2h of Private Surf Lesson for Beginners in Santa Monica

The best California souvenir may be a wave. This private Santa Monica lesson gives you 30 minutes of beach instruction before roughly 90 minutes in the water, so you learn more than a quick pop-up trick. I like the one-group format and the clear focus on safety, paddling, wave timing, and riding to shore. The main drawback is the price: $285 per person is a serious spend for two hours.

You meet at the blue VW bus near 2400 Ocean Front Walk, then return to the same spot when the lesson ends. I also like that children and complete beginners are welcome, with instructors such as Jake McNulty and Jeff Byrnes praised for patient, personal coaching. Still, two hours can give you a strong first taste, not guaranteed independence in the ocean.

Key points at a glance

• Private instruction: Only your group takes part, allowing the coach to adjust the lesson for different ages and skill levels.
• A useful beach briefing: About 30 minutes covers safety, surf habits, paddling past the break, pop-ups, and wave timing.
• Plenty of water time: The remaining time is spent practicing rather than sitting on the sand.
• A strong family option: Children as young as five have been introduced to surfing with patience and flexibility.
• Personal coaching: Jake and Jeff focus on helping you read waves and surf safely, not simply stand once.
• Easy meeting point: Find the blue VW bus at 2400 Ocean Front Walk in Santa Monica, with the activity ending there.

Why this Santa Monica lesson is different

A lot of beginner surf lessons are built around one simple goal: get upright once, take a photo, and call it a day. Badass Surf School takes a more useful approach. The stated aim is to help you catch waves and ride them all the way to shore, while also learning enough basic technique to keep progressing.

That distinction matters. Standing on a board is exciting, but it is only one small part of surfing. You also need to know how to lie on the board, paddle, time a wave, move into position, and stay aware of other people in the water. This two-hour format gives those basics room to develop.

The lesson is private, meaning only your group participates. That is especially helpful if one person is nervous, one is athletic, and another has already tried a lesson or two. The instructor can give different advice to each person instead of delivering the same speech to everyone.

The experience is offered in English. It also has mobile ticketing, pickup is listed as available, and the meeting area is near public transportation. The practical setup is simple: arrive at the stated beach meeting point and look for the blue VW bus.

The first 30 minutes: safety before the surf

The lesson begins on the beach, where you spend about half an hour building the habits that make the water portion more useful. Expect attention on safety, surf etiquette, paddling, standing up, and the basic mechanics of getting from the sand to a breaking wave.

This is not wasted time. Beginners often focus so hard on standing that they forget how to fall safely or how to avoid getting in someone else’s way. A proper beach briefing gives you a plan before the ocean starts pushing you around.

The coaching also covers getting past the break. That is an important point for first-timers. You need to paddle with purpose, understand where the waves are breaking, and know how to position yourself before you can catch one. The lesson is designed to help you build those habits rather than simply have an instructor push you into whitewater.

A few specific skills receive repeated praise in the available feedback: pop-ups, wave timing, swimming out, and reading waves. These are practical skills you can use again if you rent a board later. One adult who had tried lessons elsewhere particularly valued leaving with enough understanding to feel ready to surf independently, rather than only knowing how to get to their feet.

The safety emphasis is also useful for adults who learn later in life. Jeff Byrnes has been praised for teaching ocean awareness and surf etiquette along with the physical skills. That combination makes the session feel less like a stunt and more like an introduction to a sport you can keep learning.

About 90 minutes in the water

After the beach work, most of the two-hour session takes place in the water. You practice paddling, catching waves, standing, and riding toward shore. The instructor remains involved, but the lesson also gives you enough freedom to learn by doing.

That balance is important. Too much hands-on help can make a beginner feel successful without actually understanding the process. Too little help can leave you tired, confused, or cautious about trying again. The strongest praise for this school centers on close supervision combined with room to practice.

The private format helps here. An instructor can see why you missed a wave, then adjust your position or timing. You may get a small correction about where your hands go during the pop-up, or a reminder to paddle earlier. These small changes often matter more than a long lecture.

You should not expect every person to become a confident independent surfer in one lesson. Even the positive experiences point to progress over several sessions. One student described standing up and catching waves across three lessons, while another built confidence through repeated four-session blocks. That is an encouraging sign, but it also sets a fair expectation: this is an excellent starting point, not a complete surfing education.

The water portion can be especially rewarding for children. One family described a five-year-old who became frightened and needed time to run around on the beach. Jake adjusted instead of forcing the issue, then gradually brought the child back to the waves. A younger sibling even joined for a few rides. That kind of flexibility can make a first lesson feel safe rather than pressured.

Coaching from Jake, Jeff, and the Badass Surf team

Jake McNulty is the owner and a central instructor. His coaching style, based on the experiences described, combines energy with individual attention. He has worked with children, families, adults, and groups of friends, and he appears comfortable changing the pace when a student needs more time.

Families have praised his ability to learn children’s names quickly and respond to different personalities. That is a small detail, but it matters when a child is nervous or distracted. A lesson can turn sour if the instructor treats every child as if they have the same comfort level.

Jeff Byrnes is another instructor associated with the school. His strength is steady technical coaching, especially for students who want to learn more than a basic stand-up. He has been praised for returning consistently to the same students, which lets him build on earlier lessons and offer more specific feedback.

One useful feature is that mixed ability does not automatically ruin a shared lesson. An adult and a beginner nephew were able to take a lesson together while receiving separate tips suited to their different levels. That makes the private arrangement appealing for families and friends who want to learn as a group but do not all start at the same point.

There is also evidence of thoughtful supervision in group situations. A family of children received a two-to-one student-to-instructor ratio during one lesson, with the coaches moving between the children in the water. That exact ratio should not be treated as a promise for every booking, but it shows how the school has handled young learners.

Families, children, and first-time surfers

This lesson suits families particularly well because the coaching can bend around the person, not just the schedule. A confident teenager may want more attempts, while a small child may need breaks on the sand. The school’s approach appears comfortable with both.

The five-year-old example is useful because it shows what a realistic first lesson can look like. Not every child will paddle out with perfect focus. Some may need to play, watch, or regain confidence before trying again. An instructor with a patient approach can protect the experience from becoming a battle.

The same flexibility helps adult beginners. You do not need to arrive already fit, sporty, or familiar with ocean activities. The description says most people can participate, and the lesson begins with safety and fundamentals rather than assuming prior skill.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Those details may help with planning, though the water activity itself still requires comfort with a beach setting and basic physical participation.

The school also accepts group discounts. If several friends or family members want to book together, ask about the current discount before paying. Since the activity is private, a group booking may offer better value than separate individual lessons, depending on the final arrangement.

What the $285 price really buys

At $285 per person, this is not the cheapest way to try surfing in Santa Monica. You are paying for a private lesson, personal instruction, equipment supplied by the school, and a two-hour block that puts most of the time into practice.

The price makes the most sense for a small group that values attention. If you are nervous, have children with different needs, or have tried a crowded class and received little feedback, private coaching may be worth the extra cost. It is also more appealing if your goal is to learn proper habits rather than simply stand once.

For a solo beginner, the calculation is harder. You may prefer a less expensive group lesson if you only want a fun introduction. The private format becomes better value when you plan to continue surfing, want detailed corrections, or need an instructor to work around a family member’s pace.

The strongest value is educational. The school’s approach aims to teach wave timing, paddling, safety, and etiquette, not only the dramatic moment of standing. If you leave able to rent a board and make sensible choices in the water, the lesson has done something useful.

Still, do not book it expecting guaranteed results. Surfing depends on your comfort, coordination, and progress during the session. Some students may stand on several waves; others may spend more time learning to paddle and position themselves. That is normal for a first attempt.

Meeting the blue VW bus at Santa Monica Beach

The meeting point is 2400 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, California 90405. The clearest arrival instruction is to find the blue VW bus parked at the beach.

The activity ends back at the meeting point, which makes the day easy to plan. You do not need to arrange a second pickup location or figure out where the lesson finishes. Pickup is offered, but confirm the exact arrangement when booking if you need transportation rather than simply the listed beach meeting point.

The operating hours are listed from 7:00 AM to 8:30 PM daily for the stated operating period. That broad window gives you options, though the exact lesson time will depend on availability and the booking you select. This experience is often reserved well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 69 days, so popular dates may not remain open close to your trip.

The school offers free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. Keep the local time in mind when making changes.

How this lesson compares with a casual beach rental

Renting a board on your own may cost less, but it does not replace instruction. A rental gives you equipment and freedom. It does not necessarily teach you how to paddle out, choose a safe wave, protect yourself, or avoid interfering with another surfer.

This experience is the better choice if you want a structured first step. The instructor can correct you before a bad habit settles in. You also have someone watching the conditions and helping you understand what to do next.

On the other hand, a two-hour lesson is not a substitute for repeated practice. The most meaningful progress described in the available experiences came after several sessions. If you fall in love with surfing, plan on taking more lessons or practicing with suitable guidance rather than assuming one morning makes you ready for every beach.

Who should book this private lesson

I would consider this a good match for:

• Complete beginners who want patient instruction
• Families with children who may need different coaching styles
• Friends with mixed levels of experience
• Adults who want safety and etiquette explained clearly
• Anyone who has taken a lesson before but never learned how to read waves
• Students who prefer one instructor’s continuing feedback instead of a rotating coach

I would think twice if your only goal is the lowest possible price. I would also adjust expectations if you want guaranteed independent surfing after one visit. The lesson offers a strong foundation, but surfing rewards repetition.

Final call: is Badass Surf School worth booking?

Book it if you want a private, safety-focused first lesson with enough water time to practice. The school receives its strongest praise for patient coaching, personal feedback, and helping students learn to surf rather than merely stand on a board.

The best fit is a family, couple, or small group willing to pay for individual attention. Jake’s flexibility with young children and Jeff’s steady technical coaching are useful signs for students who want a calm, supportive start.

Skip it if $285 per person strains your budget or if you only want a quick beach activity. For everyone else, this is a serious introduction to surfing in Santa Monica, with a clear meeting point, a practical lesson structure, and a good chance of leaving with more than a wet swimsuit and a memorable wipeout.

FAQ

Where does the surf lesson start?

It starts at 2400 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90405, USA. Look for the blue VW bus parked at the beach.

Where does the activity end?

The lesson ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the surf lesson last?

The lesson lasts approximately two hours.

How much time is spent on the beach before surfing?

About 30 minutes is spent on the beach covering safety, surf habits, and preparation. The remaining time is spent in the water.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is the lesson offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes. Service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.