Sand First, Then Waves: A Private Surf Lesson at Laguna's Anita Street Beach
A private 90-minute lesson that starts on the sand with board basics and the pop-up, then heads into the surf with your instructor.
California Surf Experience is a Laguna Beach surf school that Ryan Croteau, a surfer who calls the town home, founded in 2015. The company says it offers everything from beginner lessons to advanced coaching all year round.
Lessons meet at Anita Street Beach, at the ocean end of Anita Street off South Coast Highway, which the school calls Laguna's best spot to learn. In summer, though, the city lists Anita as a swimming-only beach, not for use by surfers or skimboarders. The listing gives the same meeting spot every day and doesn't say where summer lessons go in the water, so if you're booking for summer, ask the school first.
This listing is private: only your group is in the lesson, from one surfer up to eight, ages 6 to 80. The price is USD 160 per surfer, the same for adults and for youths 6 to 17. A surfboard and wetsuit are included. All 5 reviews on this listing give five stars.
Private Surf Lesson with The Pros In Laguna Beach90-minute private surf lesson at Anita Street Beach in Laguna Beach. Surfboard and wetsuit included.www.viator.comOn the Sand, Then in the Water
Lessons open on the beach. The instructors cover the pop-up and riding a wave, reading and picking waves, paddling, lineup sense, board control, timing, etiquette and ocean safety, at the student's pace. Once the beach session is done, the group heads into the water with the instructor.
One reviewer wrote that starting on the sand "gave me an understanding of how to navigate the waves and where to position myself." The school says first-time surfers almost always ride waves in their first lesson.
Who It Suits
The school says its lessons are made for everyone, from first-timers to families and friends booking together. The listing takes surfers from 6 to 80, and the booking asks for each surfer's height and weight. Advanced instruction is available on request.
Plan on a moderate level of fitness. The listing does not recommend the lesson for pregnant travelers or for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.
The Instructors
The school describes its instructors as true watermen and world-traveling surfers. It says every guide and instructor is CPR certified and trained in basic life support through the American Heart Association.
Reviewers on this listing name instructors including Travis, Chris, Ryan and Alex. One parent wrote that their daughter "booked another lesson the next day."
Booking, Weather and Cancellation
Confirmation is instant, and a mobile or paper ticket is accepted. Lessons run daily, with the listing giving a 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM window with no fixed departure times.
Cancel at least 24 hours before your start time for a full refund. Inside 24 hours there is no refund. The lesson can be called off for poor weather, and on one reviewer's visit, weather conditions moved the sessions to a different spot.
📍 Meet at Anita Street Beach in Laguna Beach. The operator notes the name comes up in most GPS searches. Look for your instructor at the California Surf Experience truck, which carries the company logo. Your instructor will be there with the boards. Public transportation stops nearby. A ramp and stairway at the end of Anita Street lead down to the sand. A local guide notes there are no facilities at the beach, and parking is on the surrounding streets.
- Included: private 90-minute instruction, surfboard, wetsuit
- Group size: one to eight surfers, ages 6 to 80