Did a surf coaching session with John and couldn't recommend more! John is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I've been surfing for 15-20 years, but it was extremely beneficial to have him take video and break down technique, body mechanics, positioning, etc. Really think this will help take my surfing to the next level. Great guy and great program! Can't wait to do more. read more

John was such a great instructor! I left feeling a much more confident surfer and I'm excited to go back. He was focused on giving me the lesson I wanted, not just a cookie cutter lesson. Actually this was the best surf lesson I've ever had from anyone, by far. His wife Jenny was also very helpful helping us schedule a last minute instruction session. They were also flexible and accommodating with our board and wetsuit rentals. And helped us determine a spot to surf and worked with us with our schedule changes. And their prices were the best. We don't need to keep searching next time, we will definitely call them when we return. read more

Amazing team - responsive, friendly, accommodating, and knowledgeable. My daughter and I had a blast and Violette was fantastic. Highly recommend! read more

After several sessions with Chris at LTR, we'd give more than five stars if we could. The confidence our kids have gained is incredible, and they've truly developed a love for surfing. Chris is knowledgeable, fun, and brings such a positive, encouraging vibe to every lesson that our kids just gravitate to. His coaching is outstanding--professional, yet laid-back in the best way. We'll definitely be continuing and can't recommend him enough! read more

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My wife surprised me with surf lessons with my son this weekend for my birthday. It was awesome. I'm always more concerned with my son's well being than my own but one of the instructors never left his side (he is 6 years old). He was patient with him, encouraging with him, and helpful. That's all you can ask. My instructor was also very friendly and helped me out a lot. They provided appropriate fitting wetsuits and had boards for each of us. I really look forward to going back and doing this again. read more

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Went to John for competition training and coaching. John is extremely knowledgeable with heat strategy, scoring, film review and adjusting with conditions of the ocean. We all learned a lot from him and will continue to return to him when in the area to continue to sharpen my daughter's skills. read more

John Daniels is the BEST SURF COACH OUT THERE!!! Whether you're learning to surf or you want to be the best on the pro tour. John is going to get you there faster and better than anyone else. What he's done for my son is priceless! His friendly demeanor, casual yet confident approach, makes learning and improving so much fun. He has a way of inspiring without pressure. Thanks John for all that you have done and continue to do for Kai!! read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - My son thanks to John Daniels!! - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

Surfing can be an intimidating sport, especially for a shy middle-schooler, and John, Jenny and their outstanding team of instructors did the near-impossible by getting our daughter on a board--and loving it. The combination of owners who are insightful and hands-on and instructors who are friendly, talented and know exactly how to both help and push the students makes for a positive and actually progressive experience. No matter what level you or your kid are at--it will improve. read more

Our son had such a great lesson with John! He was able to dial in his pop up positioning and improve his duck dives in just one lesson!

John is awesome with the kids, he's so encouraging and knowledgeable. Highly recommend he is very good at what he does.

Wow. What a great experience! I was looking for some lessons for my son who is in his early 20's and my teenage daughter. My son is home from college for the summer, and I thought it would be a great bonding experience for them. They love spending time together, and they had a blast. I was specifically looking for someone working at the Oceanside harbor because I feel like it's the perfect learning beach. You can walk a board out to some waves, so you don't feel like you're in deep water. That's comforting, and makes learning easier. But the reason this place gets 5 stars is a) the personal attention you get from this family business, and b) the focus on what we need rather than just making money. On the first point, this team works hard all day, but I still received a call back in the evening. I was able to text back and get lessons set up. It was a very personal experience, and they made me feel like family. On the second point, I asked if they sold packages of lessons. I'm local, and thought we might need more lessons. But he suggested that we do one lesson, practice a while, and then get another one when it's time to level up a bit. The thing is, it's clear to me that they aren't being kind just to keep a good reputation. They are just the kind of people that treat you right because it's in their nature. I'm grateful to have such great people in our community. I look forward to those level-up lessons. Oh, and if you're a tourist, they will clearly treat you the same way. You'll be standing up in 20 minutes. read more

We had a great experience for my 7yo! Coach Chris was on time, prepared and totally made him feel excited and comfortable. I was also pretty impressed with the gear that was provided for us, it was good quality and in great shape, not a must but noticeable! We are jazzed up for our next lesson! Also, if it takes a bit for them to get back to you to be scheduled, don't be discouraged. They were so helpful to find some spots for us despite our hectic school schedule. So thankful! read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - Despite the cool spring weather, it was bound to be a good time ! - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

Wonderful surf lessons. Everyone seems very happy to work for the couple who runs the program. Very friendly group. Three of my kids take lessons and they absolutely love their instructor and look forward to seeing him each week. read more

John has surf lessons dialed in! My boys loved putting on jerseys for heat training. It felt like an official heat and put them in the right mindset. The feedback was very useful and John gave them great tips on what they can work on to improve. We got to go over video footage right there and compare their body movements with other more advanced surfers. We can't wait to schedule another lesson. read more

Nutshell: Great Experience. 12 and 14 year old sons had a lesson with Russel last week. The boys had a great time. I appreciated the focus on fun and SAFETY. There was significant improvement in their skill and in their comfort in the ocean (big thumbs up!). Russel discussed navigating the surf, being aware of riptides, and got them up doing jump 180's. The grins on their faces afterwards said it all. Thank you! read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

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John is a great surf instructor to my 11 year old daughter. He had so many useful tips to improve her surfing and my daughter is looking forward to her next lesson. read more

We had so much! Kristin was such a great teacher & had a very cool vibe. Jenny is wonderful with communication & is very accommodating. We really appreciate the experience they offer - from initial contact to the end of the lesson. Thank you! read more

We absolutely loved our experience with Learn to Rip. We were visiting the area and wanted to get the kids into some surf lessons. We contacted them via the website and a phone call, they contacted us back within a few minutes and we had lessons scheduled for the next day. The day of lessons, the boards and wetsuits were ready before we arrived. Chris met us for our lessons. He was great. He helped the kids figure out the wetsuits (none had ever used a wetsuit before). He was patient and kind with them. His overall disposition was super chill and kind. He spent some time going over safety in the water, then went over technique, after that they were off. We scheduled a 2 hour lesson. The kids had so much time to practice. Chris helped each one individually for the full 2 hours. They all took turns with him as he helped them learn. The kids said he was very encouraging and truly believed in them. He helped them with their form and skill and genuinely wanted each one of them to succeed. When he saw that a skill was obtained, he would push them to try a bigger wave. Thank you SO much Chris! Overall this was a great experience, I'd highly recommend booking with Learn to Rip for your surf lessons. You won't regret it. It's awakened a passion for surf in our kids. They want to continue the sport and relive this experience again and again. ‍ read more

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Such an amazing experience! My 2 daughters had lessons on a cloudy and cold day and their instructor Tim was awesome with them. Both of them stood on their first waves with him. We all had such a nice time. Definitely recommend! read more

LTR is the best! Our 5 and 7 year olds have come to love the ocean and surfing through their surf lessons with John, Chris and Ezra. They are so patient and very knowledgeable. We so appreciate LTR!! read more

Highly recommend! Quick to respond to my inquiry. Was able to get both my kids in for private lessons during our weekend getaway. Great location for beginners. The instructor was amazing and got both my kids up and surfing within 10 minutes of being in the water. They had a blast and can't wait to surf again. You won't be disappointed. read more

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I had a blast learning how to surf with Instructor John! He was very knowledgeable, patient, and really took the time to help me stand up on the board. Definitely will be coming back in the winter to get another lesson. read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

LTR is way more than meets the eye. John is pretty much at South Jetty 5-6 days a week year round. His credentials are impossible to overstate. He offers a full suite of teaching, from intro to surfing lessons for that kid or adult with barely any water time and zero surfing experience, to coaching several USA Prime (the Olympic development team) surfers and he even had a student go pro recently. I've got a young daughter who is pretty shy around men who loves John and pretty much did from the first private lesson a year ago. She decided to try competitive surfing and John was the perfect fit. Since then she's done a few private lessons, several group lessons and even just finished a summer camp with him (she's never slept better). John has helped her learn to do things and challenge herself in ways she never knew she was capable of. Even when you don't see John's tent on the beach, you'll probably find him running a group on the jetty... and his students dotted through the lineup on any given day. All those kids have so much respect for him that they're always giving it their all when just surfing on their own and not in a less, just in case John is looking. The people John has working for him during the summers are all carefully selected and top notch too. John knows everyone at the beach, from lifeguards to the trash guys and most everyone in the line-up. John is a well-known name at the highest levels of junior competitive surfing, but I would also encourage any first-timer to get with him and his team. Finally, John brings an integrity and character to his work that inspires his students to be the best version of themselves both in and out of the water. He sets the example. Its not just a professional facade either...you should see the way he is with his wife and kids when they show up at the beach. Just awesome. Long story short, John's the kind of person who will bring huge value to your life/day -- oh yea, and surfing. Thanks for everything John! read more

Our 5 and 7 year olds asked to do surf lessons at the end of the year and LTR was a perfect fit! Our kids had AWESOME instructors-not only taught them ocean safety and appropriate terms for the parts of the board but gave our kids age appropriate feed back and lots of encouragement to help them progress over the course of their lessons. Communication was great and the kids can't wait to show off their new skills to their family/friends and are already asking if they can take more lessons in the fall! read more

My wife wanted to surprise me for my 40th so she got me surfing lessons. I was super nervous. John was patient and never made me feel as dumb as I felt. He's super positive and his wife helped with getting everything set up. I just showed up and they took care of me. I had an hour and lasted 30 minutes so he took my wife and 2 sons out for a few minutes to fill the time. Really awesome and incredible family. They're good people, you won't regret it. Even if you bomb a big wave and tap out early. read more

Friendly professional and knowledgable. Plenty of gear to outfit my family of 7 for last minute surfing.

I've been playing around with SUP and trying to surf without a lesson for years and never really felt comfortable actually 'catching a wave' but after a 2 hour private lesson with John, I literally was up on my first try!! His super cool, laid back vibe was exactly what I needed, to give me the confidence to relax and actually learn. More so he's super knowledgeable, calm, encouraging and I'm not sure you could find a more professional instructor anywhere 'on the beach.' I literally left feeling stoked and look forward to continuing on my own. So, yes, do yourself a favor and give John a call or even easier shoot him a text and he'll have you up and enjoying a sport most of us only sit and watch from the beach. read more

My 7 year old was surfing in less than 20 minutes! This was an amazing value and instructor was kind and thoughtful in his approach. His calm demeanor and direct communication helped build confidence and get my son understand what he needed to do to ride the waves! read more

My 7 year old son took a 2 hour surf lesson with John and had a blast. John was very positive and encouraging! My son was standing up and actually surfing within the first 30 minutes. Everything about the process was a breeze and John was a pro. We are very happy that our son had such a good time & is feeling so good about himself after the lesson. Can't say enough good things. Thank you John! read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

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My 14 year old daughter had an hour lesson with Kristin and she had a great experience. Kristin has so much knowledge, she is very kind and patient. My daughter felt very comfortable with her. I would highly recommend this school. We plan to take more lessons soon. read more

We decided to schedule a surf lesson for our 12 year old daughter last minute. We didn't really know much about LTR but decided to give it a try. Jenny was an amazing instructor. She had our daughter up and surfing in just a couple tries and was able to transition her to a smaller surf board about 30 min into the lesson. She made our daughter feel comfortable right away and encouraged her throughout. Would do it again any time we are in the area!! read more

We had a wonderful experience. Our group had 5 kids ages 6-13, none of which had ever surfed before. They all had a blast. John and his assistant were able to give them the attention they needed. All 5 were able to stand by the end. They absolutely loved the whole experience. read more

Big thanks to LTR for showing my kids the enjoyment surfing. They were professional, yet fun. Their equipment was in exceptional condition and accommodated all sizes. John was an amazingly thorough and patient instructor. Definitely added 3 more kids to the lineup! Thanks again!! read more

This may be a long review, but I want you to understand how thorough Coach John is because this sport is quite detail oriented & I never knew that myself. From the minute we requested an lesson with LTR we were treated as if we had known them for years. We met Coach John at Harbor Beach in Oceanside. We were early & had a chance to watch him interact with other students. His instruction was clear, concise, and most importantly individualized! When it was my son's (14) turn, he treated Riley with such respect & dignity. You would have thought they were old friends. He taught him how to slow down & watch the water; even described how different things (jetty, rip current, etc) affect the swell and the overall surfing experience. Coach John provided some initial pointers, even checking his wetsuit and board & then it was time to get in the water. When they came back in, Coach John was quick with his instruction, again being clear, concise, and individualized. My son listened & practiced & has fallen in love with the sport all because he had a phenomenal Coach who gave him the tools necessary to become successful. They even gave us a call a couple days later to see how Riley felt and if he had fun. Highest recommendation for all ages read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - My son, ready to practice what he was taught at Learn To Rip Surf Lessons. - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

I can not say enough great thing about these guys! I choose this as my 8 year old son's birthday day experience / gift as he expressed an interest in learning to surf. Booking was easy, contact before the lesson was timely. My son had a blast and his instructor really interacted well with him. He can not wait to buy a surfboard & hit some more waves. read more

Amazing experience with LTR from booking through the lesson. John was an outstanding teacher...I got up on my very first attempt. I'd highly recommend LTR if you are a newbie to surfing like me. I will certainly be back. read more

Me and a friend did a 2 person, 2 hour lesson with Learn to Rip - our instructor, Kristin, more than exceeded our expectations! We were both novice surfers (I had surfed only twice in my life before) but Kristen made the experience easy and enjoyable. They got us all the equipment with no problems, Kristen explained a bit of the basics about waves, tide, rip currents, etc and then we just got out in the water! She was there with us the entire time helping us read the waves, and strategies for catching them and just chatting. By the end of the day we was catching actual waves, not just the white water. My confidence levels are so much higher now and I'm left so excited to get into surfing for real - I can't recommend this more! Thanks Kristen and Learn to Rip for the amazing experience!! read more

So accommodating, quick response time, and our instructor John was absolutely the best we've ever had!! He was so patient!! My 16 yo daughter gained so much confidence and ability that we will be definitely using them again and again. No need to look anywhere else, this crew is the best! Thanks so much!! read more

Learn To Rip Surf Lessons - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

Absolutely the best! Been trying to learn to surf for years. This outfit is by far the best. Couldn't recommend them more strongly.

we loved our different surf instructors! they were great with the kids and taught them all the basics they needed to know while having fun!