Dan is Great!!! First time we came it was my wife and me. She had a little previous experience and it was first time for me. I didn't become a pro but after about 1.5 hours I was able to catch and ride. My wife was doing even better. Few weeks later we came back with our friends and their 10 year old kids. Everyone enjoyed it a lot. The girl was a little hesitant at first but by the end of the lesson we couldn't pull her out of the water. Thank you Dan for a great lessons & vibe read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

Took my husband for a surf lesson with DanSurf and it was an amazing experience! Dan is personable, super patient, and incredibly knowledgeable about surfing, the ocean, and the area. The 1:1 instruction was great, he had everything we needed--highly recommend! read more

Had a great session with Dan today. He picked out a great board for me, was patient with my group, and scheduled a session for us quickly. Appreciate you Dan! read more

I couldn't think of a better teacher for my son's first surfing experience. Dan is so knowledgable, patient, chill and explains things very clearly. He had my kid catching waves within 30 minutes of first getting on a surfboard. He's very experienced and knows the area so well and has plenty of interesting tidbits. His prices are also so reasonable and was easy to set up the lesson and coordinate with. We'll definitely contact him again when we're in the area next. read more

Dan is amazing. I highly recommend his services as a surf coach. He taught my husband, daughters and me how to surf. The conditions were not what he expected, so he kindly asked for us to reschedule even though we were already there. He told us that since we are locals, he would prefer to give us the BEST conditions rather than force my 10-year old to deal with rough waves. We were greatly impressed with his integrity and consideration. My husband taught himself how to surf a shortboard, so it was his first time on a longboard. Andrew was really happy to learn some tips he would never have learned on his own. Those are the benefits of training with a professional. From beginning to end, Dan gave us fantastic customer service and tremendous patience. The following week, my daughter took a second lesson with her 10-year old best friend. This time, she was able to fully stand. My 16-year old and I were able to pop up and stand during our first lesson. I knew that a second lesson would greatly help the younger one. All 4 of us can surf now. Dan instilled in us the belief that we can do it. Now we just need to practice. I told an entire 4th grade class about Dansurf. I'm certain more of Anais's classmates will take classes with Dan. 2 hours per class. PERFECT! Priced perfectly. Now we'll be investing in a rack and boards because we really are happy that we can Surf as a FAMILY. Dan, I'm also telling all of my patients about you! read more

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Dan is a phenomenal instructor! He was beyond patient with our group of 4. He is very knowledgable in safety and ways of the ocean for beginners. The in ocean coaching was very helpful and was also a very easy person to talk to. Also, his prices were the best around. What's not to like? Thanks again, Dan! read more

Went with my younger siblings, it really was a lovely time. I admit I am not very strong in the water (I can swim, but prefer to stay on land LOL). However, Coach Dan was very accommodating for all three of us and our varying swim levels, and is a very personable and affable person. He graciously provided wetsuits, surfboards, and even beach chairs for family. Very honest, fun experience. Highly recommend if you are in the area, even if it seems a bit scary at first. :D read more

Dan was an amazing instructor! We were able to book a lesson for two with just two days notice and he checked the forecast beforehand for us to figure out what time in the day worked best. Neither of us had surfed before and Dan had us riding waves within the first hour. Dan is an awesome guy and a great instructor, would recommend to anyone who is trying to give surfing a go 10/10! read more

If you're debating whether to book or not DO IT NOW!! Highly recommended. Surf lessons have been on my bucket list, and I finally contacted Dan after researching on Yelp. Went out with a friend and loved it so much went out the next weekend with 2 more people (4 friends total). He got us up and riding the first day. It is important to be a little flexible bc if he says the surf conditions aren't great, just trust him, and reschedule. It would be discouraging if you try your first day on choppy water. The 2nd lesson all the tips from the 1st lesson really sank in. It wasn't necessary to do a 2nd lesson, but I really want to get good at it :) read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

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Dan was seriously the best! A group of 8 of us wanted to learn how to surf and Dan handled our large and rowdy group very well. Since there were so many of us and he had 4 boards, we split into two groups which worked out perfect. The foam top boards he provides are perfect for beginners and he also supplies wetsuits. I was so scared of the ocean before I decided to learn how to surf and Dan made us all feel extremely comfortable and at peace w the ocean!! He was a very good instructor and a totally cool guy. Let me tell you, we all loved this experience so much we all decided to get our own boards!! Highly highly recommend Dan. ‍ read more

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Great job. Nice guy. Good lessons. He spent extra time out with my son and his friend

Dan is the best. Neither my son or I had ever been surfing before and while I was in LA visiting my son, looking for something fun to do, we decided to take surfing lessons. On the recommendation of a friend who was an experienced surfer, we chose to go with Dan. That was a great choice. Dan is a wonderful teacher and provided all the equipment for a really great price. We had a great time and I plan on doing it again on my next visit to LA. read more

We had a wonderful time surfing with Dan today. My three teenaged daughters and husband went out with him to learn to surf for the first time. They all got up! The best part is they all had smiles on their faces the entire time. Dan really took his time with them and taught them so much more than just how to get up on a board. He is very knowledgable and patient. He was so easy to book a lesson with and he called us twice before the lesson to check in and let us know what the best time for our lesson would be based on the tides. I would 100% recommend Dan! Book yourself or group a lesson with Dan, you won't be disappointed! read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

A small group of us took surf lessons from Dan. Enjoyed the lesson so much that we can back the following week for a follow up lesson with more people. Very friendly and communicative. Thorough explaining and demonstration, most importantly makes you feel comfortable. Is encouraging but let's you go at your own pace. Would highly recommend! read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

We love Dan! He helped my two teens surf three days last week and we all had the best time. He's the friendliest and most fun surf instructor my kids have used. This is our second set of lessons with him this year and we can't wait to come back. read more

Dan makes surfing feel easier than any other balance sport i've tried! i was always scared to surf but what he taught me made me able to actually surf by the end of our lesson. he gives very valuable pointers and teaches the basics at first and then most of the lesson is spent in the actual water doing the real thing. he went above and beyond and didn't rush to finish the lesson just because of the time. he gave us confidence and made us feel so comfortable. he is the best surfing teacher. now i want to buy a surfboard thanks to Dan. he's the best. read more

Booked 2 lessons with Dan for my teenage daughter and friend. Dan was on time, professional, and provided the wetsuits and boards. He is extremely knowledgable about surfing and is a patient and kind instructor. Both girls were able to get up and had a really terrific time. The beach where Dan conducts the lessons is perfect for beginners. Be sure to bring plenty of quarters to feed the meters in Laguna Beach. Highly recommend DanSurf and we will definitely be returning for more lessons. read more

DanSurf - Surf student under Dan's watchful eye. - Surfing Near Me

When my brother and sister-in-law moved from New York to California, surfing lessons were always something we'd joke about but never thought we'd actually try. On a whim, we decided to reach out to Dan and the rest is history. Dan's patience and passion helped us all find a new appreciation for surfing, and the power of the ocean! Now, for the nitty gritty: Dan is very communicative and helps you find the learners area near Thalia Street. He provides the wetsuits and leashed boards. He even helped us find parking, which can be tricky in the area. We were especially impressed when he asked for our heights, weights, swimming experience and surfing/sports experience before we met up. All of the gear fit perfectly and the equipment was high quality. Plus, he brings water bottles, which you'll DEFINITELY need after stumbling through your first few waves. You'll spend about 20 - 30 minutes on land stretching, practicing your pop ups and talking about what to expect from the waves. As absolute beginners it helped ease any nerves we had before we paddled out. Not to sound ignorant, but surfing is hard as hell! We all weren't ready for the stamina it requires to simply make it out into a calm zone to get ready to catch a wave, much less get on and ride it out! That being said, Dan's patience and easygoing nature made what could have turned into a frustrating experience, extremely fun. There was no pomp or judgement, just helpful tips and guidance. If you're an absolute beginner, he sits next to each member of the group one by one (while the rest of you wade deeper in the water) to help you catch a wave you can handle. Sometimes he'd even give you a literal push haha. Overall, it was an incredibly lovely first experience with surfing. I know my relatives in the area will be coming to see our new friend, again. read more

Great for first timers. Dan got everyone in our group up on their first day. He is knowledgeable of surfing and the ocean, and explains difficult surfing concepts in simplistic terms. Highly recommend for first timers. read more

Dan is a great surf instructor, especially for beginners. He's mindful of the surf conditions and made sure that if we had flexibility in our schedules to go out during a day when the surf was not as high to set ourselves up for success. Dan gave us pointers on when to start paddling to catch a wave. He also gave me a slight boost when I was not paddling fast enough. With Dan's help, my husband and I managed to catch and ride a couple waves all the way to shore by the end of our session! Dan is also an honest businessman. He did not require a deposit to reserve our lesson. For safety reasons, Dan also ensures he does not take more than 4 students at a time unless he has another teaching assistant/coach with him. Thank you for such a fun and informative lesson! read more

Daughter and I had such a fun day surfing with Dan! He was patient, very helpful, and got us surfing in no time. Would highly recommend surfing with Dan. We were complete newbies but Dan took care of us and made sure we had fun! Dan even brought us wetsuits because it was a chilly day - no extra charge. I thought we would still be cold but not so much. would be cold He even had an extra towel for us to dry off with. Tip: get there early, parking is in metered spots sorta wherever you can find one read more

Dan took me out back to back days and it could not have been a better experience! He knows his stuff and really can help you improve your surfing. He made sure it was the perfect day to go out and I had a great time! Look no further than Dan if you want to learn how to surf in the OC. read more

If you're looking for a knowledgeable, patient, friendly surf instructor Dan is your guy!! My husband and I were so impressed with how much our 12 year old son learned in just one lesson. We're so grateful to Dan for giving our son the confidence to tackle a whole new sport that he has really fallen in love with!! Oh and his prices are amazing! read more

I took a private surf lesson with Dan in early March 2020. I had surfed twice before (in Honolulu once and Northern California once, both lessons). Dan was an excellent teacher and taught me techniques I had not previously learned. He was thorough, safe, and fun! It was a relatively mellow day so we had nice chats in between catching waves. I left the lesson happy and extremely exhausted (in the best way possible). I would highly recommend DanSurf to anyone in the Laguna Beach area looking for an enjoyable way to spend two hours. read more

We had the most amazing time at our surf lesson with Dan! He is super patient amd knowledgeable about surfing, the ocean amd the area. Both my husband and I got up on the board thanks to all of Dan's coaching and help. Highly highly recommend. So much fun! read more

Thanks for the patience and all the assistance in our first time out! We started out with a 15-20 minutes stretch/training. Then we suited up and hit the waves! We were absolute beginners and Dan took the time to explain everything in detail. He is super positive and will make sure to put you in position to get up before the time is done! Cash only in the offseason - great value. read more

There's surf lessons, and then there's learning how to surf from Dan! I took a lesson towards the end of January 2020 from Dan in Laguna. I've surfed about a dozen times in the past, but it's been at least 10yrs since I last was on a board. Dan's teaching is incredibly simple, which is helpful for comprehension and understanding. He does a masterful job explaining the technical aspects of surfing, then boiling them down to an easy to understand, intuitive experience. Best of all, he's extremely nice and fun! read more

Having taken surfing lessons before in San Diego, I thought I would give this is a try with some friends who had never gone. For about $90/each in a group on three people, we met Dan on a Saturday morning on the corner of Thalia Street in Laguna Beach. I had no idea what to expect. Below is a summary of the two hour experience. I arrived early and paid for metered parking on PCH, and met Dan at his truck where he presented the boards and wetsuits. The wetsuit size discussion and dimensions (height, weight) were reported before at the time of reservation. After issuing payment at his truck and signing waivers, each person took their board, followed Dan down the street and down steps to the beach. After changing into our wetsuits on the beach, we quickly checked out the waves. It turned out to be a day where the sets were coming in quick and from two different directions. Not the best or worst conditions. However, the early swells were at a perfect height for learning. I also ascertained, through Dan, to watch out for rocks below. I still couldn't avoid getting my feet cut, as constant swells made it hard to paddle out. After changing, and before heading out, Dan showed us the basic pop up move. While I wished he had taken a bit more time to show us techniques, like in finding your balance on the board and to practice it, we went right out onto the water in about ten minutes. I felt like we went right out to practice, or eat waves trying. My arms were very tired in the process of paddling, and while I couldn't understand how to get traction and speed until much later, Dan was very patient and calm. We discussed stories in between swells to relax, and I asked as many questions as I could. Now this is the understated part of the experience and the message that you should ask as many questions as possible. That is, communicate and let him know what you feel comfortable, don't understand, or find difficult. Through this process I felt like I got the most bang for my buck, and understood how to watch for better sets in the process. Two tired hours later, I felt satisfied in my experience eating many waves (I didn't get to stand up) although I wish I had tried getting onto more swells. I guess that is the bug, right? Either way, I found the experience rewarding and better than taking a larger class. I also recommend going onto YouTube and watching someone discuss the fundamentals of getting up on a board and teach you about the basics of surfing. This way you'll be ahead of the curve when you arrive to class, and will be more likely to have a better experience. I would try this again, and am happy for the experience I had at DanSurf. read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

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Great surfing lesson on beautiful Laguna Beach. A brochure strategically placed near the front desk of my hotel first tipped me off to check out Dan's surfing lessons. I booked same day, and the price was very reasonable compared to the competitors nearby. The equipment was new and the wet suite fit great (don't be alarmed when he asks for your height and weight). I had zero experience with surfing, or any water sports for that mater, and I had a blast! The two hour private lesson was conducted almost entirely in the water and it was a beautiful day. Dan made sure I rode as many (size appropriate) waves as I could fit into that time frame and always gave me a push so I could go fast enough to actually catch the wave. Dan also knew when the big waves were coming and how best to avoid getting pummeled (paddle into them or swim underneath). Be prepared for a workout and wear sunblock :-) Dan used to work for the bigger surf lessons school in Laguna and just went solo. I would encourage everyone to support this new small business - you'll have a great time doing it! read more

Had a great lesson with my 16 year old son thas past week. Dan is very personable and a great teacher. All aspects of safety and the technical details were presented before entering the water. Most all of the lesson is conducted in the water. Dan supplies the wetsuit if needed and the board. He has the best pricing by far for a 2 hour lesson and has a vast amount of past experience teaching for larger companies. Go see Dan and get your surf on! read more

Dan is awesome & so friendly! He had great communication from start to finish- he explained everything clearly as to what to expect, asked us details about us (height, weight, physical activity level etc) to best fit our needs for board/wetsuit/ waves, & kept us up to date on finding the perfect day for us beginners to start! Out on the water he was so nice and had lots of patience with us & gave me lots of boost pushes as I wasn't a strong swimmer. Would totally recommend him to all my friends & family! Thanks Dan for a great experience! read more

Fantastic lessons, super friendly service and great equipment. Dan taught us the basics, took us to the water and we had a great time. My husband was riding the waves shortly after we began our first lesson. I highly recommend Dan Surf. He is a local that knows the water, and has many years of teaching experience. read more

DanSurf - Dan and the guys having a great time in Laguna Beach! - Surfing Near Me

Dan was an amazing instructor! He was very knowledgeable and friendly. I went with my friend, and we were nervous because it was our first time surfing, but with his guidance we were able to catch a lot of waves! 10/10 would recommend! read more

We had a family surf lesson and Dan was awesome! I would totally recommend him. He was prompt, professional, and knowledgeable. The kids and grown ups had a great time and we had some success riding waves! read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

Dan is legit! So nice, so patient with newbies, and a great teacher. Great pricing with everything included!

After a quick search we came across dansurf. Great reviews, competitive price, appealing website. After given Dan a call we scheduled our first ride on the waves ever - and Dan did a great job in giving the right basics, great support and learning by doing approach. Already after a couple of times the first pop up was a fact including a big smile during and after the ride! Def a great recommendation if yiu visit Laguna and want to surf! read more

Dan is super nice and I had an AWESOME day! I totally recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to surf. I have had zero surfing experience before this, but Dan made it super easy and fun for me and I was standing up pretty quick. Laguna beach where we go surfing is very nice and full of wild life. I had a great experience with Dan! read more

DanSurf - Surfing Near Me

I was in CA with limited time for a lesson last week. I scheduled with Dan and he contacted me the day before to confirm our appointment and suggested that we meet at the beach the morning of our session to make sure surf conditions were suitable. Dan was on time and we both agreed that it looked like a good day. Dan is a patient and knowledgeable teacher. He's a mellow and friendly guy and I would definitely take another lesson from him. read more

I booked DanSurf after reading the last positive review on Yelp! and I couldn't have been more pleased. Dan was knowledgable, patient, and easy to talk to (which I think is key for one-on-one lessons). He provided a quality wetsuit, board, and a complimentary bottle of water as part of the package. We spent the great majority of the two hour lesson in the water, which I appreciated. Dan gives excellent guidance, but ultimately lets you steer the experience. You could pay a lot more at other places, but Dan's lesson was the right combination of price and fun. read more

Dan is a surf teacher rock star! He had my two daughters ages 8yrs and 11yrs up on the boards on their first runs. And many more times during the two hour lesson. Had a blast. Dan is kind, gracious and genuine. Highly recommend! read more

DanSurf - Once again, highly recommend Dan, especially for beginners. My daughters had a blast! Dan is a super star instructor! - Surfing Near Me