If you’re planning a beach vacation this summer, these surf schools offer an afternoon of fun in the sun.
Written By Melissa Peterson
You don’t have to vacation in Hawaii to learn the basics of hanging ten. Up and down Florida’s Atlantic Coast, surf schools offer day- or week-long lessons and camps where both kids and adults can get their feet wet. You’ll be flashing the shaka in no time!
St. Augustine Surf School
“St. Augustine is a great place to be a surfer or for someone learning to surf,” says Dustin Estes, owner and head instructor at the St. Augustine Surf School. “Miles of white-sand beaches and some of the most consistent waves in the whole state make St. Augustine the perfect little surf town.”
Dustin offers lessons that can fit in any vacationer’s budget. From private, one-on-one lessons to either small or large group lessons, Dustin says that, in the 14 years the school has been in operation, almost everyone has been able to stand and ride the waves during the first lesson.
If you’re in the area for an extended period, consider signing the kids up for a week of surf camp. Camp runs Monday-Thursday every week during the summer from 9am-12:30pm.
“My wife, Lauren, and I, along with our now 19- and 16-year-old daughters, have been leading camps for 14 years,” Dustin says. “We strive for a fun and safe experience, and year after year parents make sure that we know it is the highlight of the summer for so many students.”
In addition to lessons and camps, the school also offers surf board and paddleboard rentals and can deliver both right to your vacation rental or hotel.
“I think a lot of people look at surfing as something that has a very hard point of entry—and it does,” says Dustin. “But taking a lesson with our company eases that so much. We are lifelong surfers who have a deep passion for sharing the experience of surfing with everyone.”
Learn more at staugustinesurf.com.
Pure Life Surf School
As one of Ocala’s closest beaches, Daytona is typically the go-to destination for a quick daytrip. And lucky for us, Pure Life Surf School, located in Daytona Beach Shores, is one of Florida’s most unique and sought-after surf schools, offering both private and group surfing lessons for all ages and a top-rated kids’ summer surf camp.
“Daytona Beach is one of the best places in the U.S. to learn how to surf,” says founder and director LJ Kuzmovich. “We have consistent 1-to-3-foot waves pretty much all year, as well as nicely formed sandbars, which makes for good peeling waves.”
Lessons at Pure Life are broken down into three phases—and this strategy is sure to have you up and riding the waves in the first lesson. The first 10-15 minutes will be done on land and goes over proper positioning, techniques and safety. The second phase begins with paddling out to the surf break where you will identify the changes in the waves correlating to the shallow or deep parts of the water. Here you will also learn to sit on the board and how to turn when you’re ready to catch a wave. At this stage instructors push students into the waves to help get them going. In phase three, the instructor takes more of a coaching approach by instructing students on wave selection and timing as well as breaking down the student’s technique.
Pure Life also has a surf camp for kids ages 7-16 all summer long, Monday-Thursday from 9am-12:30pm.
“Our goal is to make sure our kids are having fun and making a connection with the ocean,” says LJ. “We enhance their surfing skills, knowledge of the ocean environment and surfing etiquette, especially when surfing crowded surf locations. Surfing brings us so much joy, and we love to share that with other people.”
Learn more at purelifesurfschool.com.