I just got back from a Fulcrum Surf trip to El Salvador. Supremely organized by Dan Mori, every detail was taken care of from the minute we left. We were accompanied by two world class Fulcrum coaches, Giancarlos Urcia Calle and Stephen Moore who spent hours in and out of the water with us. Every single one of us came home showing vast improvements, along with photos and videos, and we also had the best fun! Perfect accommodations, delicious food and friendly hosts. Fulcrum is at the top of their game and it shows. They're also the only people I entrust to teach my 6, 8 and 10 year old kids and I owe it to Dan and his team for instilling a lifelong love of surfing in my children. Fulcrum has shown me, and my kids, the sheer joy of surfing and I'm indebted. read more

Best time of our lives! This was my first time surfing and I got the lesson for a gift. I was nervous but Dan and Steve made it so easy! I highly recommend Fulcrum Surf. read more

GC and Stephen gave my boys, ages 9 and 13, an amazing first time surfing experience. They were both up on their boards within 30 minutes. GC and Stephen were very responsive to the individual needs of each student (private lessons but they switched instructors at the halfway point), making sure they were comfortable while pushing them just enough to make sure they were learning. The boys loved every minute of their lessons and hope to continue surfing once the weather warms up back east. I highly recommend GC and Stephen, both are superb instructors! read more

My friend and I had an amazing time taking the surfing lessons with Stephen Moore. It was easy to book, we had everything included like wetsuit and board and more important was that we did managed to stand up on the board from lesson 1. We were a bit nervous because we never did any surfing, but it turned out to be a very relaxing and enjoyable experience! read more

Got a surf lesson with Stephen Moore and Connor. Steve worked with my kids who had an absolute blast. He got them really excited, and had them doing tricks by the second lesson. Highly recommend read more

Our two boys, ages 6 and 9, took a summer camp with their friends. They had a blast all week. The instructors were great and taught them a lot about ocean safety as well. All boards, wetsuits, snacks, etc. were provided and we got some great pictures from Fulcrum as well. Will look to do another week at the end of the summer. read more

Dan was terrific. He was patient, kind, answered all of my questions. Setting up the lesson was a breeze. I would highly recommend Fulcrum. read more

Fulcrum Surf ran surf lessons for 29 folks as part of a conference we were holding in San Diego. We spent the day at the Del Mar Powerhouse Beach and treated 29 adults and kids to surf lessons.. every instructor was kind, funny, patient and a ton of fun to be around. Steven, Justin and Amanda ( and others) made the day. In fact my family and a few others then signed up for the surf camp for the next 2 days. Highly recommend them, as they were professional, kind and gracious. read more

My boyfriend and I did a one hour semi-private lesson with just the two of us. To our delight we actually had two instructors, Stephen and Tabitha, so each of us had our own private instructor the entire time! I'm pretty sure we spent a full hour in the water because the entire lesson was about an hour and a half. We are both beginners and agreed the one hour lesson was the perfect amount of time in the water. Stephen and Tabitha gave us a lot of good feedback and made sure we caught the best waves. Totally worth the money, would definitely surf with Fulcrum again! read more

Fulcrum surf is just what our tweens and teens need. The instructors/mentors at Fulcrum help the kids channel their energy into something positive and help them improve their surf techniques which boosts their self esteem. I'm a big fan of Fulcrum and what they stand for. read more

We were looking for first time surf lessons for our four children, ages 8-15 while vacationing in Del Mar. Based mainly on comparative reviews, we picked Fulcrum. Registering and securing a time slot were pretty simple online, plus we finalized details over the phone. Steven and GC were great with our kids during the one hour lesson. At first we thought we might need to add another hour, but quickly realized its a lot of work to learn to swim--both for our kids, and I'm sure for the instructors as well (though they didn't show it). Each got up in the board for awhile--some easier than others. One even learned a little trick move. Considering there were four kids with differing abilities, I was concerned about safety when they weren't together, but the guys had it under control. We'd do it again if we had stayed longer--maybe on a future trip. read more

My daughter and I took a three day trip to San Diego and stayed in Del Mar. She took surf lessons with Steve Moore from Fulcrum three days in a row and was begging to stay and surf more:) She got up on her first time!! Stephen was so patient and enthusiatic every time she got up on the board even after four hours of lessons back to back. I do not know how he does it...I guess his love for the sport and to see others catch the Surf Bug!!! I would definitely recommend Fulcrum Surf to anyone and specifically Stephen Moore who capture the whole surf experience for my daughter. I told them she may be back down soon to work for the summer:) read more

It's a good place to rent and/or surf, nice people, responsive. Here's the thing w/ surf lessons. Are they really lessons? They get in the water and it's a free for all - who gets up, who falls, etc. If they manage to stand or even catch a wave, I think it's more about luck than coaching. The actual skill is not really "taught or learned", it's just 'grab a board and go'. Fun for the kids but a v. expensive way to spend an hour. read more

I traveled to Del Mar for a soccer tournament and I didn't think I would be surfing, but I am glad I did! I had my first surf lesson ever with Fulcrum Surf School. Dan was an amazing instructor and I got right up. Everyone knows how important your first encounter with a person or company is, and I picked the best surf school in Del Mar! Fulcrum Surf's instructors are the BEST! They are all properly trained, experienced and are very patient with their customers. I HAD A BLAST! Now I'm hooked on surfing. I know the next time I'm in Del Mar, Fulcrum Surf will be the ONLY place I will call! read more

Dan Mori and Fulcrum Surf School are top of the line. I got a private lesson for my girlfriend for her birthday. She's been surfing for years and was interested in taking her surfing to the next level. As the lesson started, Dan talked to her on the beach, assessed her level, checked her equipment, went through some coaching on the beach and then got in the water. He coached her on what to focus on and critiqued every one of her rides with what she did correctly and what she needed to change. I believe this is the best type of coaching. He was really good at pointing out exactly what she was doing wrong and needed to fix. Her surfing immediately started to improve after that one session, and has continued to improve since. At the end of the lesson, Dan did a debrief about the things to work on both in and out of the water as well as equipment, which is important and hard to get right. I watched some of the other students Fulcrum was working with. They were all having fun being coached and working toward surfing better. Some of the experienced students were surfing at very high levels you see in contest surfing. In addition, the Fulcrum coaches and staff were nice, fun and respectful, as were the students. After getting my girlfriend a surf lesson, I decided jump in on her next lesson. Dan showed me how to correct errors I was making and helped me take my surfing to another level with speed, power and flow. We are both continuing to improve and are having fun surfing in any condition. Thanks again Dan and Fulcrum! Highest recommendation! read more

This place is legit!! Their instructors have coached my wife how to surf and the importance of water safety. They took a lesson in Encinitas where the guy Jason didn't have a surf permit so they were trying to keep it low key so they don't get fined....how unprofessional is that! Anyway Fulcrum Surf always answers and or gets back to you real quick to schedule your next lesson unlike many of those that called the following day (like I'm gonna use a company that takes 24-48 hours to schedule a lesson for today!!! Crazy!). Oh we'll they are a bunch of surfers. read more

If you want to learn to surf, Fulcrum is the place. Ask for Stephen Moore. He showed me the pop-up and finally said that I'd need to 'commit' in order to catch a wave and I've never looked back. There's nothing else like it, so look up Fulcrum, schedule a lesson and I'll see you out there. read more

I recently met Stephen and he gave my son (11 yo) four private lessons. I can say without question, he is an amazing instructor. He understands the importance of giving feedback after each ride, both positive and constructive. He has a huge amount of patience which also is critical when teaching any discipline, especially to kids. He is very good at breaking down the fundamentals and then building upon them. My son went from surfing whitewater to dropping in and completing legit carving both front and back side. We will without question be back for more lessons with Stephen. Thanks Stephen! read more

I just started surfing this past summer and found myself going from one surf school to the next. I was looking for the right coach that not only had a passion for surfing, but also had the commitment and dedication to helping me achieve my goal. It wasn't until I met Dan and his team at Fulcrum that I started to feel this was possible! Not only did I feel like I was getting excellent coaching from everyone on his team, I also felt a sense of security in the water. My first lesson I was standing up in the white water and it wasn't long after I was paddling out past the break and catching real waves. Their coaching style is unique to any other surf school in San Diego. They are all experienced, passionate, and professional surfers that are motivated to helping you achieve your goals. Thank you Dan, Sean, and Stephen for such an amazing experience! read more

I was in the area for 5 days on a solo trip. I had no set plans and was going with the flow. I called Fulcrum Surf on my 4th day to see if it would be possible to get a private lesson the next day. I know.....talk about last minute! The guy on the phone, (sorry-I didn't get your name) was helpful and quick to schedule me for the only morning slot left. He explained everything clearly and was friendly. I was fortunate to spend an hour with Steve Moore that next morning. It was the best experience of my month long trip! Important to note, it was not only my first time surfing but my first time in an ocean! Steve helped me with the wet suit and we spent maybe 10 minutes on the sand where he showed me how to get up. He was clear in his instruction and each time I practiced, told me what I needed to change. I'm a visual learner and it really helped that he marked the spots where my feet should be on the board with wax. The waters were pretty choppy that day but I wouldn't have known the difference since I'm a newbie. Steve knew what he was doing though and I felt great being out there with him. It didn't take me long to realize that surfing is work and Steve did most of it for me that day. It didn't take long at all and I got up. Each time, Steve told me what I did right or what I did wrong and I adjusted. He was very easy going and I felt comfortable even when my attempts were terrible. I was able get up several times and eventually ride! It was the best feeling! I drove out of town that night wishing I could remain for another lesson with Steve. Afterward, the staff took photos for me and everyone was professional and friendly. The next day, I received a follow up call from Fulcrum Surf and I told them that I couldn't have imagined a better experience. I will definitely be back! read more

My family has been surfing with Fulcrum for 3 years. Started with just a week of summer camp, which then continued to the after school program and next to the ISPE program for middle school. The instructors do a great job teaching and keeping it fun for the kids. They always have a great instructor to student ratio depending on level of the surfers and are all over safety. Looking forward to camp next week for my 2 boys and my daughter starts up ISPE again soon. Thanks Fulcrum team! read more

I can't even say enough about this company and the instructors! I am not the best swimmer in the world, but I grew up in California and always wanted to surf. My friend and I went out for an hour session, and we were both was riding waves by the end of it. It was crazy! Before I went, I was worried about the waves being too big or that my lack of swimming skills would be a problem. Luckily, it wasn't! My instructor was with me the whole time. He gave me pointers throughout, but didn't overwhelm me. He made sure I got over each wave OK while we were paddling out, and he only pushed me into waves that he knew I could handle. The instructor was younger than I was, but his level of experience and knowledge of the ocean was impressive. You could tell he had practically been surfing since birth. haha! I felt completely confident that he would take care of me, and his positive, upbeat attitude kept me going whenever I would get frustrated. I'm a little bit of a perfectionist... :-P Overall, it was one of the most exhilarating days. The day we went, it was cold and gloomy outside, but the wetsuits they provided kept me so warm I didn't even notice. They were nice wetsuits too, not like the holey wetsuits I've seen some schools hand out. I highly recommend learning to surf, and I think there is no better people to learn from than at Fulcrum Surf! read more

Fulcrum was awesome. I signed up my 9 yr old daughter and 11yr old son for a 4 day package. My 9 yr old daughter requested a female instructor and the day of the lesson we were greeted by a highly skilled and personable woman. She was able to meet my daughter right where she was at, and then take her to the next level. I was happily surprised by her ability to be so attuned to my daughters strengths and weakness and meet those with skill, kindness and encouragement. My daughter was so sad when the 4 days were over! I was stoked to be able to paddle out myself on a different peak and catch some waves too. My son was looking for a surf guide in So. Cal and Fulcrum provided just that--a young man who was enthusiastic and flexible with meeting us where the surf might be best the morning of the lesson. Although we set a time and place in advance, the surf coach and I were able to text the night before or the morning of and review the weather and decide on where and when to meet. My son was able to paddle out into breaks in tight knit communities and catch waves as well surf more challenging breaks. Having a coach allowed all of us to be more confident and enjoy the pleasure of surfing in California. It was really neat for him to have a skilled and gung-ho person out in the line-up with him. I was able to sit on the beach and film. My son really enjoyed the connection and meeting a talented surfer in the San Diego area. read more

This will be a long review I hope it is helpful. I can be critical and analytical so don't take my 5 star review lightly. I value quality over quantity and Fulcrum isn't the cheapest surf school, but I definitely feel I got what I paid for. I have about 20 hours of surfing experience. I have taken six 1 hour surf coaching lessons from Fulcrum Surf School. Surfing conditions make a big difference and the coaches can't control that. But they know how to read the swell, currents, breaks etc and set you up in the best spot for your experience level. Stephen Moore gave me my last session this month. Highly recommended. He has the most experienced feedback, his observations and communication skills are impressive, I will definitely hire Stephen for another session. Conditions were pretty rough that day and I hadn't been in the ocean for 4 months. So we stayed inside and worked on my form and balance. Really helped me surf better solo the remainder of the week. I will hire Stephen again for sure. Giancarlos (GC) took me out for my first time on a surf board last summer. He has tons of enthusiasm he really makes it fun, I recommend him for anyone but I imagine he would be awesome with kids, I'm going to get my kids a lesson with him this summer. My first 2 lessons were with GC, both days we got lucky, summer conditions were perfect, glassy 2' waves, no wind, and I was up in no time. GC spent time with me on the beach teaching me his pop up style and we spent the first day on the inside. The 2nd day hey took me to the outside and helped me catch some green waves and taught me to duck dive, and how to avoid nose diving. It was an epic day. Every lesson was awesome though, Matt King was fun he really pushed my limits. Two summer sessions with almost perfect conditions. I'll never forget early one morning glassy 5' waves, raining, almost nobody in the water. Matt helped me catch a 5' wave in perfect position, took a left turn and had the longest ride of my life (on a surf board). I had a session with Moses in January. He is a good coach but I brought a high performance board with little buoyancy and used that instead of the recommended foam board provided by Fulcrum. Listen to your coaches and don't try to go too big too fast. I wasted a lot of time and money on boards too small and advanced for me. Stick with a big foam board and follow the coaches instructions. Thanks Fulcrum for the good times. Looking forward to future sessions. read more

Fulcrum Surf is one of the very best small businesses I have EVER come across! Dan is very involved and genuinely wants every client to have a great experience. I have both a 14 yr old son and a 11 yr old daughter who have participated in summer camps for beginners, travel camps for intermediate surfers, Independent study PE (ie. Private or semi private coaching). They even organize surf trips to costa rica,and other hot surf spots! Our experience has been A+. Dan hires the very best, most enthusiastic, positive coaches for the beginners, and intelligent, focused ones for the intermediates and both pushes and encourages the advanced kids. They have something for every level. Above all, the very best staff, and a very savvy organization, in tune with what kids want and need. Give them a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

Beware!!!!! Reckless!! Go to another surf school. My son who has taken lessons before did the summer camp here. They tote the 2 to 1 ratio, and definitely charge for it. However, he had minimal to no instruction time and while he and another student were unsupervised, another student's board hit a wave and hit my son in the trachea!! When I picked up my son at the end of the camp day, he was near tears. I spoke to one of the instructors and he laughed off my son's injury like it was nothing. This injury happened 1.5 hours or so into the camp and no one ever called me. He was told to just "relax and breathe and he'd be fine". Well, they were WRONG and NEGLIGENT. I was told by the Dr to take him to the ER as this injury was serious. He has bleeding in his vocal chords and mucous membranes from the trachea injury. We're are getting a CT Scan as we speak. I'm beyond words. So so upset. They tote the 2 to 1 ratio - when I called them about this incident they said they had the quoted ratio of 2 to 1 by manpower, but realistically this isn't truly possible because you're in an ocean, so in reality that's really hard. WHAT!?!! We did Sol Surf and never ever had this issue. Terrible company that claims supervision and instruction. My son said he asked for an instructor to help him with technique, and he was ignored. Absolutely horrible experience. read more

Stephen Moore is an awesome instructor! I have gone out on my own and been frustrated at not being able to stand up on my board! When I had lessons with Stephen, I was able to stand up more than 5 times and ride a long wave! Now that's fun!! Oh, and he's a surf champion, too! Thanks, Stephen! read more

Amazing customer service: friendly, competent, and quick! I received a quality and complete surf lesson, with an extremely safe and knowledgable staff. Highly recommend!!! read more

Stephen Moore is an awesome surf instructor! I had been frustrated that I wasn't able to stand up on my surf board at all. After a couple of lessons with Stephen, I was able to stand up more than 5 times and ride waves in! Thanks, Stephen, for all the encouragement and making it fun! read more

While on vacation, my sister and I did 2 private session with Fulcrum Surf. It was our introduction into the world of surfing. Special compliments to Dan who was our coach. He was very patient and encouraging; constantly offering professional and highly intuitive instruction. After every wave, he would provide specific tips so that we could be better on the next wave. Thank you Fulcrum Surf for giving us such an awesome experience. We can't wait for surf trip in Australia next year. read more

Just had a lesson & loved it. Fulcrum was recommended on a local Facebook group so I tried it out & definitely made the right choice. Stephen Moore was the best, patient, easy to learn from & got me up more times than I expected. First time I ever surfed and ready to go again. Signed up for more lessons. I you're looking for lessons, I highly recommend them. Great boards, new suits. Everything is 5 star. read more

GC is a great instructor. It was a challenging and satisfying morning on the water at Powerhouse Park in Del Mar. Looking forward to the next time. read more

It was my daughters first time surfing. We went to rent surfboards, Steven was very helpful and nice I will definitely come back in the future read more

Thought I was going to spend the day =falling off, but I actually got up on the board and rode a couple waves. Steve was an awesome teacher -- super patient and encouraging!! Every part of the process was run professionally. Will definitely be back. read more

My son has taken several surf lessons with Stephen and I have to say, he is the most patient, enthusiastic, fun, and knowledgable surf coach we have seen. My son feels safe and confident with Stephen by his side and that means a lot! If you are thinking about taking surf lessons, be sure to go to Fulcrum and request Stephen! read more

Our 7 year old son has been taking lessons from Stephen Moore for about 1 month now, every Tuesday and Thursday. He now can drop in on 6 foot waves, his turns have improved and he will turn around on his board to face the other way. Tuesday and Thursday morning are his highlight of the week. Thank you Stephen!! read more

In Del Mar for a week on vacation with my teenage son, watching the surfers from shore and wondering if I could ever experience that thrill. It looks daunting, but with the right instructor it is not too hard. We were fortunate to have Stephen as our instructor, as he not only did most of the heavy lifting, so to speak, he was also very personable and just fun to be around. Stephen a well-experienced teacher who will show you the right techniques, and when you find yourself standing on the surfboard riding a wave to the beach you be grinning from ear to ear. read more

Steve was awesome! He has great technique and was so patient. I would highly recommend him for both kids and adults!

I live in Ottawa, Canada and I visit San Diego regularly. Coming from the snow to sunny Southern California is always a treat but surfing with Steve Moore of Fulcrum made this trip an unforgettable one. Steve is an accomplished professional surfer and in my opinion an even more accomplished instructor. His expertise and enthusiasm made me feel comfortable and confident. I was amazed to get many great rides in the first hour! Add in a stray seal or two and you have a surreal experience. Fulcrum is a professional organization that offers excellent value for the money. Board and wetsuit are provided for the lesson so you just have to show up and have a great time. The beach at Del Mar is easy to get to and offers convenient parking. There is a big grassy area for friends and family to hang out and it is a 2 minute walk to the town's shops and restaurants. I highly recommend Steve Moore and Fulcrum Surfing School and will be going back many more times. read more

Great family lessons, kids and parents all got up in one lesson, had a great time. Thank you Stephen!