There are several spots in Southern California that are perfect for someone completely new to surfing to learn the basics and get in some good practice. From surf camps to schools, all of these resources are easily accessible and can help beginning surfers get a solid foundation that will enable a novice to catch some waves.
Many of the SoCal surf camps are relatively inexpensive (less than $300 in most cases) and many offer private or group lessons, in addition to their normal classes. These institutions teach basic skills, such as paddling and board riding, and also teach the basics to understanding tides and swells, particularly those found in the Southern California part of the Pacific Ocean. Students also learn important safety lessons and for those wishing to compete, many schools and camps offer competitive analysis and discuss competition technique. These schools have a wide range of times, dates of operation, and offerings as far as what type of students they accept.
Some schools cater to young children, teens, or girls. However, since there are so many schools, it’s easy for anyone interested to find lessons or schools that suit their particular needs. Most schools offer different services, such as half-day classes or full-day classes, in order to better accommodate both time constraints and budgetary concerns of their clients. The schools and camps are taught by respected members of the surfing community, many of who have been both surfing and teaching surfing for many years. Their experience accelerates the learning process, and gives their students many valuable lessons that they can use as they learn the basics and improve on their technique.
In addition to the schools and camps, there are several beaches popular with those familiar with Southern California surf culture that allow beginners to get out on the water and practice their skills outside of a school setting. These beaches are easy to find, and are, for the most part, inexpensive for parking and admission (many lots are only $10 for the day).
In fact, one of these Southern California beaches is Bolsa Chica State Beach, which is a great place for beginners due to its gentle rolling shape. The beach is long and to get to beginner waves, surfers only have to paddle a short distance. However, because of its popularity, it’s often crowded on weekends and nearly every morning around the out-flow, particularly if there’s a swell.
There are several other beaches in Southern California (especially around the Huntington Beach area) that are open to surfers, and they offer different levels of difficulty for all surfers. Depending on the time of year, each spot can have different characteristics and provide a constantly changing environment that never gets dull.
With all of these resources available, its quite easy for someone who’s never surfed before to pick it up and develop the skills necessary to enjoy the sport of surfing.
