Learn to Surf
Beginner Workshop pics!

Next Workshop: To Be Determined

Once a month, Scripps Surfing holds free beginner workshops and we’ll be happy to take you out for a lesson! These lessons are given by non-professionals in a peer-peer environment.

To find out more about our next beginner workshop, email Jason (jharless@scripps.edu). Our workshops are free, but you will need to rent or borrow a board and wetsuit. Scripps Surfing has arranged a discount on rental through Hike Bike Kayak, San Diego. For only $20 you can rent a board and wetsuit! All you have to do is mention "Scripps Surfing" to receive the discount. (Our discount applies to all of their rentals and services so take a kayak trip around La Jolla Cove while you're at it!!!)

Surfing Waves has an amazing online surf tutorial, with tips on board position, wave position and water position, as well as photo, video and animated diagrams to give you a better understanding of what to expect and how to handle yourself in the soup AND in the line-up. Before you come to your first beginner workshop, you should take this tutorial:
http://www.surfing-waves.com/beginners_guide_surfing.htm.

Formal Lessons
If you’d like to take a formal lesson, there are many schools in the San Diego area. Some recommendations: The San Diego Surfing Academy (http://www.surfsdsa.com/teach.htm or 760-230-1474), UCSD has a class that is supposed to be pretty good, and Kahuna Bob (http://www.kahunabob.com) also offers classes and provides the wetsuits and boards. There is Leucadia Surf School in Encinitas (http://www.leucadiasurfschool.com or 760-635-SURF) and also a school just for girls in LaJolla, called Surf Diva (858-454-7273). Lessons can be quite expensive, but well worth it if you’re completely unfamiliar with the ocean and the sport of surfing. Also check out Rusty Farrell's (http://www.rustysurfschool.com or 858-274-1843) surf lessons. He's supposed to be among the best!

For more surfing info, check out http://www.surfingsandiego.com/school.asp. This page has tons of beginner tips, including board selection, surfing equipment introductions and even some advanced info on how boards are shaped and glassed.