I get this question every week, especially in May when the water finally warms up and people decide this is the summer they're going to learn. "Where should I take a lesson?" Honestly, the answer matters. A bad first lesson can sour someone on surfing for life. A good one and you've got a lifelong addiction.
Here are the three local schools I send people to. They each have a different vibe, and one of them is probably right for you.
1. Cove Crew Surf School (Driftwood Bay)
This is the oldest school in Puka Cove. Run by a woman named Lani Park who's been teaching beginners on Driftwood Bay since 2009. They run group lessons (4-6 students) Saturday and Sunday mornings, plus weekday privates. Driftwood Bay is the perfect beginner break — long, slow, sandy bottom, no rocks, the kind of wave that gives you a chance to figure out your feet without punishing you when you mess up.
Why I send people here: Lani's instructors are calm. Nobody's yelling at you to "GO GO GO." The lessons are structured but not military. You'll be popping up by the end of the second session.
Pricing: ~$85 group, $150 private. They have a 3-lesson package that's worth it.
Heads up: They book up two weeks out for May weekends. Plan ahead.
2. Salt + Stone Surf Co. (Manzanita Point)
The newer kids. Two former pro longboarders, brothers, opened this in 2022. They focus on women's-only and youth lessons, which is a real gap in this area. Manzanita Point is a slightly punchier wave than Driftwood, so this is more for someone who's already done a couple lessons and wants to level up, not a true day-one beginner.
Why I send people here: The women's-only group lessons are excellent. My friend Theresa took one in March and came out with a totally different relationship with the ocean. Their kids' camps in summer are also legitimately good — not just "babysit the kids on a beach" energy.
Pricing: ~$95 group, $175 private, $400 for a 5-day kids' camp.
Heads up: Manzanita can get crowded on summer weekends. Book the early slot (7 AM) and you'll basically have the place to yourselves.
3. Pelican Bluff Surf Academy
This one's for people who already surf a little and want coaching, not lessons. Run by a guy named Gabe Reyes. He's got the longest list of "former students who now actually surf well" of anyone I know. Gabe will videotape you, watch the tape with you over coffee, and tell you the three things you're doing wrong. It's tough love in the best way.
Why I send people here: If you've been surfing for a year or two and feel stuck, Gabe will unstick you in three sessions. He's expensive but he's worth it.
Pricing: $200/session privates only. No groups, no kids, no walk-ins.
Heads up: Pelican Bluff itself is not a beginner break. If you can't paddle out without a leash on, this isn't the school for you yet. Build up at Driftwood first, then come here.
WILLIE'S TAKE: "I HAVE OPINIONS ON ALL THREE OF THESE PLACES. LANI GIVES ME TREATS. SO I PICK LANI."
What to bring to your first lesson
All three schools provide the board and the wetsuit. You bring: a swimsuit you don't mind getting sand in, a towel, a water bottle, and sunscreen. You don't need to bring wax. We do, however, supply them all with Willie's bars (cool water, May appropriate), so technically your first encounter with our wax may already be set up. Just saying.
Why I'm telling you this
Because if you take a lesson, learn to surf, and stick with it, eventually you'll be one of the regulars I see at Puka Pier on Saturday mornings. And honestly the lineup could use more friendly faces. So go take a lesson. Pick whichever one above fits your stage. Tell them Kai sent you and they might throw in an extra session or at least say hi.
If you'd rather just hang out and watch a lesson before committing — Driftwood Bay on Saturday at 8 AM, sit in the sand with a coffee, you'll see Cove Crew running a class. Nobody'll bother you. Take it in. Decide if it's for you.
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