Surf Happens

Learning to surf is like riding a bike, once you get the fundamentals down, you never forget them and may enjoy a life long adventure in the water. If you fall in love with surfing and the ocean, start and never give up, you will not only learn to surf, you will find your personal best and become a master. Like any other sport, learning to surf requires learning how to use the equipment ( surfboards, leashes, wetsuits, fins, wax), and establishing both technique and skills and an understanding of the ocean and how waves work. Although it generally takes months to years to evolve from " just going surfing" into being a "surfer", by establishing guidelines for your practice while setting goals, learning oceanography and working on set skills, you can learn to stand up and catch waves in as little as two hours. At Surf Happens we guarantee getting you up to your feet within 15 minutes of touching the water. Our teaching structure focuses on building a foundation of knowledge and skills that drastically shorten the learning curve, keep you safe, and set the stage for a lifetime of fun. There is no right and wrong in learning to surf but there are plenty of pitfalls that can be avoided easily with tips and tricks.

Yes we do!

Would be surfers generally take a minimum of 1-3 surf lessons to get their journey in the sportkick started. Desire, passion for the sport and ocean, and getting out there and trying on your own will greatly increase the learning curve. Repetitions are the master of all skills and the more repetitions and time put in between sessions, the quicker the surfers experience and skills will grow. If you want to become a surfer, all you have to do is go surfing! With three lessons you will have built in repetitions and knowledge as well as experience at different kinds of surf spots and applying what you learned in alternate conditions. If you are keen to continue learning, growing, and having an experienced mentor show you the ropes, it is important to find the right coach for you who will foster continuous growth.

We offer high-end rentals to our clients booking private lessons and events. We do not offer rentals alone to the general public, but we can recommend some great location options for equipment needs.

Yes! Our advanced surf coaching program focuses on the mastering of the art of competition, establishing proper goal setting practices, cross-training, technique analysis, perfecting new maneuvers, and career development. We offer weekend workshops as well as progressive six-week series. In this day and age where free and contest surfing are merging, we focus on a fundamentalist approach that builds into the repertoire. Our goal is to help surfers learn how to play the contest game so well that they are able to free surf within the constraints of the competitive box. We teach by analyzing the best in the business while working with professionals within the sport to provide the most comprehensive free and competitive surf training available.

Surfing lesson costs range from inexpensive to outrageous. Rates are generally determined by the number of participants, number of hours, and what is being offered. Surf Happens offers basic packages starting at $80-$120 for 1.5 hour sessions, package and group lesson deals, to elite high end experiences with all of the bells and whistles for upwards of $1,000 plus a day per person. Generally speaking the more experienced the coach and company, the more expensive the per session/ or hourly rate. With surf lessons you get what you pay for and often times newer or lesser experienced and organized coaches and companies will offer cheaper rates and undercut the rest, but it is always optimal to learn from the best. Surf Happens, learn from the pros. Over 22 years as Santa Barbara's premier surf school, teaching beginner to elite level surfers from 11 months old to 88 years old since 2000. Santa Barbara, and Ventura's longest running surf school and organizers of the Rincon Classic surfing competition.