Surfing Lessons in Orange County
Corky Carroll’s Surf School
624 20th Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714)-969-3959
(888)-454-SURF
Corky Carroll is a surfing legend, an international champion who was proclaimed “Best Surfer in the World” by Surfer magazine. He doesn’t actually teach at the school that bears his name, but apparently gives his endorsement.
The surf school operates out of Bolsa Chica State Beach, which is shallower than most of the coast line, so waves are smaller and easier to learn on, and the beach is never crowded. Corky Carroll’s offers week-long group instruction for kids and private lessons for adults.
The kids surf school is Monday through Friday, June through August and ranges in price from $250 dollars a week for full days, and $125 for half days. The promise three instructors for every 10 kids, as well as one life guard per 10 kids when they are in the water.
Private lessons can be bought as a package, five one-hour lessons for $200, or per hour at $50 per hour with a two hour minimum. These are available during on weekends May through October, and the package of five lessons is also available during the week when the kids surf school is going on.
Cork Corky Carroll’s prides itself in providing spring wet suits and real surfboards for all their students during lessons and practice. Private lessons include unlimited practice sessions with free use of the equipment, which makes this one of the best deals out there.
They also operate a surf school in Costa Rica, which might be worth checking out for those looking for a more tropical surfing experience.
http://www.surfschool.net/staff.html
Junior Life Guard Super Surf Camps
(714)-901-9030
The California Junior Lifeguard Program offers a number of summer programs for youngsters who want to spend time in the ocean, including their week-long Super Surf Camps, which take place from the end of June until the beginning of Semptember at Sunset beach, and during Spring Break at both Sunset Beach and Doheny Beach, which are designed to fit in perfectly with California school schedules.
As one would expect from a Junior Lifeguard program, there’s a strong emphasis on safety, including board maintenance, CPR and drug and alcohol prevention.
There are groups for beginning to intermediate surfers, and additional camps for the more advanced. Surfers can be anywhere from age eight to adult.
Enrollment is $320 and includes a five full days of camp (9 am – 3 pm), use of loaner surfboards and wetsuits, a tee-shirt and surfing magazine.
http://www.jrlifeguards.com/sscpage1.html
Laguna Beach Surf School
1020 South Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949)-497-6742
This program operates through the Laguna Beach Recreation Department and offers a weekly surf camp for kids eight years old and up during the summer, Monday through Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. They provide soft foam surf boards to make learning easier, although students are welcome to bring their own equipment if they wish. It’s one of the more expensive week-long camps at $450 a week, especially considering that lunch in only provided in the form of a pizza party on Friday. Other that that students are asked to provide for themselves.
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1240625
Danger Woman Surf City Surfing Lessons
P.O. Box 3013 Huntington Beach, CA 92605
(714)-898-2088
dangerwoman@earthlink.net
Run by 11-time U.S. Women’s Champion Kim Hamrock, Danger Woman specializes in one-on-one private lessons from highly qualified surfing teachers and pros, including Kim herself. They accept students of all ages and all skill levels and boast in “proven methods that have helped hundreds of students ride their first waves.”
This is one of the more expensive ways to learn surfing, as it costs $325 for two hours, and $525 dollars for private instruction from Hamrock. Lessons to include an instructional video and goodie bag, however.
http://www.dangerwoman.com/links.shtml
Newport Surf School
P.0. Box 843 Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
(949)-760-1430
kahoona2463@sbcglobal.net
Matt Binswager has been teaching surfing for seventeen years and is recommended as the go-to guy by many businesses and surf shops. He offers provides loaner surfboards and wetsuits and offers good rates for private lessons. A one-hour trial lesson, which he claims is good for tourists or those wanting a one-time experience, is $75. A basic two-hour lesson for slightly more serious surfers is $125 for one student, or $175 for two students if both sign up together. There’s a group rate of $75 per student if four sign up at the same time.
He also offers a four-lesson curriculum that teaches technique and riding tips, as well as equipment consultation for $450 per person.
All follow-up lessons are advertised at $75. Binswager teaches on the Balboa Peninsula where parking is metered, and reminds students to bring plenty of quarters.
http://www.newportsurfschool.com/pages/352249/index.htm
Endless Summer Surf Program
One of the longest-running surf camps in the business, Endless Summer has been open since 1992 and offers overnight surf camps based out of a deluxe campground in San Onofre State Park. Surf instruction, all necessary equipment, recreational activities (including ping pong), lodging and three meals a day are provided. One of the more unique aspects of this program is that each week includes a photo day when a professional surf photographer Larry Beard will take pictures of the surfers, which will be made available on CD and DVD at the end of each week.
They also brag about the “secret” beach they use to teach, which is secluded and has hardly any local or tourist traffic, allowing students to train in a safer, more comfortable environment.
There student to instructor ratio is 3:1, and boards of all shapes and sizes are available. Camps operate from June to September, with a few weeks, usually at the beginning and end of the season, set-aside for adult 21 and up camps.
The camp is $795 dollars per week, Monday through Friday, with weekends free if campers are staying multiple weeks. Day only camp runs Monday through Friday 8 am – 3 pm and is $395, with lunch, snacks and equipment provided.
Private lessons, semi private and group lessons are offered all year ’round as well, and Endless Summer also offers a Costa Rica trip.
http://www.endlesssummersurfcamp.com
Summer Fun Surf Camp
P.0. Box 254 San Clemente, CA 92672
(949)-361-9526
sfsurfcamp@aol.com
This is another all week camp that provides food, lodging and other activities besides surf instruction and use of equipment. The camp runs June through August and has a 3:1 student to teacher radio. There are different programs and campsites for for kids age 10-18 and adults 18 years old and up, and all skill levels from beginner to advanced are welcomed. Summer Fun Surf Camp uses a few unique tools to help teach surfing, including video tape analysis and a mechanical surfboard that simulates surfing on the ground!
Additional activities include skating, volleyball, ping pong and photo sessions, as well as award ceremonies, CPR certification programs for adults and 20%-40% discounts at San Clemente surf shops.
Overnight camp costs $695 dollars per week, and $300 for weekend stays that bridge doubled-up sessions. Day camp is $495.
http://members.aol.com./sfsurfcamp/camping.html
