Learning How to Surf in Santa Cruz?

In a couple of weeks time I will be returning to Santa Cruz for the 4th time since working there in the summer of 1999, but this will be the first time I will try and learn how to surf.

I never got round to learning when I worked there and my visits since have been for 1 day and with people who don%26#39;t like swimming etc.

Where is the cheapest place I could learn how to surf for a few hours to actually tell people I have tried it?

Thanks

Learning How to Surf in Santa Cruz?

Forget ';the cheapest place,'; it will be an unsatisfying experience.

Contact the local surf shops and tell them you want a personal lesson, and you need to rent a board and a wetsuit. They will help you out, pronto.

Learning How to Surf in Santa Cruz?

Under %26#39;surfing instructions%26#39; in the local telephone book I get these two listings...

Club Ed Surf School and Camps...831-464-0177

Richard Schmidt Surf School, Inc. 831-423-0928. www.richardschmidt.com

But if it were I, I would contact O%26#39;Neill Surf Shop. There are several locations, the downtown one is 831-469-4377. After all, O%26#39;Neill invented the modern wet suit as it is known today. I would trust them to give me a recommendation based on my situation.

And NO, do not do it on the cheap.

Good luck.

I suggest that you ignore what%26#39;s in the phone book.

You want to contact a respected surf shop and ask for a recommendation for personal instructor.

Thanks for all your help, will check it out when we get there

Can%26#39;t wait to return

When we were in SC last summer, my 13 year old wanted to learn to surf. We booked a group lesson through Club Ed and she had a WONDERFUL experience. They are right in front of the hotel on the beach just right of the pier (can%26#39;t remember the name). It was around $80 for about 20 minutes of onland instruction and then another 1hour 40 minutes of surfing. The instructor stayed with her in the water and helped her get up her first time but after that she did just great on her own. The lessons are at Cowell%26#39;s Beach and it was very crowded with other beginning surfers, but it didn%26#39;t seem to be a problem.

One other thing - her lesson was at 6:00 am - I guess that was when the waves were the best!

Get there early - it takes a while to squeeze into a wet suit!