Surf School Santa Cruz, LLC - Santa Cruz, California

Ryan E.

Amazing session this morning with Sam and Ryan — two great guys and wonderful teachers. I think we turned our kids into surfers within the first thirty minutes, ha. Thanks, fellas. We’ll be back with the whole family soon!

Iwona O.

Absolutely brilliant. The tutors were 5 star making us feel both welcome and relaxed and my 10 year old girl was up and surfing within the hour! Such a shame we couldn't do more lessons and can't recommend this place enough. Thank you for making our memories of Santa Cruz so special

Emanuel S.

Our family had an awesome experience with the two instructors from Surf School Santa Cruz, Ryan and Koa. They were really helpful, instructive and attentive with both kids, ages 7 and 13. We highly recommend the school.

John S.

I recently had the pleasure of learning to surf at Surf School Santa Cruz with my 13-year-old son, and it was an experience we’ll never forget—thanks to Sam Coffey! From the moment we met him, Sam was personable and humble, instantly putting us at ease. Amazingly, within minutes, both my son and I were up and surfing, even sportin' this 'dad bod'!

What made the experience even more memorable was Sam’s ability to keep us entertained with his incredible skills. He even did handstands while surfing! It was clear we were learning from someone who not only loves what he does but also knows how to make it fun. Sam paddled us out with ease, ensuring we felt comfortable and confident in the water.

Beyond being a fantastic instructor, Sam is also competing in the WSL, and we wish him all the best. If you’re considering learning to surf, I can’t recommend Sam Coffey at Surf School Santa Cruz enough. He made our day unforgettable, and we’re already looking forward to our next lesson!

Richard W.

I booked a surf lesson for my husband and kids during our stop in Santa Cruz while we traveled up the coast. It was truly a highlight for all of them! It was our first time surfing and everyone was able to catch so many waves. My daughter still can't keep talking about doing a 180 on the board! Our whole experience with Surf School Santa Cruz was great from beginning to end. The instructors were so amazing and the location was great. I would highly recommend them to anyone!

Paige C.

I highly encourage anyone even remotely interested in surfing to take a lesson here! The instructors are all so kind and patient, not to mention all pro surfers too so they give targeted feedback and constructive comments. (And it’s really cool to get 1-1 time to talk to a professional surfer about their experience/tips and tricks). Over 5 lessons in a few months with the guys here, I went from having never been on a board to confidently paddling out on my own at busy surf spots. I will most definitely be booking more lessons in the new year, thank you so much for inspiring me to surf and for encouraging me to keep learning - even baby steps forward is still progress in this ever humbling sport!

Sandra G.

We had an awesome lesson this morning with Dane and Bud! They were super positive, encouraging, and fun. We’ve done many surf lessons and these guys are the best! Thanks for a great morning.

Jen K.

My 15-year-old and I had THE BEST time taking private surf lessons with Sam and Ryan. Ryan went over basics with us on land and Sam was our guide in the ocean. He was amazing (right down to do his surfing headstand)! We had never surfed before and my daughter caught a wave on her first try. Sam helped set us up so that both of us were able to stand up and ride several times. We’re hooked! It was a blast and THE highlight of our trip to California. Can’t imagine a better experience or a better surf shop. Seriously— don’t pass this up!