Surfing is not only a great sport, but fortunately once you have your equipment and a few surfing lessons under your belt, it is not expensive. There are different ways you can learn how to surf; many surfers teach themselves, but if you are serious about wanting to learn how to surf well you may want to take some lessons.
Where Can You Take Surfing Lessons?
If you want to pay for surfing lessons you can usually find plenty of surf schools located nearby popular surfing beaches. At many of these same locations you will also find schools that teach other water sports, such as kite surfing lessons if you are interested in these also.
These days, many of the better surf schools have an online presence, where you can find details about the lessons they offer, how much they cost and their timetable–which is usually restricted to certain months of the year. Some schools will alternate the location of their teaching depending on the experience of the student, with beginners learning on more calm waters and more experienced surfers braving higher waves.
How Much Does It Cost To Take Surfing Lessons?
Prices for surfing lessons varies a lot, however usually you should expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $100 per hour, depending on where you learn. If you are a beginner, generally lessons are less expensive although it depends on the qualifications of the person teaching and where the school is located. For the weekend surfer, who wants surfing lessons in San Diego for example, hourly rates would apply. Some people pay for an entire weekend or week of surfing lessons, where they are taught for several hours each day; these are oftentimes package deals that also include accommodation. As an example, surfing lessons in Hawaii which include accommodation, 2 to 3 hours of lessons a day, and some basic sight-seeing could cost around $900 per person. You can also take stand up paddle surfing lessons instead for around the same price.
What Do You Need?
If you have your own surfboard you should bring it with you, otherwise check out cheap longboards or surfboards for sale and buy one. Some schools supply a board as part of the lesson fee. In some cases, simply surfing with board shorts or a swimsuit is fine; though girls should wear a one piece suit rather than a two piece one or wear board shorts for women and a t-shirt. Many people prefer wearing wetsuits however, as they not only keep you warm when surfing in colder waters such as if you were taking surfing lessons in Cornwall for example, but they also protect your skin. You can often find cheap wetsuits around beach areas. You will also want to bring along sunscreen and remember to apply it fairly liberally while at the beach.
Who Can Learn To Surf?
Most surfing schools will offer a range of classes, starting off with beginner classes and ranging up to, in some instances, professional competition classes. There is no real age limit on who can learn to surf. Often kids surfing lessons will be taught separately from beginner’s lessons, though this varies from school to school.
Basic lessons will teach you how to paddle out into the water, turtle, duck dive and bail from the board safely. You will be taught basic surfing etiquette and how to gauge which wave to choose. From there you will learn how to catch a wave and ride it into shore, then once that is mastered stand up on your board to ride a wave.
If you enjoy the ocean and you have always wanted to be a competent surfer, you may find that taking lessons is a way to fast-track the experience. While it is possible to teach yourself to surf, or to learn by experience, lessons will teach you techniques and provide you with a safe environment to learn in.