We offer a range of surf lessons designed to meet your needs—whether you're a beginner or looking to level up. Everything is geared to help you move forward safely and confidently.

We offer individual lessons, couples lessons, family lessons, and larger group lessons.

We also have experience running single or multi-day surf camps. You can book our surfing services to complement your yoga retreat, staff event, bachelorette party, or any other excuse you can think of to try surfing.

Step 1: Contact us by this website or email. We'll decide what kind of lesson would best fit your goals and schedule and time and place. Step 2: Get ready. You’ll need to bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and water. If you have time get your body ready, work on quad, core, and arm strength as well as flexibility. Start with one slow burpee (laying on your front to push-up to getting feet under you to standing with a squat) and do more/faster as you can. Step 3: Show up. Before the lesson we’ll have you sign a waiver. After the lesson, you can pay by cash, Venmo, or credit card.

Experience, mission, and attitude.

We offer the only certified master surf instructor on the central coast. Our lead instructor, Sada, has surfed for over 30 years. She has decades of teaching experience, in and out of the waves. (She is also a certified lifeguard.)

We are here to give surf lessons and connect people with the waves who might not fit the regular “surf lesson” mold. Adults learn to surf differently. Women learn to surf differently. People with physical limitations learn to surf differently. Neurodivergent people learn to surf differently. Anxious people learn to surf differently. [You] have a way of learning that is unique to you. That’s why we’re here.

We want you to feel safe and confident in the water, helping you have the time of your life while learning a new skill in a supportive, positive environment.

You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

We haven’t increased prices for year because we want it to be available for everyone. All individual lessons are $160, with discounted multi-packages and group pricing available. You don’t pay until your lesson. You can pay by cash, Venmo, or credit card.

Board and wetsuit (necessary) are included in the price, but there is a discount if you bring your own.

MCS teaches lessons year-round. Summer is the most popular beacause of the warmer weather, warmer water temperatures, and smaller waves (better for beginners). Lessons can be scheduled up to six months ahead of time. Book summer and holiday lessons early to get the times you want.

We try to schedule most lessons in the mornings, beginning around 7:30-8:00am. Every wonder why surfers talk about "dawn patrol"? It's not just so they can get in a session before work or school - the surf is often better in the mornings. We'll talk about why during your lesson. When scheduling your private lesson, we'll look at the day, the location, and the tides in order to get just the right combination. Some lessons are done in the afternoon or evening, starting at 1pm or 4pm. Please arrive at your lesson 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to sign in and get ready.

MCS is available to teach surf lessons anywhere, but we're based in San Luis Obispo County on the central coast of California. We teach people to surf at Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Avila Beach, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and Cambria. Our preference is usually Morro Bay or Pismo Beach, which are beach breaks and can be the best for beginner surfers. When you schedule a lesson, we'll decide on the best place for you.

Not in SLO? Not a problem. Private, out-of-area surf instruction available by special arrangement. We've surfed from San Diego to Santa Cruz, North Carolina to Maine, Hawaii to England to Africa, and we're always looking for new spots.

Great question! First of all, start anywhere. You don’t have to be in your best shape to start surfing. In fact, surfing uses a specialized group of muscles for things like paddling, so even people in great shape can struggle when they start out.

Most surfers like to stand up on their surfboard, so work on basics like going from laying on your belly to standing. No, you don’t have to jump, or “pop", up right away. Just start slow and balanced and work up to faster and balanced.

Strengthen your major muscle groups and core. Exercises like push-ups, squats, and planks or sit-ups are a start. Work up to mountain-climbers and burpees if you have time.

You’ll find that flexibility is helpful, so get in some stretches to increase your range of motion. Yoga can help here.

If you already swim, great. Get some extra laps in so you’re comfortable in the water.

We will do warm-ups and stretches before every lesson, but we’re always ready to give advice on more specialized training for surfing if it fits your goals.