I have taught countless surf lessons many of which start near shore in the white water reform area where the wave has already broke. This method is great for the first time beginner who literally has never been surfing or has a low level of ability. However surf lessons should eventually be able to be taught on what surfers call the outside. The outside is where you will often see packs of surfers congregating on their surfboards sitting on them staring out to sea. I can assure you their stares serve a purpose as they are reading the undulation of the ocean watching for patterns and sets of waves to form. On small days a novice surfer can have an outside lesson because the waves have less power and are easier to stand up on as there is less drop making it easier to ride the wave. The surf schools I have worked for never had anyone other than myself conduct an outside surf lesson due to the fact the surf instructors physically could not do the job and could not effectively communicate how to surf on the outside. However when you read about surf schools that claim they are the best out there it is quite amusing to know they can only teach beginner surf lessons. Furthermore when an instructor is not properly trained on water safety even if the lesson was supposed to take place near shore a first time surfer can be swept out to sea putting them in harms way. I have personally witnessed this happened as other instructors failed to properly control the situation and they have had to defer to lifeguards to bring their clients back to shore. My staff can all teach outside surf lessons…I have personally trained each one of them and there is a stamp of approval on each surf instructor that works for Learn to Surf™. We are all professional watermen that are above the age of 18 as I would not put any high school aged instructor in the water that would dictate the safety of a client and their family. Nor would I hire an instructor that was too old to proficiently be able to swim, run, or paddle out of a situation that required someone of a more appropriate age to conduct an outside surf lesson. Reputation is everything and here at Learn to Surf™ we can honestly assert we are the best and safest surf lesson in both Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.
Surf lesson in Newport Beach.