We arrived for our lesson and were greeted at the door, shown in and guided thru the steps to finish paperwork and get suited up. Our instructor and the staff were friendly, kind, and clear. We had a great lesson and time to practice our skills and enjoy time playing in the ocean. We appreciated being able to use the equipment as long as we wanted to after the lesson was over. read more

We got surf lessons for myself, my 8yo and a friend. Rod was great with the adults and the kiddo - he made us feel comfortable and confident in our ability to learn. I went into it assuming I wouldn't stand up - but I did! And, the kid really took to it and got up too! Overall I really commend Rod and NorCal for us having a great experience. read more

Got a lesson here friendly instructor and helped teach me the basics will come back for rentals in the future and to purchase a board

The early surf lesson was the perfect intro to hours of morning surfing. The instructor did a great job of balancing the needs of each individual student. We were a group of 6 so not the easiest task! read more

Great Instructor! Laid back knowledgeable and let us take the reins! Taught us surf etiquette, how to read the waves as they come in and most importantly encouraged us to just have fun with it! read more

awesome place to rent gear if you're heading out to surf. they have a shower and a changing place.

Super friendly! Great beach for beginners. Rod is definitely passionate and loves to see new people try surfing. Other shops/camps in the area never returned my calls. Nor-Cal picked up, so they got my business! Plenty of boards to rent, great selection of merch, don't expect a polished look or the cleanest rental gear, tho. This is a real surf shop--not a "lifestyle store". Would I go back? 100%. Looking forward to it! read more

We loved our surfing​ lessons. Rod was a great instructor and the staff was very friendly.

My family had a great surf lesson with Rod. He was kind, patient, passionate, and worked really well with all of us (including my first-timer 8 year old!). He was very encouraging and excited that we were starting our surf journey. We are very thankful that he shared his depth of knowledge with us! read more

I did a surf lesson here and it was amazing!!! The instructor was so kind and helpful. I definitely plan to go back soon!

I had a surf lesson with Rodney and he was great! Small class of 3 people including myself. This was my second time surfing and although the beach and surf were packed, Rodney helped explain surfing etiquette and get us a great spot for the lesson. Rodney was really insightful and helped answer all the questions I had about purchasing a board and how to level up as a beginner. The prices for rentals and purchases were reasonable. Highly recommend this place and lessons to others! read more

Nor-Cal Surf Shop - Rental rates as of March 2024 - Surf Shop Near Me - Pacifica, California

Excellent surf shop with a great selection. I'm not a surfer come but if I were one I would come here and get my stuff for sure. Staff are ultra friendly and helpful. Convenient parking. Can't speak for the prices, but they seem reasonable. Plenty of stuff on sale. read more

Rodney was my instructor for a morning lesson and it was great. He clearly loves what he does and worked hard to make sure I had a great experience, and got to ride a number of waves! Would recommend to anyone looking to try surfing. I'll be back and will be bringing the kids! read more

Johnny was the perfect person to instruct my daughter to surf this week. He was patient, kind and thorough. After the classes, my daughter picked out the softest and prettiest NorCal pullover in their shop with the store discount included in her lessons. I'd highly recommend them for surf lessons. read more

Rod is an experienced and patient instructor. He waited for 2 tardy people and didn't get upset when they finally arrived. The water wasn't calm, quite turbulent. Rod was very supportive. We had a great day ! Mike and 2 nephews read more

Took a lesson - so fantastic. They're experts with deep knowledge and an excellent approach to coaching. I learned a lot and leveled up in one class! Can't recommend enough. read more

I'm giving them a solid 5 stars because they are trying to have a brick and mortar surf shop shop in a time when surf shops are disappearing (Wise in SF). They have a good selection of boards and surf gear for not being a large shop. They rent gear and they have surf lessons. It's all that you need in a surf shop. I will be back. read more

Pros - My instructor, Rod, was pretty laidback and chill. His lesson was super simple and to the point. His instructions were clear and he provided constant oversight. He also made sure he spent enough time with each student individually to catch waves - The shop has a lot of cool clothing and extensive collection of surf gear Cons - All the wetsuits were wet (no pun intended). You'd think they could at least dry it. They're also all covered in sand inside out so when u put them on it's super unpleasant. Same with the booties - The dressing room is an outdoor stall and the concealment is pretty much a flimsy curtain that, if blown too hard by a breeze, will fly off to the side and reveal your you-know-what. I'm not sure why there's only one hook on one side of the curtain to make sure it doesn't unveil randomly. - The lesson took place in a part of the beach that was laden with razor sharp rocks. Anytime I sunk in the water, one of my body parts would hit the rocks hard 6 out of 10 times. When I was paddling, the rocks cut up my hand so bad it was bleeding profusely. One rock felt like the surface of a Durian or an medieval mace: it had spikes sticking out. I also had to pry out the many bits of sand that were logged into the cuts so I could prevent an infection. In fact there's still sand granules lodged deep in my skin and it's hard to pry it out with tweezers. I hope my review will serve as a cautionary warning to those who join the class because the lessons will take place at a part of the beach that is full of these razor sharp rocks, which is hazardous. You could get seriously injured. read more

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I wanted to get some booties for surfing for warmth and performance. I didn't really know where to start. They did an amazing job showing me the different strap options and sizings. Also I noticed there were some great deals on boards, lots of beautiful boards here, both new and second hand. Thanks NorcalSurf! Surf on!! read more

I went in for a surf lesson on April 22, and what a ton of fun it was! I had Rod as my instructor, and he was extremely knowledgeable, fun, and clearly loves surfing and teaching! This was only my 3rd time in the water, and 2nd lesson ever, so he was a great guy to have helping me. The shop itself is great too - lots of merchandise, no one pushing you on sales. All around great experience - give it a shot if you're in Pacifica! read more

Rodney was a great surf instructor! Highly recommend for those wanting to get comfortable before going out on their own.

Rod is the man, had a great time getting back in the water- highly recommend you consider taking a lesson regardless of your experience!

Signed up for a lesson here (Rod was a fantastic teacher/cheerleader), and wound up staying to try on wetsuits for two hours with the very patient staff who answered all my novice questions--and eventually ordered a suit. :) I've been back multiple times to rent equipment, and everyone has been friendly and helpful. Really grateful for this spot. read more

Awesome team! 14 Year-old daughter wanted to take a surfing lesson. We showed up and Pat and Rod greeted us. She had an amazing experience and is hooked! Fantastic shop, great location, coffee shop next door for the parents;) Great equipment and excellent instruction. Will be back! Worth the 1 1/2 hour drive. She did the group lesson and loved it. Highly recommend this guys and gals! read more

Nor-Cal Surf Shop - Group lesson - Surf Shop Near Me - Pacifica, California

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Rod's surf lessons ROCK - I highly recommend it! I was able to catch a few waves in my very first surf lesson and it was a thrilling experience! Rod is a really good teacher - he focuses on the most important things, is super patient, and infectiously passionate about surfing. I was really not getting it 80% of the time, yet Rod was super patient. He communicated how I could improve so I could get better, but in a really encouraging way to not impact my confidence. The whole experience was really fun and unique. The lesson was also a really good deal - $94 per person in a two person class and the wetsuit and board are included. Pacifica is also super accessible - only 20 minutes away - from SF. read more

came in to buy a board bag right before a flight. i got help right away and we found one with the perfect fit. prices are more than reasonable too--i paid less than the selling price on the dakine website. read more

Great service overall! I signed up for the group lessons, but the other attendee didn't show, so I basically got a 1 on 1 lesson for the price of a group lesson which was very cool. The selection for surfboard, wetsuit and booties was simple as Rodney (my instructor) just asked me a few simple questions to find my right size. At the end of my lesson I was able to get up on my feet at least once, and I'm grateful that Rodney pushed me because I weigh 250lbs and I'm 5'8 (basically I'm out of shape). And he worked with me, believed in me, and helped me have the greatest first experience surfing! read more

Nor-Cal Surf Shop - On the path to the shore. Me next to the board! - Surf Shop Near Me - Pacifica, California

Our experience with their lessons was amazing. Rod was fun, attentive, and encouraging. One lesson with him and I feel prepared to get out and practice solo. What an amazing way to spend an afternoon. Thanks again, Rod! read more

This is a real surf shop owned by surfers for surfers. The people that work here are super nice and helpful. Some local shops can have a vibe but the staff here like Julie, Jameson, Pat, Koby, Rob and owners Shawn and Jeremia are very nice. I've been in there and seen Shawn Rhodes have every reason to not be cool, but he always takes the high road and kills them with kindness. I'm proud to call this shop my surf shop. Thanks NorCal for making me a better surfer. read more

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Awesome shop, the staff are super cool and help you find whatever you need. They have nice selection of wetsuits boards and whatever else gear you need. If you need anything check them out! read more

Nor-Cal Surf Shop - new booties - Surf Shop Near Me - Pacifica, California

Everyone at Nor-Cal Surf Shop is great! Super friendly, laid-back, and very helpful/knowledgeable about gear and products. Took refresher lessons from Rod and he's the man. Super patient, very knowledgeable with skills/technique/and knowing wave dynamics. Very encouraging and will push you when you need it most. read more

Rod was a great instructor, made everything feel approachable, gave very clear advice! Also very reasonable prices, highly recommend.

Solid and local shop. I took surf lessons on a Saturday with them. I had taken some with them years prior and rented surf boards from them but wanted a refresher. Same solid training and personable staff. Whenever I'm in the Bay Area I always end up renting a wet suit/board from them for the day. read more

This was such a fun experience! I decided to do this on a whim for my 42nd birthday and took my tweenager along. Rodney was knowledgeable and patient. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to try some thing new. read more

It was very disappointing to hear the conversation I heard between a store associate and a few customers. While checking out my rental board, I overheard a conversation scorning, mocking, and insulting the "Black Lives Matter" movement. They mentioned how bogus the movement was along with insensitive comments justifying major police brutalities like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, etc. Aside from the remarks and comments, an associate raised the question, "Don't the idiots know ALL lives matter?". No racist or fascist remarks were made, but this does show the mindset held at NorCal Surf shop. I was a happy customer that rented from this shop continuously; unfortunately, no more. Political and social opinions differ, but keep it professional in the workplace read more

Been saying I'd try to learn to surf for probably 2 decades now. Finally signed up for a class. There was another solo woman and a mom and her son. Our instructor Rod was great. He's been teaching forever and I thought he struck the perfect balance of focusing on beach training and just actual water experience. The small class size was nice so we got individual attention. The waves were pretty small but I thought perfect to learn on! I was able to stand up my second wave and it was such a thrilling experience. I was able to catch my own wave and surf, so Rod told me I was welcome to keep working on my own but he also repeatedly offered to help me if I wanted it. I really appreciated that level guidance. The class was super fun, the other students were a blast. Their family was on the beach so we had a nice cheering section for ourselves. After the 2hr class, we had the equipment until 5. I was way too tired to catch more waves but I had fun trying and failing. The equipment itself was great. I had a 9ft beginner board. The wetsuit fit well and the booties were totally helpful (some areas of the beach are really rocky) So glad to have had the experience. Rod asked if I had done other board sports before - I do think snowboarding helped! Despite being pretty active, I am definitely pretty sore, but in a really wonderful way. I have some bruises and scratches that I'm feeling pretty proud of too! Can't wait to try again. The shop itself is also great. Tons of selections, the staff is all super chill and helpful. I would definitely recommend both the lessons with Rod as well as the rental or shop purchases. read more

Took a lesson with Rodney who was great. This was my first time surfing and Rodney helped explain all the essentials and made the experience really enjoyable. He is very laid back, knowledgeable, and didn't care that I was a complete novice. I can't wait to get back for another lesson. read more

Great shop. Great stock. Really helpful. Great rentals. Great lessons. They have had everything I've needed. They tolerate my inane question after question. And their surf instructor, Rod, rocks. I could go and on. : ) read more

Nor-Cal Surf Shop - Surf Shop Near Me - Pacifica, California

There are definitely some blah or sketch surf shops out there. NorCal is not one of them, and I'm not biased because it's my local. They are hands down the place to go for great customer service. I took my first surf lesson with Rod and had a great experience. Major plus for those renting gear as they're a few short steps from Linda Mar beach. They're always up to giving sound advice, recommendations and watch out for their patrons in terms of safety in the water regardless if you're a newbie or seasoned pro. Good selection of wetsuits and booties for the cold NorCal waters. Not much variety on boards but still a decent set. 5/5 a solid surf shop. Highly recommend. read more

I took a surf lesson with Rod, he was very patient and helpful. The class size is super small, so we were able to get a lot of one-on-one time with Rod. He came out into the water with us and helped us get our position and timing right. Everyone who works there is super friendly and helpful. The class was a ton of fun, I'll be coming back for another lesson in a few weeks with a friend. read more

Nor-Cal Surf Shop - Surf Shop Near Me - Pacifica, California