Where Washington Boulevard Ends at Venice Pier, Your Surf Lesson Starts
A private surf session by Venice Pier that opens with a land lesson on the sand and spends most of its time catching waves.
Sunrise Surf Academy runs this lesson from the beach just south of Venice Fishing Pier, which the school's own Venice guide calls its very first location. Private means the coach works only with the people on your booking. You pick 90 minutes or two hours when you book, and the listing offers the lesson in English or Spanish. Each surfer gets a wetsuit and a board fitted to them, and the listing adds a rash guard.
The listing charges per surfer, and its price table runs from one to four surfers. As of October 18, 2026, the 90-minute lesson cost USD 145 for one surfer, USD 97.50 each for two, USD 81.75 each for three and USD 86.25 each for four. The two-hour lesson cost USD 185, USD 125, USD 100 and USD 113.75 each for the same group sizes. The rate per surfer rises again at four, and the school's lesson page lists two instructors for a group of four against one instructor for one to three surfers.
Private Surf Lesson in Venice Beach, CAA private surf lesson at Venice Beach, 90 minutes or two hours, with a wetsuit, surfboard and rash guard for each surfer.www.viator.comA Wetsuit, Drills on the Sand, Then Most of the Lesson in the Water
On arrival the instructor fits each surfer with a wetsuit and matches a board, then runs a land lesson on the sand. The school's Venice page lists what that covers: ocean safety, paddling technique, pop-up practice and wave timing. Most of the session is spent in the water catching waves, with the coach working alongside you the whole time. The school's FAQ says a typical beginner stands up numerous times in a first lesson. For anyone who wants to catch waves without a coach, it suggests a lesson package. A May 2025 reviewer summed up the practical side: "Wetsuits provided, you can rinse off on the beach afterwards."
From Age Four to Surfers Fine-Tuning Technique
The listing takes surfers from age four and asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The booking form collects each surfer's date of birth and height. The school's Venice page says boards are matched to skill level and surfing goals. A July 2025 reviewer booked the lesson for a son and a nephew and wrote that the instructor was "friendly, patient, and gave clear, easy-to-follow instructions." The listing pitches the same lesson to first-timers and to surfers fine-tuning technique. The school's FAQ says you can ask for a specific coach by putting the name in the booking notes.
Mornings, Tides and the Half-Hour Start Times
Start times run every half hour from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM, every day of the week. The school's Venice surf guide names mornings as the time to go, before the onshore wind picks up, and calls a medium incoming tide the usual sweet spot. Its FAQ suggests a call to match the start time to the day's tide and waves for your level. The listing stops taking bookings 24 hours before the start time.
All Sales Final, With a Weather Exception
The listing's terms say all sales are final, with no refund for cancellations, and the one exception is weather. The lesson can be cancelled for poor conditions, and in that case the listing offers another date or a full refund. The school's own terms add that it can cancel or reschedule whenever it judges ocean or weather conditions dangerous. Bookings made directly with the school run on different terms: a refund minus a 5 percent processing fee in the first 24 hours after purchase, then credit until 72 hours before the start. The listing's description mentions optional surf photos or videos, and the school's FAQ prices its photographer package at USD 200, subject to a photographer being free.
📍 Meet at the far south end of the Venice Fishing Pier parking lot, where Washington Boulevard reaches the ocean. The lesson surfs off the Driftwood lifeguard tower. The school's FAQ says the confirmation email carries detailed directions and a map link to the exact spot. Bring a swimsuit, a towel, water, snacks, a hat and sunscreen. Afterward, the school's Venice guide points to Cow's End Café, two blocks from the lineup, for coffee.