my lesson making sure that I got what I paid for. In addition, I was drawn to Wavehuggers because it is a women owned company which I always chose to support. Take lessons from Sabina, you won't regret it! read more

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Helina B.

Thanks so much for this lovely review! We're so stoked you had a…

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Yoshio G.

4 years ago

First of all, amazing customer service! It took me a whole year before I took these lessons! They were patient and responsive! I had three 2-hour lessons over 3 days. Elliot was my teacher and I was able to get on the board the first day! He broke it down so easy that I was able to understand each step with no issue! He is very patient and humble when it comes to coaching! Extremely professional and ensured that I caught many waves! Best coach in OC! I'm now in Hawaii and feel like a pro (I still wipe out lol). Hands down worth the money and best experience ever! read more

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Helina B.

Thanks so much for the kind review! We're so stoked you were able to…

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Tai-son I.

3 years ago

My son's instructor Colin was very knowledgeable and kind. My son immediately requested to have another lesson with Colin! Thank you.

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Helina B.

Thank you so much for the kind review! We're stoked your son had a…

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Tony A.

3 years ago

We had an excellent experience with our instruction Mattie! Our girls had a great session with her. Highly recommend!!!!!

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Brian H.

3 years ago

Took a group surf lesson with friend this past weekend on Tourmaline Beach in San Diego/La Jolla with Cady from Wavehuggers. We had a blast! Cady was super friendly and did a great job of teaching us the basics. We spent a good chuck of time in the water and most of us managed to get on our feet! Surfing is definitely harder than I expected, but getting on your feet and catching a wave is a magical feeling. read more

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Helina B.

This is amazing! So stoked we could share the magic of surfing with…

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Delia D.

3 years ago

My family was in Huntington Beach for 1 day and my kiddo decided he wanted to surf. I booked our reservation the day before and the process was not only easy, the communication from their team was fantastic. He had a 2-hour lesson and had a absolute blast with Jack! Absolutely recommend. read more

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Helina B.

This is amazing! I'm so glad the entire experience was top notch and…

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Elyssa S.

254

8 years ago

Has such a good time surfing with Tor and Spencer in Newport Beach. Wavehuggers helped us pick the spot and time, and we were off with a group of 6. They have good instructor ratios, 1:4 and they pushed us into waves to help us get up. We all got up a bunch of times and felt safe in the water at all times. Everyone I've dealt with at the company has been so nice and cares for the beaches and the ocean and they just want to share that passion with other people. Thanks for a great time!! read more

Wavehuggers - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Helina B.

Thanks so much for your positive review! Tor and Spencer had a great…

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M H.

3 years ago

My 9 year old and I were in the LA area for a quick trip. He loves the ocean & boogie boarding - even in cold PNW coast water, so I knew I wanted him to try a surf lesson during our trip. My son roped me into signing up for a lesson, too. Wavehuggers was able to find a time that would make sense given our schedule & location. Communication from Sabina about where to meet was great. And the actual lesson was fantastic! Sabina is really patient (equally great with me and my son), upbeat & great at explaining & demonstrating what we needed to do & instilling confidence. My son and I both had an amazing time! If we lived in the area I'd sign him up for more lessons or a camp! read more

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Colin M.

4 years ago

I couldn't be happier with the outstanding and memorable experience I had this morning. I've taken a lesson or two before other places over the years, but this is the first time I've gotten real instruction. Jared was able to explain things clearly and he was super attentive to the subtle things in pop-up and positioning and used his knowledge to make little adjustments. I will be recommending them to friends and family when they are in town visiting. I am already clearing my calendar for my next lesson! A++ from me. read more

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Helina B.

Thanks so much! We're so stoked you had a good time surfing with us.…

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Jennifer B.

3 years ago

We had a 2 hour private lesson with Craig in Newport, for my 10 year old son who had never tried surfing before. Craig was so great with him, assessing his abilities, knowing the line between pushing him a little bit to challenge while also making sure he was comfortable and having fun. After 2 hours my son officially has the surf bug, and is comfortable getting up on his own and enjoying the waves. Thank you to Craig and Wavehuggers for an incredible experience for my son, and the beginnings of a life of loving this sport. read more

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Aliza G.

3 years ago

I had a great surf lesson with Karch. Fun instructor who took his time and went at a reasonable pace. Constantly my cheerleader! I recommend Wavehuggers for beginners and even those who may want a refresher if they haven't surfed in awhile. read more

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Sheri M.

5 years ago

We used Wavehuggers this week while on vacation with our 17 year old son. Nick was our instructor and was nice, patient and very encouraging with all 3 of us. I highly recommend that you give them a try! read more

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Joe H.

3 years ago

The whole experience was great. The instructor was really good and patient and made sure we got the most out the experience possible. Would highly recommend Wavehuggers. read more

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Shirley K.

4 years ago

Amazing and nice instructors!! Will definitely coming back next summer Thank you!! Great experience

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Logan H.

3 years ago

Awesome experience. Surfed for my first time ever with Sabina. She watched the forecast and helped me pick a time to get the best experience. She helped me through the basics and had me catching waves on my own by the end of the session. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Helina B.

Thanks Logan! So stoked you had a good time with Sabina and an all…

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Alison B.

139

5 years ago

I am so happy I chose Wavehuggers to learn how to surf!! I had only surfed once over 10 years ago prior to my session, so I was a little nervous going in. My instructor made me feel the perfect blend of independent yet supported in the water. Love that she watched my positioning/stance and taught me helpful tricks to remember where to put my feet, hands and how to lean. While I still have a lot of practice, I learned so much in such a short period of time, and feel more confident in the water all together. The instructors were extremely professional- they were prepared, on time, very patient and fun to be around. I couldn't recommend a better place to learn! I enjoyed the experience so much, I will definitely be booking another session!! Thank you Wavehuggers!! read more

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Peymaneh R.

1107

123

5 years ago

Horrible experience yesterday & unworkable owner! We were requesting the refund of 1 child from yesterday since she didn't even get in the water due to threatening waves, even though my other child only surfed for 45 minutes out of the 2 hour lesson. When you would not accommodate a partial refund for our 2 hour lesson (which the life guard even took the kids out of the water 3 times because of the unsafe wave conditions), we then requested a cancelation for this coming Monday, the 12th and full refund of that 2 hour session (which is 6 days advance notice). The owner refused. It's also false advertising to sell a 2-hour lesson when the instructor brought us back in 15 minutes early (eating into our surf lesson time we paid for from 3pm-5pm) in order to have the wetsuits washed down in time for the next lesson which started at 5pm. Very bad form. The surf instructor even said these were not optimal wave conditions and that it wasn't conducive for beginners! There were no other surfers in the water. We surf with a different private instructor in Hermosa beach quite often so it's not like we don't know what we are doing. I have never dealt with such an unworkable company! Especially during Covid; who refuses cancellations anymore?! read more

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Helina B.

Hi Peymaneh, as mentioned in our phone conversation, we are…

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Bill B.

4 years ago

We are on a road trip and got into Carlsbad around 5:45pm. Kids saw the ocean and wanted to try surfing. Looking at the waves and current figured they needed guidance and we looked around for a place that had lessons. The website for Wavehuggers and the communication Via text made everything so easy!! My kids got lessons from Devin ( 10 out of 10 for meet up and communication!). They got up a few times got great instruction!! read more

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Helina B.

Hey Bill! So stoked we got your kids out surfing with us! Devin had a…

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Rebecca M.

3 years ago

We had a wonderful experience with wave huggers. My kids had a private lesson with Craig and he was very patient and communicative about delays in start time. Waves were not easy the day we went but he helped my son stand up on the board and catch a few waves. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Helina B.

Glad to hear your son had a good time surfing with Craig! Thank you…

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Jennifer M.

3 years ago

My son and I gave surfing a try and loved our surf instructor Elliot. He was patient and friendly and celebrated each minor step. I do recommend the 90 minute lesson if you're in desk shape like me - so you can move the next day. Wavehuggers has multiple beaches, offer times throughout the day and worked hard to get our last minute booking accommodated. We would DEFINITELY do this again and highly recommend them. read more

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Helina B.

Wow, thank you so much for this! I’m so stoked to hear the entire…

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Larry G.

7 years ago

These guys rock. My boys had two hours of great learning and great fun . CADY did a great job adjusting to the Level of both boys abilities. Ordering was super easy with the company. they called me back to make sure I got my confirmation email and were just super super friendly and easy going. Cady was on time we were on time it was just a smooth and enjoyable experience all around. highly recommend WAVEHUGGERS for beginners or anybody who just needs a tuneup read more

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Emily K.

7 years ago

Helina was extremely accommodating to my boyfriend and I when we needed to reschedule our lesson (twice) as we were in the process of moving from Boston to California and our schedules were very unpredictable! We finally got our lesson on the books for memorial day weekend, and were scheduled to meet up with our instructor Harrison just south of Hermosa Beach pier. Unfortunately, Hermosa Fiesta also takes place over MDW and the beaches were expected to be pretty crowded. I reached out to Helina to ask for her opinion and she agreed the lesson should be moved to Redondo. We had specifically scheduled our lesson for Hermosa since we live there and wouldn't have to move our cars since parking would be impossible with the fiesta festival. In an effort to avoid paying for an Uber to Redondo I asked Helina to reschedule (again). At this point she wasn't willing to accommodate another reschedule, which was fair, so we sucked it up and Ubered to Redondo Saturday morning. It was a great call as Helina promised the surf would be better for beginners and she was right! The beach and waves were perfect. Our instructor Harrison (Harry), was awesome. He went over technique with us for a while before we got into the water which was great and made us feel prepared once we were out there. He was also just a really fun and cool guy and made the lesson feel like we were just out with a friend! We did a lesson prior to WaveHuggers with a competitor and definitely preferred our lesson with Harry/WaveHuggers. Would definitely recommend WaveHuggers - Ask for Harry! read more

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Helina B.

So stoked we finally were able to get you guys out there! Harrison…

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Todd A.

3 years ago

Wavehuggers was great! Super easy to make a surf lesson reservation, David was a great instructor and had my 9-year old standing on her second wave. read more

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Helina B.

Hey Todd! Thanks so much for the awesome review and for choosing…

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Beth R.

3 years ago

Quinn was great with the kids, had so much patience and my kids had a wonderful time and have asked when they can do it again next time we are in town. read more

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Helina B.

Thanks for the awesome review! We're stoked your kids had a good time…

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Camila C.

7 years ago

We had a lot of fun learning from Brian!! He was very patient and helped us learn the basic skills. We need a lot of practice but we were able to enjoy the day! read more

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Helina B.

Thanks for the review! We’re stoked to hear you had a blast with…

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Leo G.

9 years ago

Booked a lesson for my birthday, and I absolutely loved it! I don't regret taking this surf lesson one bit! I also was fortunate enough to get Helina as my instructor, not only is she Totally RAD, but she was a great instructor, very fun to be around, and was a pleasure to have met her! Definitely recommend to anyone interested in learning to surf, or get better than they are! read more

Wavehuggers - Loved learning wouldn't have asked for another way to learn! She's great - Surf Schools Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Helina B.

Thanks so much for your super positive review! So stoked to get you…

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Darcy L.

4 years ago

Had a fantastic lesson with Andrew! Thanks so much for an amazing morning in the water. Something I've wanted to try forever, but always a little too nervous. Andrew made me feel like a natural and i had a huge smile the whole time! read more

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oma s.

5 years ago

I highly recommend working with wavehuggers. I have been doing weekly sessions with them and I am very happy with the progress I made so far. The management team has been very professional, responsive and accomediating. They really care to ensure a positive experience, and appropriate water conditions for begginers. Their recommendations for beaches to practice on has been very helpful. Logan is my main instructor. I love his teaching style. He values the skills and knowledge that builds up from repetition and from trial and error. He is patient and his tips are always helpful. I can tell he loves what he does, and likes to make the experience comfortable and fun. I started as a complete begginer to being in open water. Now I have more confidence while negotiating the waves, I gained skills on the board and got much better with surfing on white waves. I always look forward to my sessions, can't wait to see how my skills evolve as we go. read more

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Jessica H.

3 years ago

Had a great time with Aiden. He was super nice and helpful with my friend on her first time surfing! Wavehuggers was professional and really easy to book with. I would highly recommend booking through them for a surf lesson! read more

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Helina B.

Thanks for the positive review! So stoked to hear your whole…

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Kevin N.

3 years ago

Amazing sessions with wavehuggers! I took a few lessons prior to wavehuggers and have never stood up on the board. I took my surf lessons in Torrance with Sabina and thanks to her I can consistently pop up and have a lot of fun. Highly recommend! read more

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Mary S.

3 years ago

My 17 year old daughter who has never surfed before had 2 lessons with Wavehuggers. She had a great time and really learned a lot. She's got the basics down now and is motivated to keep learning. Her instructor Elliot was awesome and very patient with her. He is a great motivator and really helped her get everything down. Highly recommend him for private lessons! read more

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Helina B.

Thanks for having your daughter to surf with us and we’re stoked to…

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Isis M.

4 years ago

The lesson was amazingg!!! The instructor even was incredible! My husband and I had so much fun with him. After my first lesson with another school, I swore I would never try surfing again, but Evan made everything so easy and enjoyable. Hands down to Evan! We will be definitely taking more classes in the upcoming months once the temperatures get a little warmer :) read more

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Helina B.

Thanks for the awesome review! We’re stoked we were able to exceed…

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Rich K.

3 years ago

My kids surf instructor, Caroline did a good job making my kids feel comfortable in the water and on the board. She was very patient and tried really hard to have them have the best experience possible despite less than ideal surf conditions. I would certainly recommend Wavehuggers and Caroline. read more

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Helina B.

We’re stoked your kids had a good time surfing with Caroline! Thanks…

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Shannon M.

3 years ago

My son's surf instructor Quinn was awesome, knowledgeable, and very friendly. My son really enjoyed the time and would love to surf again.

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Helina B.

Thanks so much for the positive note! So stoked your son had a great…

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David H.

5 years ago

After my review was posted, the owner of the shop contacted me concerned about how things went. The owner was sincere, and I appreciate the expressed apology and efforts to make things right. Increased the star rating! read more

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Page 3 of 8

(310) 910-9099
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https://wavehuggers.com

Hours

What time does Wavehuggers open?

Wavehuggers opens at 8:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Wavehuggers close?

Wavehuggers closes at 7:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Other Amenities

Does Wavehuggers have free WiFi?

No, Wavehuggers does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Wavehuggers will give you THE BEST SoCal surfing experience! Each lesson is a 2-hour long adventure, with professional, CPR-certified, surf instructors with wetsuits and surfboards provided. You can expect to learn how to paddle, catch a wave, and stand up during your first lesson! You will also walk away with a general knowledge about the waves, tides, swells, surf etiquette, and also gain a new LOVE and appreciation for surfing! We offer lessons all year round. So come surf with us any day of the year! Here are the different beach locations where we do lessons: Los Angeles beaches: Malibu Santa Monica Venice Beach Manhattan Beach Hermosa Beach Redondo Beach Torrance Beach Orange County beaches: Seal Beach Sunset Beach Huntington Beach Newport Beach Dana Point San Clemente San Diego beaches: Oceanside Carlsbad Encinitas La Jolla Pacific Beach Come surf with us! * Gift Certificates Available! -- We send out handmade beachy gift certificates so you can give the gift of surfing for

History

Established in 2012.

Wavehuggers was formed out of our passion for surfing and the desire to help protect the ocean and the environment. Not only do we assist people in catching waves, but we also want to teach people all of the factors involved in surfing including the swells, tides, wind, and surf etiquette. By teaching people of all ages how to surf, we are sharing the opportunity to fall in love with the ocean, and to be aware of its importance and its critical state. Not only does the Wavehuggers team bring people together to ride waves, but we also join others in cleaning up our beaches and participating in events benefiting our oceans that we love.

Meet the Business Owner: Helina B.

Ever since I was little, I had an obsession for the beach. I would spend hours sun bathing with my toes in the sand, lying in the shallow water while allowing the tide to roll me back and forth, and frolicking in the waves. My oldest sister, Holly Beck, is a professional surfer and introduced me to the sport when I was about 8 years old. After a summer full of long days spent at the beach with Holly sharing her skills and love for the sport, I was hooked. Since then, I have surfed in many exotic places, including Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Hawaii, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and more. I also joined the competitive surf team in high school and in college as well. My growing passion for surfing and the ocean gets me in the water every day, and motivates me to share with others the epic feeling of riding a wave and being one with the ocean, as well as how important it is to preserve the ocean that gifts us with this sport.

Ask the Community - Wavehuggers

Do you have to know how to swim well?

Hey there! While swimming experience is recommended, you don't need to be a super strong swimmer. Our instructors will stay by your side the entire time, and for those that don't swim well, we don't take them out very far into the water past where…

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Review Highlights - Wavehuggers

“After discussing swell and film-ability of different spots, Helina met me at San Onofre for the video session.”

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(313 reviews)

3.3 mi

I was referred to Corky Carroll's by former employee who was working at hotel we were staying at…read morefor Disneyland. I came back to Huntington Beach 2 weeks later with my boys and booked private lessons for all 3 of us per recommedation from the owners. They matched the instructors with each of us very well. Mine was 6'3" and could easily handle holding my board and helping me figure it out. My 10 yr old instructor had him surfing within 45min on day 1. The young lady instructing my 7yr old adjusted board, and had him up and surfing on day 2. At 56, with 3 knee injuries, including a torn meniscus, was able to stand up finally on day 3, 4 times, in some frothy (yet not too big) waves. The beach area is an ideal learning platform as it has no rocks, coral, or other obstructions underwater except lots of hard packed sand. In the end we had a special father & sons memory of learning to surf together. We were all successful. We had an amazing time, and the staff could not have been more helpful, encouraging, and supportive. I highly recommend private lessons, because I feel like the ROI is 90+% with private lessons, and about 45-55% with group lessons. IMO group lessons can be good later on as refresher.

My seven year old daughter joined Corky Carroll's Surf School summer camp for a week in Huntington…read moreBeach this year with her cousin who lives here. We are from WA state so we don't have anything like this near us. I wasn't sure what to expect but by day 2 she was surfing all the way to the shore! Her and her cousin even got to surf doubles which they loved. It was such a fun California experience. The counselors are pros and we felt like they kept her very safe. She loved the camp and wants to return next year.

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Coach Dustin and 3 sons after all of them succeeded in catching some waves

Corky Carroll's Surf Camp

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Learn2Rip Surfing Lesson and Ocean Academy

4.9

(376 reviews)

6.0 mi

We are complete beginners in our 50s and this was our very first time learning how to surf. Cat and…read moreDom are really good and caring instructors who prepared us with solid basic dry land instructions and made sure we are comfortable getting in the water. FYI, we haven't even been at the beach since covid. So, yeah... first time in the water in a while and learning how to surf. With great instructors anything is possible and it is never too late to learn something new. In the water they made sure we were safe and guided us thoroughly. My wife was able to stand on the board on her first wave. It was really fun. I needed more help and they were always there to coach us right along. We are definitely coming back for more surf lessons. If you want to learn give them a call.

I wish I could give 10 stars! From start to finish, this was…read morean outstanding service experience. The communication was excellent, responses were prompt, and the team genuinely cared about helping my niece achieve her goal--standing up on a surfboard (just like she dreamed!). They didn't just focus on the end result--they spent over two hours patiently working with her, correcting her form, and building her confidence every step of the way. Cat is amazing, Bjorn was incredibly patient and encouraging, and Rosa was so sweet! We couldn't have asked for a better team. Highly, highly recommend!

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South of Huntington Beach

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Clint Carroll Surf School

4.6

(183 reviews)

1.4 mi

Fantastic Surf School! They got my son and his friend in for a last minute surf lesson today which…read moremade our beach day so fun and special...James was our instructor and he is so kind and amazing! Both the boys learned so much during their lesson and were already catching some waves....thank you so much!! :D

I got a lesson for my son. Clint was very responsive in getting the session set up. Start to…read morefinish was easy and well coordinated. The price was very reasonable for a two hour private session. My son had a great time. Hayden was his instructor. He was a great guy. Very patient and encouraging. I would highly recommend Hayden and this surf school if you are looking for lessons.

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That's my boy for the first time

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2instructors and my boys--

Banzai Surf School

4.9

(90 reviews)

3.3 mi

What a great experience! I booked a January class expecting the cold and wind yet Justin made it…read moresuch a fun time. He was so knowledgeable while also being upbeat and our time flew by. So worth the money and Banzai has everything you need... just bring a towel !

Went twice with each of my children. Justin Brown was great, we learned a ton, and he took good…read morecare of us as we tired out. Thanks!

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Surfriders Academy Surf School

4.9

(73 reviews)

0.3 mi

Dallas was my son's instructor. Lahaina native…read more My son had a lot of fun and most importantly, he was safe. He was all smiles after his lesson. Thank you Marcus and Surfriders Academy!

My friend and I had a lesson with Hunter. It was a blast. This was our first ever surfing…read moreexperience. We were 100% happy about the class. Surfing was challenging but fun. Hunter was extremely patient, encouraging and professional. It was convenient that they provided all the equipments. The communication on booking details were excellent! I want to bring my other friends for more surfing lessons.

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Koa surfing on a boogie board!!!

Student first time surfing in Huntington Beach.

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First time on a surfboard! this young student had that day surfing!

HB Surf School

4.2

(11 reviews)

0.6 mi

first off we never got to go we had a gift certificate and they said it expired. but legally in…read moreCalifornia that's not allowed! secondly we booked a lesson and they cancelled on us and when I tried to call back a few times and left messages he never returned my call and now he won't honor his gift certificate that was paid for??? I will never book this place!

Bill and his team do an amazing job this was my first surf lesson and I truly enjoyed it. Perfect…read morewater great break and Bill is a world-class instructor highly recommend

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Good times were had by all

Learn To Surf

4.9

(64 reviews)

1.6 mi

I was just a girl looking for something fun to do at the beach other than perfecting my tan...Then…read moreit hit me...I'll learn to surf!!! When I told my friends of my new project, they suspected that I might have been suffering from Heat Stroke... ..."you are not a strong swimmer"... ..."you're afraid of the water"... ..."I know you're stupid; but this is crazy!"... Undeterred by the critics, I pressed forward. A google search for surf instructors delivered the names of Dan, Jason, and Graham. I decided to take the plunge and take up surfing under the tutelage of Dan, Jason, and Graham soon to be known to me collectively as the "Surf Studs"... Now my friends were right about a few things, I am not a strong swimmer and I was a little afraid...The "Studs" quickly picked up on my trepidation and showed great patience, understanding, and compassion, Dan is even a trained lifeguard! My fears of death by surfing sank to the ocean floor LOL Eventually, due to the skill and care of the "studs" I was able to stand up on my board...Catch a wave...and bring it to the shore... So if you're like me, looking for something to heighten your beach experience, consider surfing, and consider Dan, Jason, and Graham, "The Surf Studs"! They will treat you right and teach you right! If you want proof about the "Studs", go to the beach and look for the girl with the perfect tan riding the waves...and I'll tell you more.

Best experience for a first-time surfer! They really know what they are doing! Nikko is an amazing…read moreteacher! Had such a fun time with my younger niece! It's worth every penny! 10/10 would do it again!

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Learn To Surf

4.6

(73 reviews)

3.8 mi

I booked surf lessons and clearly communicated three times that I am an intermediate surfer, which…read moremeans the instructor needed to bring an appropriate surfboard. Instead, he arrived with one that had a broken leash and spent 90% of the time going back to shore, leaving me without instruction. This was beyond frustrating and completely unprofessional. To make matters worse, the merchant promised to take pictures during the session for two hours. She showed up late, despite the sky being clear and bright 30 minutes before the lesson was set to start. In the end, she only took photos for half an hour and never sent them to me despite my constant reminders. This experience was a total disappointment and an absolute waste of time and money. I would never recommend this service to anyone. The merchant was also being racist, and accusatory. I have the recording if anyone is interested. Overall, just stay away to keep your insanity. Many other surf schools in Huntington and I trust there are many other non racist people.

I originally left a good review for your business on Google because my experience was nice. While…read morein the water I heard an instructor call my friend a BBW and I was a bit confused by the exchange. After talking to my friend and reading the response left by the business owner I am voicing that I DID hear Dave call her that. He yelled it twice to her. Jay - you were not there there how can you vouch for Dave? It's pretty low of you to try and clap back at someone who left an honest review. Take a step back and reevaluate how you want to go about this. Constructive criticism can help your business grow.

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Dave always did great job

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Positive reinforcement produces competent surfers.

YouGoSurf

I rented a board from these guys for 2 hours and couldn't have asked for a better experience. They…read moredropped it off where I parked, and were even there early (8:50 on a Sunday morning when they were supposed to be there at 9). They even arrived early to pick it up! Everyone I talked to was extremely nice. This dropoff/pickup is so much easier than trying to rent, pack it up, bring it out, pack it back up, and bring it back (especially when you're coming from an hour away!). I'll definitely be using this service again!

I was so impressed with the whole process; easy online reservation, pricing, location, parking,…read moredirections and the lesson was such a great experience for my son. I was nervous about finding the instructor on the beach but the directions given to me were so clear that I was able to locate them with no problem! The instructor was so kind and patient to answer all of my questions (even ones regarding sharks). The lesson included instructions about the ocean, surf safety, and surf etiquette. I really appreciate the fact that the instructor would stay in the water helping my son and others as they tried to catch waves. My son was so thrilled about the entire experience; he was smiling from ear-to-ear. The most exciting part was being able to get several pictures of him surfing. I highly recommend yougosurf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Surfing lesson newport beach. yougosurf.com

Surfboards near me

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Daughters surfing lesson newport beach

Huntington Beach Adult School

4.5

(70 reviews)

3.5 mi

Thank u Maria u are very kind Amazing staff and very…read morehelpful I'm very glad to be at this campus five stars

I just recently finished the Medical Billing and Coding program here and I can really vouch for…read morethis school. Teachers and staff are very kind and helpful. They truly want you to succeed. I was able to find a job a week after finishing with Arlene's help.

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The Learning Experience - Huntington Beach

4.8

(90 reviews)

3.7 mi

After being a stay-at-home mom for 2.5 years, I was ready to go back to work and send my little one…read moreto school for the first time. My husband and I toured several places and nothing felt right (I even left one of the places crying!), but when I walked into TLE I immediately felt like that was the right place for my son to be. The staff was welcoming and my son even got to participate in recess with the other kids during our tour. I noticed all of the students seemed genuinely happy, and the staff knew all the kids' names (not just their own students). The facility itself is also extremely clean and well-maintained and has fantastic security measures in place. There are several locked doors and student checks in place to facilitate safe transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as drop-off and pick-up, which was a huge relief for me as well. While I was planning on easing my son (and myself!) into school/work over the course of 2 weeks, the place that I got hired at wanted me to start just 2 days after my interview. The first day drop-off went fairly well, I definitely cried more than my little one, and by the time I made it to my office just 5 minutes down the street from the school, my son's teachers had already sent me updates in the school's app that made me feel instantly better. The app allows us parents to know our kids' daily activities, diaper changes/potty breaks, meals (did I mention those are provided by the school? Complete game-changer for our busy mornings!!), naps, etc. and also allows us to see pictures of our children throughout the day. This has definitely made going back to work soooo much easier for me, and I couldn't be more thankful for technology like this! My son has been in 3 classrooms now as he has gotten older and more advanced, and the teachers he's had along the way (Ms. Yune, Ms. Gissele, Ms. Mayra, Ms. Johan, and Ms. Angie) have all been absolutely fantastic. Not only is he learning new things every single day, but the school also implements super cool activities throughout the year along with dress-up days every Friday. Most days my son doesn't even want to leave school and I have to force him to go home! You know you've hit the jackpot with a great facility when your little one can't wait to go back every day. I couldn't ask for a better place for my son to be at, and my husband and I can't wait to send our future kiddos here as well! Thank you for all you do for our family and our little one, TLE is truly the best!!

After leaving LePort Montessori, we were a little hesitant about enrolling our daughters (ages 2.5…read moreand 4.5) in a new school. Transitions can be tough for little ones, but since starting here in January, the experience has been absolutely amazing. Our girls had such an easy and positive transition, and a huge part of that is because of the incredible staff. From the teachers to the front desk and administration, everyone is so warm, welcoming, and genuinely invested in the kids. The entire team creates an environment that feels like family. A special shoutout goes to Ms. Martha, the director -- she is truly wonderful and sets such a positive tone for the whole school. You can tell everyone loves being there, and that energy carries through to the children. My daughters' teachers are amazing and definitely help meet wherever my daughters are at. My oldest is a bit on the shy side and Ms Rocio has been so great in helping support and give her confidence and she's had tremendous progress in such a short time with her writing, letters/sounds and drawing! my youngest daughter is also thriving and loving her teachers Ms Giselle and Ms Mayra. We def feel so grateful and lucky to have amazing teachers! Two of the biggest perks for our family are that all food is provided (which makes mornings so much easier!) and the app that keeps parents connected throughout the day. I receive at least two photos daily of my daughters, which I absolutely love because I get to see what they're learning and experiencing. It gives me such peace of mind. The school also has cameras in every classroom and a very secure setup with double-entry key fob access, which adds an extra layer of safety and reassurance. We truly wish we had found this school sooner, but we're so grateful to be part of this community now. Most importantly, our daughters love going to school every day -- and as a parent, that says everything. We couldn't be happier with our experience here!

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Grace Preschool & Child Care

5.0

(8 reviews)

4.7 mi

Recently took a tour here with my wife and had a wonderful experience with Tina. They have separate…read morerooms and play areas for infants and children ages 2 - 6 years old. The home is very clean and spacious with tons of natural lighting. Their pricing is extremely reasonable and they are super transparent on their procedures and everything else they have to offer kids. We are hoping that our daughter can join Grace Preschool beginning of next year. This seemed like a really loving and warm place for her future daycare.

We've been going here for several months now and our almost 2 yr olds been enjoying it. He…read moreespecially likes playing outside, the art projects and the other kids. We'd recommend Miss Nancy and her team for anyone looking for childcare.

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Christmas sweater day

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Waterworks Aquatics Huntington Beach

4.4

(225 reviews)

6.3 mi

I almost don't want to write this review, because I want to keep the gem of an instructor, Isabella…read moreK., at this location a secret. Six months seems like a good time to really attest to the quality of swim lessons my sister has with Isabella, her swim instructor. We went in hoping with all our might that my sister would be paired with a good instructor who has experience with individuals with special needs. At the beginning, I tried to find reviews on specific instructors and times that worked best, and ultimately, with sheer dumb luck, we chose Isabella. That decision has been a very fortunate luck of the draw for my sister to have Isabella for her instructor. We had very low expectations for my sister's goal in learning to swim. However, with Isabella's guidance, care, compassion, and immense patience, my sister's progress has exceeded our expectations. Isabella is a wonderful instructor who embodies warmth, positivity, and is firm even when she brings on new challenges for growth, which is perfect for my sister. With her compassion and kindness, Isabella has managed to make major progress with my sister to allow swimming goggles to be placed over her eyes. For nearly all her life, my sister has hated being submerged under water, goggles over her eyes, or anything over her face, but Isabella has been able to change that and help my sister grow in less than a year. Isabella is efficient and effective as a swim instructor. Isabella offers a safe and welcoming space for her students, including and especially those with special needs. Waterworks Aquatics is lucky to have such a great instructor as Isabella K., whose technical skills are just as wonderful as her care and empathetic nature to her students and the family she works with. She deserves to be recognized for her work, kindness, and patience. I do want to mention, this location is a heated pool facility, with a separate play look, is kept clean overall, and the bathrooms are decent in cleanliness. Parking also usually isn't an issue. My only complaint, and this is regarding the application/portal, is that often from my use, it has glitched where I can't always find the specific instructor. I've had to screen cap and send this over so the company can work with IT but it has happened a few times now. This is more of a technical critique and not related at all to the instructor nor facility.

It was just a waste of time just to ask for a tour and more information about a swimming class at…read morethis location. The first day I called in as I was in front of the gate just to see if there was any possibility that we can talk with any staff here for a swimming class. The representative on the phone said there was no one work at that time, so I requested a tour at noon the next day. She confirmed that there will have a front desk staff working at that time and she will let the staff know. She did not ask for my name. The next day, before we came, i called again just to make sure there was somebody that can walk us around, the rep on the phone said just go there and the front desk staff will take you for a tour. We came, called again, the staff at this location said she could not take us for a tour as she will need to go for lunch at 12:00 by law. We said that we will come back at 2pm and she was ok that she will help us at that time. We came at 2pm, called back and the response is she cannot take me for a tour if it is no schedule. So we know that we should never come back here again

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BrightStar Learning Centers

4.7

(26 reviews)

5.0 mi

If I could give them a 100/10 I would. The care givers here are so kind and loving and are very…read moreunderstanding with new parents. Our son has been going here since he was 5 months old and he loves it. The pricing is also very reasonable especially considering the attention and care they give the students. I hope the Bright Star Learning Center and continue to operate in the city of Huntington Beach to support future children.

Where do I begin. This is hands down the best daycare I could've sent my son to. We unfortunately…read morehad to move due to the military but he was enrolled from 4 months old to 18 months and we couldn't have asked for better teachers or environment. Everyone is so kind and helpful. My son learned so much while being in the infant and toddler room, and he made so many friends. Forever grateful for the amazing staff for keeping our little one safe and giving us tips along the way as we are new parents.

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Yellow Suns Housekeeping

Playhouses on the pre-school playground.

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Welcome to the Infant room!

Fountain Valley Montessori

4.4

(39 reviews)

3.9 mi

Locally owned & operated

Certified professionals

A year ago, I had to withdraw my daughter from her preschool midway through the school year because…read morethe program wasn't challenging enough for her. Finding a new school at that time wasn't easy. When I first visited FVM, there were no spots available, but I was impressed by how well-organized everything was--from the classrooms to the curriculum. I even asked Ms. Sneha, the school director, if I could pay a higher tuition just to secure a place for my daughter because I wanted her to attend so badly. Fortunately, a family was about to leave, and we were able to enroll her. That turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Since then, my daughter has thrived with teaching tailored to her abilities rather than her age (she has a late birthday, so in the public school system she would still be at the preschool level). Thanks to the support of her teachers, she has excelled academically. After a year at FVM, she took the GATE exam through the school district. Not only was she able to skip a grade, and she was also accepted into the GATE program. I truly believe this wouldn't have happened if she hadn't attended FVM. I'm incredibly grateful to FVM and all the staff. Ms. Sneha is such a kind and caring person. Without her, my daughter wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn here. Ms. Neranja, one of my daughter's primary teachers, holds strong teaching principles, and whenever I speak with her, I feel confident that my daughter is in good hands. My daughter often talks about her teachers at home, especially Ms. Neranja and Ms. Erika. Although my daughter has only been at FVM for a short time, the experience has had a profoundly positive impact and laid a strong foundation for her future educational goals. I cannot thank everyone enough--I am truly grateful.

We recently wrapped up our time at Fountain Valley Montessori and our family could not be more…read moregrateful. We decided to keep our child here for an additional year instead of moving on to TK. While TK would have been a great transition, this extra year allowed our child to truly come out of their shell. There are some things worth investing in, and while I am a big supporter of public schools, FV Montessori gave my children a foundation that is absolutely priceless. Ms. Gloria is simply the best. She created a nurturing, safe environment for our child to grow, while also providing the structure and rules that are so important. This chapter has officially closed for us, but we will always be thankful to Ms. Gloria, Ms. Gurpreet, Ms. Vivian, Ms. Lindsay, Ms. Sneha, Ms. Jahaira, Ms. Remington, Ms. Madelyn, Ms. Bea, Ms. Alicia, Ms. Paula, Ms. Ana, Ms. Neranja, Ms. Enoka, and all the other incredible teachers and staff who make this school such a gem. Daycare, childcare, preschool--picking the right one can be daunting, but I highly recommend checking out Fountain Valley Montessori. You will not be disappointed.

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O.C. Riptide Aquatics Club

5.0

(3 reviews)

3.6 mi

My kids have been in Splashball (beginner water polo) for a few seasons and it has been an…read moreincredible experience for our family. As long as your child can swim independently and are familiar with a few different swim strokes, they are allowed to join. I have found these classes to be a great way to strengthen their swimming skills and getting them used to drills in the water. Beginner classes are 1 hour long on T/Th from 5-6pm and your kid will get a great workout! They also learn how to move their legs to swim in place, how to swim holding the ball, pass the ball, score and block. When they have enough skill they can move on to the next level, which is M/T/Th from 5-6:30pm. My son has loved this year-round team; even in the winter he is excited to show up. From my observations, these swim sports help children develop some serious grit; rain or shine, they go in the water ready to practice. The coaches have been great too (shout out to coach Jake! And the others too, I just haven't learned their names). They RARELY cancel practice, unless there are thunderstorms. And the absolute best part of this club: canceling/starting a subscription is SUPER easy. As long as you give them notice in a timely manner, they just pause/restart your subscription without penalties or tricks like a lot of other places do. I highly recommend!

Our granddaughter, 10yrs. old, has attended O. C. Riptide Aquatic's, located at Oceanview High…read moreSchool in Huntington Beach, speciality swim programs for the past 2 years. This years coach, Mark Johnson, coached the Junior Life Guard Preparation (our granddaughter attended 3 months, and successfully glided through Huntington Beach State Junior Guard assessment testing) and Summer Swim Team Introduction program. Both programs were coached exceptionally by Coach Mark! Coach Mark is an outstanding swim instructor with a longstanding, exceptional background in instructional aquatics, both in the pool and the ocean. His interpersonal skills and teaching methodology with kids was outstanding. Our family highly recommends O.C. Riptide Aquatics and Coach Mark Johnson.

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Practicing with the net

Big Blue Swim School

4.3

(91 reviews)

2.3 mi

Highly recommend Big Blue swim school! The swim school is professional from the office to the…read moreinstructors. We were looking to build on swimming skills for our 10-year-old son and we couldn't be any happier with the results. Instructors, Derek and Michelle are fantastic. They knew how to work with our son to teach him proper form, swim speed and confidence in the pool. Thank you, Big Blue Swim School!

Update: After…read moreposting this review, we did finally receive a voicemail from management apologizing for the experience and acknowledging the communication breakdown. While I appreciate the outreach, it came after more than five weeks of repeated requests made both in person and by phone. During that time, we were consistently told that someone would contact us, yet no one ever did. Unfortunately, by the time management reached out, we had already made the decision to cancel our membership and move on. We have since found a private certified swim instructor who is able to provide one-on-one instruction at half the cost of what we were planning on paying with Big Blue . More importantly, the communication was immediate, straightforward, and responsive. This review was never about whether private lessons were available. It was about customer service, follow-through, and communication. Had someone simply returned one of our many requests with an honest update, we likely would have remained customers. I genuinely appreciate the instructors who worked with our son over the past two+ years and wish them the best. However, the lack of responsiveness from management ultimately led us to take our business elsewhere.

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Involve parents and caregivers at every step of their kids swimming lessons journey

Manage schedules and track progress within the Big Blue App

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Build kids' confidence through weekly swimming lessons

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V H.

12 years ago

I used Wave Huggers for my second surf lesson this summer. What I liked about them is that I was able to book a lesson within 24 hours and at one of the locations I requested. (At peak surfing season, too.) Wave Huggers offers surf lessons up and down the coast of SoCal. I called and requested a lesson for my daughter and me at either El Porto or at Zuma Beach. Helina called back and said she could book us for Zuma at 9am. After, I booked it online, she promptly emailed me back with a confirmation of the exact location, lifeguard station number, instructions of what to bring, and the name and phone number of our instructor. I was a little late arriving, but I was able to call our instructor, Quinn, and let him know. Quinn was super nice and a seasoned surfer. After our lesson on the beach we got in the water. The waves were slightly bigger than what I had hoped for, as this was my daughters first surf lesson. I asked Quinn to take my daughter out and stay with her. He was very good with her even though she got a little scared and finished early. I went back out and Quinn helped me catch a few waves. I mostly fell off the board, but I was laughing and smiling the whole time. I will definitely use Wave Huggers again. read more

Beau B.

9 years ago

All. About. It. Called about 2-3 surf schools before Wavehuggers and they were the only ones that actually answered the phone, glad they did. They hooked me up with this good looking surfer dude, Dale, who was not only cool as s**t he started the lesson with knowledge about the ocean. How the swells come into Hermosa (where I took my lessons) in the summer vs the winter, how to scope out the waves, who has priority on the wave based on the break...all this before we even talked about being on the board. I found that pretty cool...made me start feeling like a surfer. Through Dale's guidance, actually caught a wave on my first time out!!! He was just as excited as I was, yelling and shaking his fist as I rode it in. Since then, I've started taking clients out (I'm in sales) and it's been great. My female clients love Dale even if they don't catch a wave. I've never had any problems with communication with the school. Dale actually gave me his number and occasionally I'll hit him up after being out and try to figure out what I was doing wrong. Overall, it's been a great experience. Would highly recommend this school if you're looking to catch your first wave. read more

Megan P.

9 years ago

I'm from Minnesota and was in El Segundo for 8 weeks for work, so decided I couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn how to surf while I was out there. I called with hopes of booking a lesson that same day, but unfortunately reached their voicemail saying they were out on the water. I was a bit disheartened, thinking it was too short notice, so I didn't leave a message. Within 10 minutes I received a call back saying they saw they missed my call and that fast she was on the phone with an instructor and got me booked for a lesson that afternoon! Instructor Jake was very patient, supportive, and kept high energy when I missed the wave or was unable to stand up. He was so excited for me when I finally got up and continued to cheer me on for the rest of the lesson. I can see why he's an instructor; he truly loves what he does! In addition, he was a few minutes late due to traffic from a surf competition on the same beach, so he extended the lesson without hesitation to compensate, which was unexpected and very much appreciated. I can only imagine the other instructors are just as awesome, and I would choose Wavehuggers again in a heartbeat, no doubt about it! read more

Chris S.

13 years ago

Wavehuggers is a professional company that truly cares about people wanting to learn how to surf and gain an appreciation for the ocean. I took my first lesson with Helina and she was a phenomenal instructor. She demonstrated on the beach the "pop up" and then critiqued me on mine before we headed out in the water. She continued to make me feel comfortable and constantly gave me feedback on my surfing. Her positive energy and encouragement got me up and riding my first wave all the way to the beach. She was super cute too! ;) I took my second lesson with Quinn. He was an awesome instructor as well! Since I had already learned the basics with Helina, Quinn really pushed me to improve and to gain the ability to surf on my own. He helped me perfect my paddling technique so that I could paddle into waves on my own. By the end of the lesson, I was even starting to turn the board! Quinn is clearly full of surf knowledge and is enthusiastic about sharing it with others. I would recommend WaveHuggers to anyone and everyone who wants to learn how to surf and is also looking for a great experience in the ocean! You'll be "stoked" on these surf lessons! read more

MJ W.

2 years ago

What an experience! My husband and 3 kids did the 6 lesson package on our road trip through Southern California. We took our surf lessons in Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, Encinitas, and La Jolla. We had 3 different surf instructors, Sabina, Craig, and Cady were all fantastic! It was such a unique experience getting to learn to surf and letting the waves guide us down the coast through Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. The wetsuits and surfboards were in great shape, but scheduling was easy and the customer service team seemed to genuinely care about making sure we were picking time slots and beaches with good surf conditions based on the tides. My one and only complaint is that after the lesson is over, you have to give the surfboards and wetsuits back with no option to rent for another a couple more hours to keep surfing on your own. Not a big deal, a couple of us were pretty satisfied after each lesson and there are surf shops in the different beach towns that rented gear to us a couple of the days after our lessons with Wavehuggers. We will definitely be back!! read more

Melody M.

13 years ago

A Total Bucket List Experience I took my 6 and 8 year old granddaughters to Surf at Huntington Beach and Disneyland for Fall Break. I booked with Wave Huggers two months prior to our departure. I spoke with Helina who arranged for the lesson. She was most efficient, pleasant and helpful to make sure our first experience at surfing would be a good one! IT WAS FANTASTIC! Our surf instructor, Quinn, was AWESOME! I never dreamed both of my granddaughters would be able to learn beginner techniques so quickly. My youngest granddaughter got up the first time and rode three waves in. The oldest granddaughter got to her knees and rode the wave in. Then they did it again and again. Quinn was so patient and kind. He made all of us feel at ease. He was so positive and was able to build my granddaughters confidents that they would be able to surf. Actually, by the end of the lesson my granddaughters were so excited and happy with their accomplishments and I am sure Quinn was completely worn out. Kudos to QUINN and WAVEHUGGERS for providing us with an incredible first lifetime surf experience. M read more

Paul S.

10 years ago

My brother and I are from the Midwest and have never been on a surfboard before. We traveled to LA and had reached out to Helina for lessons. This company was very organized and accommodated our schedule as we only had a specific time that we could include this into our plans. They provided everything we would need and made it very easy to meet them for the lesson. Connor was our instructor and did a good job of helping us understand what to do. Connor and Helina were both their and made the whole experience very fun. We both got up on the board several times throughout the session which is the memories we'll have for a long time. I don't think any out of state person could expect more great service then we received. It was easy to sign up and coordinate the lessons, they accommodated our schedule, it was easy to meet them on the beach, they had all the supplies we would need to surf, they gave great instruction, they made the overall experience a lot of fun with their encouragement, and we were even successful to get up on the boards. Thanks for the great time! read more

Jamie W.

167

11 years ago

What a ride! From the very start, Helina was wonderful. She got in contact with me right away about how the surf conditions were not the best for the day we picked and worked with us to find a better time for surfing while we were in Cali. Thanks for that-- my boyfriend and I saw the waves on the day we had originally picked and they were giant and terrifying, I am very grateful that she took the time to look out for our safety! I love that Helina also took the time to sit on the beach and talk with us-- like really talk to us, we got to know each other a little and then we were given the run down. Everything from how to walk into the ocean to how to properly fall of the board and exit the ocean. She was a magnificent instructor- She was even kind enough to show us a little of her own skill! I could go on and on about all of the wonderful things that happened during our 2 hour lesson- but sign up, go out there and experience it for yourself. My boyfriend and I will be doing a lesson every time we visit California. Thanks for a wonderful adventure Wavehuggers! read more

Robert C.

12 years ago

I was just visiting So Cal with my daughter and we purchased a lesson from WaveHuggers. The lesson was a private two hour lesson at Manhattan beach. First I should point out that their web site was very informative and accurate. When I called someone answered right away. The lesson was easy to schedule and pay for. Confirmation was emailed promptly. Nothing else is required. Wet suit and surf board are provided. Very, Very easy. The instructor was very professional and knowledgeable. She put me at ease right away and I had full confidence that my 12 year old daughter was in excellent hands. For parents with kids, do not pass this up! The only other point I would like to make is that we should have made arrangements to rent a surf board so that my daughter could follow up with the lesson. The rentals are cheap. By the way in the scope of things to do in the L.A. area with your kids, the lesson is cheap, by comparison I spent $350.00 at the Dodger game the night before. Good Luck and peace. read more

Ron B.

7 years ago

I was visiting Hermosa Beach from Victoria, BC, Canada on a short vacation and wanted to try surfing for the first time in my life. I signed up for a 2 hour lesson. My instructor turned out to be the very lovely Cady. From the start Cady was positive, supportive, professional and immediately instilled confidence in me. After getting into our wetsuits, Cady explained the basics to me, primarily focussing on the surfboard itself and then position on the surfboard all initially done on the beach. After making sure I was comfortable on land, we moved into the water to try some small waves. Unfortunately, the weather conditions were not great for a beginner such as myself, but that didn't prevent us from having a great time. Cady remained completely positive and supportive throughout my lesson and I credit her with making my first experience a genuinely amazing one. I would highly recommend booking a lesson with Wavehuggers if you have the opportunity. Ron read more

Lauren W.

11 years ago

Our Wavehuggers surf lesson with Helina was great. There were three unexperienced fourty-somethings in our group and Helina was professional and patient with us all. Booking was easy and Helina met us at a convenient location with everything we needed to surf. Because we were beginners she began the lesson on the sand and demonstrated everything we would be doing in the water. She was very knowledgable about safety and actual surfing techniques. Then she has us practice on land first, providing feedback to each of us. I particularly appreciated that Helina demonstrated multiple techniques to stand up on the board and allowed us to figure out what would work best. Once we were in the water Helina helped us position ourselves for the best chances of success. We all had a blast and I would definitely recommend Helina and Wavehuggers for beginners and more advanced surfers alike! read more

Tara W.

12 years ago

I got in touch with Helina to obtain a private surf lesson for my boyfriends 37th bday. He can now mark it off of his bucket list of things he wanted to accomplish in his life!! His instructor was Tamer. Incredibly nice, respectful, knowledgeable (on EVERY aspect of surfing as well as the personality of the ocean on everyday of training), Tamer was not at all a know it all and certainly did not act like he was the "bomb" at surfing either. Although...The guy can surf!! I couldn't have asked for a better instructor for my boyfriend. We were both super impressed and I will refer Wavehuggers AND Tamer, specifically, to everyone!!! Thank you to Helina and MOST DEFINITELY Tamer!!!! He really is incredible and my boyfriend enjoyed learning from him. The price was amazing too!! read more

Hector C.

8 years ago

SAN DIEGO, CA. - La Jolla Easy to set up appointment. Received an email confirming my appointment and the name of the instructor (Briar) and his cell number to call him as soon as I was near the site in La Jolla. Briar was the absolute best. His attitude, his upbeat personality was very contagious. My 3 boys were excited to learn from him. I wondered how he would handle my 3 boys each one with a different personality and attention span. He did AMAZING. My 20 yr old was on his feet catching waves within the first 30 minutes. My 11 yr old was also on his feet catching waves very fast. My 7 year old was able to stand once, and had a blast. I heavily recommend Briar, you will have an enjoyable experience. read more

Rhamy M.

12 years ago

Wavehuggers is awesome! I scheduled a lesson for me, my wife and two of our kids while we were visiting family in the South Bay. First of all, whoever helped me over the phone was super helpful. She asked questions to assess our abilities, our location, etc., and she even suggested the best time of day for our lesson. Our instructor was Quinn and he totally made our day. He made the whole experience fun and laid back, which can be challenging with 10 and 8-year old boys who tend to get frustrated when something isn't immediately easy. We all had smiles on our faces all day long, and the 8-year-old went home talking about how he wants to surf every time we visit L.A. Thanks, Wavehuggers!!! read more

Anthony A.

4 years ago

I have done surfing lessons before and was usually impressed by the instructor's ability to get me going, ride a couple of waves, and get my surfing fix. The time and lesson spent with Jake was way different and on another level. He was by far the most courteous, friendly and effective TEACHER. He taught us all of the fundamentals both in and out of the water. Right from effective stretching on land to understanding the characteristics of a good developing wave in the water. We learned so much and actually put it to work to have a great time. Most importantly, I can now bring those skills with me wherever I travel ... although I will still ping Jake whenever I'm in SoCal! T read more

Andrea S.

13 years ago

We were recently in the Los Angeles area for our daughter and her friend to attend a sailing event and decided to give them the whole California experience and do a surfing lesson. Helina was extremely easy to work with. She arranged for the instructor to meet us at the Santa Monica Beach location which was perfect for a vacationing family. The instructor Quinn was fabulous! He was friendly and the kids both felt very comfortable with him. They both got up on their first wave and enjoyed their 2 hours so much that I am sure surfing will be a new passion. Thank you Helina and Quinn for making Hallie and Bryce's vacation a memorable one. read more

Jaclyn S.

111

9 years ago

This was my first time surfing (at age 35) and I was a little worried about being able to do this. My instructor, Max, was calm and informative so I felt ready to give it a go. He was so patient and gave me little pointers as I tried to stand up repeatedly with no success. Eventually I started to get the hang of it and I actually stood up on the board - I SURFED! A pod of dolphins also swam by where we were surfing - for icing on the cake! I had such a positive experience and I wish I had booked it earlier in the week so I'd have time to go again before leaving town. I highly recommend Wavehuggers, such an amazing experience! read more

Valeriya S.

13 years ago

I just took my 3rd surf lesson with Helina this morning. After mastering the "pop up" in the last two lessons, she had me paddling and catching waves myself! With her advice and positive critique, I was able to ride the waves all the way to the sand. I highly recommend booking your surf lesson with wavehuggers. they make it very easy to book lessons, offering service wherever and whenever you want. they are also very informative about the conditions, allowing you to choose the best date and location for your abilities.I definitely want to keep improving my surfing and will definitely be booking more lessons with wavehuggers soon! read more

Damaris Muriel N.

10 years ago

I had an amazing experience with Wavehuggers! Helina accepted me for four surfing lessons in February 2016, so winter time in California. Because of the bad weather and for security reasons I could only do two lessons. I'm grateful that Helina was honest with me and told me it wasn't going to be fun in the stormy sea. But even with two lessons I felt more safe by every wave I caught and Helina encouraged me. After the second day I was even brave enough to start doing turns. Helina is very kind and attentive, even to the smallest improvement-options. I'm very happy with my lessons and can only recommend Wavehuggers! read more

Jack O.

244

13 years ago

We took our first surfing lessons with Wave Huggers and it was phenomenal. Helina was an amazing instructor and person, not only did she work with us all the way from the beach to being in the water, but you could clearly tell she has a deep passion for the sport of surfing which translates into the lesson. Both my sister and I learned a lot and while there weren't a whole lot of waves for us to try she got us up and riding by the end of the lesson. Easily the best surfing lessons on the west coast, if your ever in Southern California I highly recommend Wave Huggers. Great vibes, great lessons, and great people. read more

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175 Wavehuggers reviews that are not currently recommended

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175 reviews that are not currently recommended

Wavehuggers - surfschools - Updated July 2026

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