Fantastic experience with Mike! I booked some time for me (A somewhat experienced surfer with years of rust who had fallen out of shape) and my buddy (Brand new to surfing but in great shape. Mike was great. Met us with board and wetsuits and met each of us at our level. He was very hands on and out there in the water with us the whole time. By the end, we'd both caught a few waves and i felt like i FINALLY knew what I was doing again. Since then, we've gone a few more times. Booking again next time im on the coast. read more

Really fun and informative experience! Desi and Tomas were our instructors for our group of six. My friend and I both purchased the Groupon option, and it was a blast. We met by the bathrooms of El Porto by lifeguard station 12 and picked up our wetsuits from their cars. From there, we headed towards a less crowded portion of the water by the rocks, and did a quick yoga flow before going into the basics of how to pop up and hold the board. After the lesson, we got assigned our boards and went off into the water. I think both instructors tried to spread their attention as evenly as possible. I was able to stand up multiple times and surf some one-foot waves (go me!). The time flew by, and once it was over, we brought the surfboards back to their cars. They'll take Venmo for tips. I would suggest wearing your flip flops to the beach since the ground was really hot, and also bringing a water bottle for post-surf. There's paid parking available in the lot although the meters seem to be broken since I still got a ticket even though my parking should've been valid. Otherwise there's very limited street parking. You can leave your valuables in the instructor's car. You can book private lessons on the website or small group lessons as well. Definitely book the lesson - it's a great workout and you'll have so much fun! read more

One Wave Surf is great! ...if you're looking to learn how to surf or pick up some surf gear, you're in the right place. They have the best prices on rentals in the area and provide easy to follow surf instruction. Tyler gave me a great deal on my 10' NSP element epoxy longboard and hooked my frnds up with some nice rentals to join me at El Porto. He was not only super awesome to work with, but he even threw in a wetsuit with the purchase of my surfboard. These guys are easy to get ahold of and very accommodating, so make sure you hit them up the next time you need anything surf related. Aloha read more

One Wave Surf School - Stoked on my new board!!! - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Myself and another person decided to book a last minute surf lesson on Labor Day. Alex the manager was very responsive. We were able to easily book a 90 minute afternoon session. Information and consents were sent via email and they accepted payments with Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal. The lesson included surfboard and wetsuit rentals and was very fairly priced. Casey was our surf instructor that day. He was very knowledgeable and patient with teaching us. I had not been surfing since high school (a long time ago) with no prior formal instruction, and the other person was their first time surfing. I was so happy when we were both able to stand up! Casey gave us some really amazing instruction and tips. It was basically a private lesson. We both received one on one instruction. We had so much fun! We easily found parking and the meet up spot. Parking was metered but reasonably priced (compared to other LA beaches) and you could park there all day. Casey found us early and got us all set up. After the lesson we stayed and enjoyed the beach. Overall a fantastic experience. I would give more stars if I could. I would definitely recommend this surf school if you are interested in learning how to surf. I would love to book another lesson soon and am already looking into purchasing my own surfboard now. read more

One Wave Surf School - 2 happy students and our awesome surf instructor. - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

This was such a fun experience and first time surfing lesson at El Porto. I had a one on one with Desi and am so happy with the customized lesson. I highly recommend this. read more

One Wave Surf School - So ready for this surf lesson! - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

My daughter had a great beginner surf lesson at One Wave at the El Porto Beach location. Booking online was simple and they provided all the necessary gear; the instructor Emma was on-time, friendly, relaxed, and worked very effectively to get my daughter up and riding waves in a very short amount of time. read more

One Wave Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Mike was an amazing instructor! I have a physical disability with my leg and Mike was able to help me have an awesome surf lesson riding the waves laying on the board vs. standing. I had a blast and I really appreciated the inclusiveness and expertise of OneWave! read more

Mike is such a great, patient, and knowledgeable instructor. I came into LA for a quick trip and Alex and other people I talked with over email were also really easy to communicate with. I'm a skittish, new surfer and still felt secure trying a narrower board etc with Mike despite there being crazy winds and an unpredictable surf when I visited. Definitely a great company to learn with. Thanks again, Mike!! read more

I highly recommend One Wave Surf School! I was looking for surf lessons for my cousin who was here for a few days vacation. I sent messages asking for prices to other places as well and they all have about the same prices but the better/ faster/ friendly answers were from here! I was talking to Tyler and he was great at explaining everything and making the booking experience super easy. The day of the lesson they chose the best beach for a first timer, and the whole experience was great for my cousin. He was super happy with his lesson! read more

One Wave Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I had a great experience at One Wave Surf in El Porto! I had taken a surfing lesson a few years ago but wanted to get some proper instruction once again since moving to the area. My instructor, Ollie, was great - he adjusted his teaching based on my previous experience but was thorough in all explanations and answers to my questions. We were out during high tide which made the waves a little tougher to catch but it was a great time and I certainly learned alot. I would highly recommend One Wave and Ollie! read more

I've been taking lessons with One Wave in El Porto for a few years now and all of the instructors have been great! All very helpful and calm - would definitely recommend for beginner to intermediate surfers. read more

I just had my first lesson and it was a blast !! Alex the booking manager was fantastic with the fast responses and making the whole experience pretty easy so thanks Alex . Jake my instructor was very patient and knowledgeable. He explained everything from balance, paddling and how to get up on the board. Meters parking are available and it was pretty easy finding The meeting spot. Highly recommended and Definitely coming back again for more ‍ Cheers read more

We were a bit disappointed with our first lesson here. We showed up 45 minutes early due to the crazy parking situation. By the time our lesson was supposed to start, we were standing next to another family who said that their lesson was at the same time. I personally would have shared/split the lesson, but they went off & we were left to sort things out. Fortunately, they were able to get another instructor to come an hour later, so that salvaged my daughter's experience. The actual instruction was great. But I spent my whole morning waiting, parking and re-parking which was really frustrating. For the inconvenience they offered 10 % off the next lesson, which isn't really much of a consolations prize for that morning. read more

I absolutely LOVE One Wave Surf School -- they've taken me from a total beginner to a happy surfer. I moved to LA and had never surfed so decided to learn and found One Wave review on Yelp so decided to try them. I've had such a great time with multiple teachers (but mainly with Mike) that I've been surfing with them for months now. Here's why they are so good: - Friendly, patient teachers -- it can be a bit nerve wracking learning to surf, but the teachers make you really comfortable - Relaxed, easy going approach - They give great tutorials on land to set you up, then constant feedback and support in the water so you can easily understand how to improve My time with One Wave has felt like I've been surfing with a knowledgeable friend helping me, more than attending school. I'd recommend to anyone! read more

I purchased a Groupon for my sister and I to get surf lessons. The group class was on Saturday (which we could not attend) so we had the option of upgrading to a private for $30 more ($15 per person) in order to have the lesson on Sunday, which we did. Our instructor was Quin and he did a great job of teaching us the basics and making us feel comfortable. My sister really didn't want to try surfing, but I made her join me anyway and she ended up having a good time--as did I! I might even make another trip before the summer ends for another lesson! It was a great first experience! Thank you! read more

One Wave Surf School - Quin giving my sister some tips. - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

If you like getting a different board then the one you reserved try one wave surf! If you like having you reservation time pushed back 1hr 4hrs before your appt (4:30am email) try one wave surf. If you like rental boards that are taped up garbage and wetsuits with holes that look like they have been pissed on try one wave surf. If you like no response when asking for a confirmation try one wave surf. If you like coordinating with different employees who dont talk to each other try one wave surf. I received an 8 ft board when i asked for a 9 ft several times. I make a reservation for 9am and get an email at 4:37am saying to meet at 9:50am once ive already told my lesson to meet me at 9am. Tyler should close his shop while he is ahead. Absolutely no consideration for customers needs. read more

I cannot recommend them enough. The lesson was fun and really informative. I felt like I definitely got my money's worth which is saying something as I really only got up once or twice. But it was still a ton of fun. read more

Me and 2 of my buddies had our first surf lesson with Tomas at El Porto in Manhattan Beach. It was a great time and the lesson was limited to just us 3 so it was pretty private. Would definitely recommend lessons with them. read more

I am an Events Coordinator here in Los Angeles for a private membership group and wanted to take members out on a surf excursion. During my research I found One Wave Surf and I'm so happy I did! Tyler was so easy to work with, he was able to accommodate all of my groups needs and after weeks of planning the event rolled around and we were not disappointed! He had brought on numerous talented instructors giving the group a very one-on-one expierience. Of the 15 members that we had all 15 of them were able to get up on the board and ride waves by the end of the expierience. The instructors of One Wave Surf are top notch, Tyler even gave me the chance to try out the class prior to booking the event so I was able to decide if this was the right expierience for members or not. This event was one of my best experiences as an event coordinator and if you're looking to host a group surf lesson in South Bay, I strongly encourage you to look no further than One Wave Surf! We'r already looking into our next event with them and I myself as someone who has never surfed, will be getting back out in the water with these guys :) Thanks so much! read more

See all

These guys were so flexible scheduling a last minute one on one lesson for me. Not to mention the fee was very reasonable considering private lesson and last minute. The beach was unpredictably windy and it didn't work out but the company is working with me for a future lesson!! Military Veteran's on Board at One Wave and they are Veteran Friendly! Very friendly, informative, and professional instructor who left the decision up to me whether or not I wanted to give a few waves a shot. Too bad I'm a chicken :) read more

Just got back to NYC from our trip to Hermosa Beach, CA. It was my two friends, my boyfriend and my first time in Cali and we never surfed before. I booked a one day lesson for us on Tuesday. The whole experience was awesome!! Booking was easy and they were in constant contact to make sure it all went smoothly. Our instructors were Jamie and Dave. We met at Manhattan Beach and had the boards and wetsuits ready. They waste no time and get right into the lessons. They were easy to understand and patient. Although I only stood on the board for a split second, their relaxed and confident support had me running right back in those waves. They gave me enough basics to get a proper understanding of what to do. All that was left to do was practice. FYI, I was sick that day and the waves were rough but I was determined to get as much surfing as I could, I was having a blast! DEFINITELY recommend these guys!!! I'll make sure to see them next time I go to SoCal. read more

One Wave Surf School - Us feeling good after the surf training... Thanks Dave and Jamie!!! - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

One Wave Surf was perfect! They accommodated our request for a specific day and time given our limited time in LA. I bought the Living Social special as a surprise for my 13 year old son. We hit a lot of cities during our vacation and when we arrived back home and I asked my son what was the highlight of his trip, he said surfing. Dave was our instructor and he was awesome! He was super thorough, informative and patient. The goal was to get my son on the board which he was quickly able to do and I got it on video. Dave was really great and I'm so happy I was able to find One Wave Surf. Thank you so much and next time we are in LA, we will definitely be calling you guys!! read more

One Wave Surf School - My son riding his first wave thanks to Dave! - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

See all

Long overdue- I took my first lesson with Ty about 2 years ago and have continued to receive coaching when I felt my riding needed to be kicked up a gear. If you want to go out and just have a fun day in So Cal getting pushed into some waves by a hunky surfer dude he is good for it. However his real strength lies in teaching you how to become an independent and competent surfer. Ty teaches you from the ground up, how to sit the board, how to paddle, how to read waves, surf etiquette etc. In other words if you want to learn to surf for real and not just be some silly kook out in the white water he is your guy. In addition I recommend him as a coach- if you have some surfing experience but your stuck he is really good at picking out what your doing wrong and talking you through it. Also I got my board from him. He let me take it out on a test drive during a lesson before I bought it and about a year an a half later when it was time for me to change what I was riding took my old board as credit towards the new one. read more

One Wave Surf School - About a year and a half after my first lesson, I am in the background in black with a hat on. - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

See all

A s Yelp would describe it, One Wave Surf is as good as it gets. I took several lessons from them (both groups and individuals). My lessons with Ty. Prior to the lessons, Ty took the time to find out what my surfing goals were, whether I was learning to surf for the long term or whether it was just for a surf experience, the latter were mostly for people who were just visiting and wanted to experience surfing, i.e standing up on a surf board and etc. My group surf lesson experience were more than I expected. We only had 5 people in the group, but this was intentional so Ty had more time with each surfer. Ty spent an ample amount of time explaining how to read the ocean and how certain things affect the wave conditions. Ty used to be a 5th or 6th grade science teacher so his explanations were thorough and simple to understand. He is also very patient, I'm assuming it's by nature given he was an elementary teacher. Yes, I asked him all of this...that's how I know he's patient. O_o After ocean fundamentals, Ty warmed us up with yoga. He explained how each yoga move is essential for surfing. He explained what muscle group to focus on with each stretch and how the move correlates with surfing. After yoga, Ty spent time teaching us the basic water safety, where to lay on the board, how to stand, and etc (all important surfing fundamentals). In the water, Ty spent time with the group as well as individually. He watched closely and provide immediate feedback on our paddling, body placement on board, catching a wave, standing and etc. I appreciated that we immediately applied all surfing fundamentals covered on land in the water since it was still fresh in my mind, it made executing them easier. Without further rambling, my experience with One Wave Surf was indeed excellent. I would definitely come back for more lessons. They also give referral discounts so that's definitely a plus. I referred my friend to One Wave Surf and he also found the lessons useful, but that's his experience to write about! read more

Started with an individual surf lesson then decided to extend and add on as part of their learning to surf program! Highly recommend to any visitors in CA or locals wanting to learn - very accomodating and professional. I am definitely late in the game to begin and I learned its never too late to start! Coach Tomas is an awesome, helpful and patient coach! read more

Highly recommend!! New to California and took my initial surf lesson at One Wave surf school. My instructor Mike was awesome. I was nervous but he was very reassuring and chill. He brought a variety of board lengths for us to try out. We started with Beach land training maneuvers then right to the water! I got up on my first wave (Mike guided the launch and talked me through the timing ) . He gave us an surfing overview that included so much more than the mechanics of pop-ups. He explained how to 'read' the ocean in terms of waves, riptides, wind, etc. He critiqued each ride, saying where Our foot position was placed or how we could improve. I'm so grateful! Awesome experience. Feeling motivated to keep surfing! Took lesson at El Porto in Manhattan Beach. Lots of parking available beach side, washroom and showers available. read more

Had my first surf lesson with Tomas in Manhattan Beach and it was a blast! It was certainly challenging and I never managed to pop up properly, but Tomas and his directions helped me make improvements. I definitely plan to try again. Thanks for a fun morning! read more

My boyfriend and I had such a great time taking a lesson from Clay. He was great at giving us clear instruction and making our lesson a fun, exciting learning experience. We are so happy with our experience with OneWaveSurf and can't wait to get back in the water! I will most definitely be returning to them for any future lessons. If you are reading this and trying to decide on the place to take your first surf lesson, stop waiting and book a lesson with OneWave now! You WILL NOT regret it!! read more

One Wave Surf School - First lesson with Clay! - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

See all

Ive been trying to learn to surf for real and OneWave is definitely the move. I've had a couple of lessons with OneWave the past two years and always have fun and learn something new each time. From the Learn 2 surf for real lessons, I feel confident enough to go practice surfing on my own without injuring myself, and have direction on areas I can improve to get better. Great instructors, highly recommend! read more

My sons, 14 and 17, had a great 90 minute surfing lesson with Tyler in Manhattan Beach. The kids had so much fun and they love Tyler. He is thorough with his instructions and he let the kids surf some more after their class. Will come back next week for another lesson. read more

I've always wanted to learn how to surf, and when I found myself in Manhattan Beach for the summer, it seemed like there might not be a better opportunity. So I scoured the internet, reddit, yelp, etc. in order to find some surf lessons with the end goal of "Learning how to surf and being able to go on my own when I went home (PNW)" There were a ton of options, but only a few that offered something more than a photo op on the waves. OneWave offered exactly what I was looking for in their Learn 2 Surf 4 Real lessons. If you have aspirations of learning how to surf to the level of going on your own or as a lifelong activity, I think that OneWave is a great option. I've recommended OneWave to my friends who have relocated down to the SoCal area, and to anyone who plans on being down here for an extended amount with surfing aspirations. They also offer rentals so you can practice in between lessons, so you're able to practice the things that you learn in between lessons so you can get the most out of the actual lessons. read more

I had tried surfing in Hawaii about a year ago and fell in love with it. I've been dreaming about doing it again ever since and finally decided to make time for it. I found One Wave Surf School through yelp and called them up to schedule a lesson. James was my instructor and he was amazing! He was extremely patient and encouraging. He made sure to explain everything thoroughly, and in ways that made sense to me. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and I'm looking forward to scheduling my next lesson! read more

Just had my first experience with One Wave Surf School for a group class. My coach was very patient, and keeping letting us try more waves. I made a full stand on my 3rd try! Will sign up with more class for sure!!! read more

One Wave Surf School - Just had my first experience with One Wave Surf School for a group class. - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Had such a great time with our instructor Nick, super nice guy and a great teacher. They had to move our destination due to weather and were on point with the communication. The whole day was seamless and made for a great experience. read more

Mike is awesome!! I highly recommend one wave surf; it was my first time surfing and I had a great experience.

My boyfriend and I had our first lesson with Mike a few days ago and LOVED IT!! The whole experience was incredible- from coordinating and booking with Tyler, to the actual lesson with Mike, everything was great! They're clearly very talented folks, and have created a fun program for surfing. Next time we're in Manhattan beach, we will be doing another lesson!! Thanks guys! read more

One Wave Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I've surfed a few times before but stopped for a while. Mike the instructor was great, refreshed the things that needed to be refreshed and really focused on the areas I needed a lot of help with. He throughly explains things in detail and makes sure you have a good understanding so that you can venture off and feel confident surfing without an instructor after your lesson. Highly recommend and I'll be back soon! read more

My son had a fantastic time surfing with Quin. He started surfing a few months before coming to One Wave Surf School, and since a week spent with Quin, I can say that he has improved as a surfer tremendously. Quin is patient, very knowledgeable, friendly, and an incredible teacher. He helped my son with his pop up technique, he now better understand how to read the waves, and truly made this an amazing surf experience. I totally recommend Quin #OneWaveSurf School read more

One Wave Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

The staff here are so nice. They truly care about you and your safety. They make it clear it's not about the money. That's loving what you do. It's rare to find that in today's society. read more

Great lesson with James and Danny! Super friendly, patient instruction as I starfished into the sea over and over again. We did the introductory group lesson which was 90 minutes long in a small group and included the wetsuit and surfboard rentals. We were able to leave our valuables (wallets, phone) in the instructor's car. But it would've been okay to leave them on the beach because the instructors took us out one by one. read more