30 Nov, 2009
Let’s Go Surfing Now, Everybody’s Learning How in California!
Posted by: Beach Reporter In: beaches| california
From the beaches of Doheny to Malibu, Manhattan, Huntington and Santa Cruz, everybody’s surfing now. But they had to learn how first. And that’s what this article is about.
Learning to surf in California requires a willingness to get wet, and even a little bit cold. The ocean temps range from a mid 50’s to mid- 7os in the warmest days of summer. Most who take lessons or want to learn are best off renting first. That provides you usually with a body suit to keep you warm on your torso.
Surf lessons are offered along the coast from Santa Cruz to San Diego, and provide the basics on ocean safety. The next step is on the sand where you practice the concept of standing up on a board. About 15-30 minutes is spent in this part of the lesson before you head out to the water for a run. The boards you learn on are usually foam, and they provide an easy, maneuverable vehicles that won’t hurt you if they should bounce back on you in a wave. You’ll have your board leashed to your ankle so it doesn’t float back to shore without you so the foam board is ideal for beginners.
Most people don’t get up on the first try, but quite a few do on their second, third or fourth effort. In a lesson, you’ll usually have an instructor nearby or pushing your board and coaxing you when to mount, stand, and ride. Most lessons claim that have the average person surfing within one session.
Surfing lessons are usually around $80-240, and include the board rental, wet suit and instruction. If you’d rather just watch a lesson going on, you can get an idea of what it will take to surf.
California is where people come to surf, and your opportunities at getting a lesson and renting a board are available at over 100 shops, shacks and surf spots along the coast. So as the Beach Boys Surfin’ Safari song goes, “Let’s go surfing now. Everybody’s learning how. Come on and safari with me.
Where to learn to surf:
- Club Ed in Santa Cruz offers both group and private instruction.
- Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego offers surfing lessons on site.
- Zacks in Huntington Beach has lessons.
- La Vida Laguna in Laguna Beach offers private instruction.
