Heather was awesome! She was kind enough to reschedule my lesson because of the rain. She was very knowledgeable and taught me a lot about the waves and how they present depending on certain conditions. She also taught me about safety and surfing etiquette. This was also the first time I was able to pop up! Highly recommend for anyone! read more

Always amazing lessons with Sabinka. She knows how to make me comfortable in the water. She gives very helpful instructions to make me successful in catching waves. I can't stress enough how much I recommend her to anyone, any age, who wants to take up surfing!! read more

Soul Surf Sessions - My BFF and I after Surf Lesson - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Heather is an amazing instructor, she's the perfect mix of supportive while pushing you to learn more. I was a complete novice and with her help learned a lot very quickly, even though I struggle with being able to balance. read more

Sabinka is amazing! I have surfed on and off for years, but this was my first official lesson. With a few quick pointers, I was getting up almost every time, which isn't normal for me. And she gave me a lot to think about regarding reading the waves, which will help me as I study them more. My surfing itch is officially back. Highly recommend! read more

Sabinka took on me and Liz, my daughter, both noobs, this am at Redondo Beach. Sabinka took us through 20 mins or so of "dry-school", then we hit the water. Surf was manageable, and Sabinka was patient and so helpful with both of us. We both progressed much more than we anticipated. Just love it and plan to return for more instruction. I'd mos-def recommend Sabinka and Soul Surf. As first-timers were apprehensive beforehand about so many things, but she eased our worries through her instruction and her thorough enjoyment of the ocean. Her enthusiasm enabled us to just chill and have fun. We had a great morning. What a great vibe. Get out there! read more

Soul Surf Sessions - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I am completely blown away with Heather! She is a truly amazing person. I first met her at Rosecrans ( El Porto ), at the end of the parking lot. She introduced herself and said she was a Surf trainer / coach and said she would show me! I took up the offer. She got me on that board. Boy let me tell you... I should have started on my first day with her! For years I was going about it wrong. But when i started her training she put it all together. I was able to go Hawaii, and Costa Rica for trips she arranged . It was the time of my life. Her selection of people that went along with us was perfectly selected, and it made the trip and surf sessions fun. We also got a chance to explore around by visiting the volcano National Park and visit the town for dining, or she also planned on making food at our stay locations. Over all she is super nice, friendly, and fun to be around. I just can't say enough. I've known Heather for over 7 years now and I still see how she puts all her energy and experience into training and she loves what she does. And I can tell how people really enjoy the time with her. I really think you can't go wrong with her. read more

Soul Surf Sessions - Costa Rica - Surf Schools Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Had a group lesson with Heather and it was awesome! There were 3 of us in the group lesson, all of varying levels of comfort. Heather made it both fun and safe for us, extremely knowledgeable about the ocean, very patient with our 100's of questions. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn to surf. Will 100% be back for more classes. read more

Amazing time!! Had Sabinka as our instructor and she did such a great job at being so patient with teaching as we are completing new to surfing! It was an amazing day and ended up falling in love with surfing because of it. If anyone's looking to get started in surfing I would 1000% recommend soul surf !! ‍ read more

If you're even thinking about taking a lesson with Heather, I recommend you do it right away. She has a positive attitude/vibe, is super fun, and she knows where the waves are. She also knows how to break it down and tell you what to focus on. She completely changed my surfing for the better with a couple relatively easy tips, and she keeps me focused working on what's important. I wish all teachers were as great as she is. The world would be a different place. read more

Heather was the best instructor for my daughter. I wanted safe a knowledgeable and O wanted to get in the waves as quick as possible. Heather fit us perfectly. I didn't worry and my kiddo was riding waves halfway through the first lesson. As a parent, there's nothing cooler than seeing my girl do something I don't know how to do. She wanted more and now we are heading to buy our own board. Thanks Heather. read more

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Wow! I was so inspired by my first lesson with Heather. She's a natural teacher and is clearly passionate about surfing and sharing her knowledge with others. I haven't been in the ocean in years so I was pretty nervous, but Heather made me feel safe and made sure I wasn't taking on more than I was comfortable with. She even spent an extra half hour with me to make sure I got enough practice time in the water. I can't wait for my next lessons! If you're a beginner like me, I think the 10 course pack is the way to go. read more

I had a lesson with Felipe, and he was great. Nice, fun, and most importantly helpful. The wetsuit was really nice and the board was in good shape/relatively new. read more

Heather is a fantastic instructor who taught me how to stand up and actually catch a whitewater wave on my first time surfing. I learned so much and I'm already looking forward to scheduling my next session. read more

Felipe was an outstanding instructor! He was knowledgeable, kind, & a fabulous teacher!

My most recent lesson with Awesome Heather Alley as I call her, was not only the best fun, but her knowledge and experience of surfing helped me correct a few of my mistakes. I had a total knee replacement surgery 3 months ago, so I wanted some tune up lessons now that I have a strong functioning knee. Heather just makes it so fun an doable that I have no fear. She's not only an expert, she's very safety conscious and aware of your current skill level. As an enthusiastic beginner I appreciate that! Not ready for the big waves...YET! Give Heather a try if you want to learn or improve your surfing, you will have the time of your life! read more

Heather was patient and thorough. She really had a sense of my trepidation and gave me info that made me feel more in control/calm. I am booking my next lesson. I highly recommend! read more

BEST learning session EVER with Heather! It was truly a lesson and not this "push you in the wave and assist with paddle out BS" it was actually a lesson on breathing, reading the sets, saving my energy, know how to look for the rips, turtling instead of what I was doing, building my confidence on really going beyond my comfort level, etc AND that was only my first lesson! I've been "surfing" inconsistently for 10+ years but not actually paying attention to all the things that matter before you decide where to surf and where to get in! Heather worked on skillful issues that made me feel more confident about being in the water. I've had tons of "lessons" but Heather truly made it educational and fun for me! Definitely keeping her! She doesn't know it yet, but I'm calling her my surf coach Mahalo nui loa! read more

Surfing with Heather was awesome. It felt incredible to get back on a board after having a couple of kids. Heather helped strengthen my confidence by providing tips & exercises to keep me up. I also learned more about the South Bay beaches, which are newer surf spots for me. Heather is encouraging, knowledgeable, and laid back. I'm happy that I was referred to Soul Surf Sessions. My friends and I plan on doing a group class soon. read more

There aren't enough stars to accurately rate my sessions with Heather. She is a wealth of knowledge not only on the art of surfing but more importantly the ocean itself and surf etiquette. With her guidance I can safely make it out to and navigate a crowded line up, make smart(er) wave selections and begin to "see" my line as I'm riding the face of a wave. My comfort level is 2-3 feet but I have been out in much larger with Heather all the while feeling safe. She is reassuringly calm and patient meeting her students at their level, eager to progress once given the green light. Anyone who is considering surfing should start with Soul Surf Sessions. read more

Sabinka was fantastic! My husband and I took a lesson with her together and even though the day was rainy we had so much fun! I am going to take another lesson with her as I am not the most confident in the ocean but I think just about anyone could take her hour long lesson and be set to enjoy the surfing life. read more

Echoing the sentiments about how fantastic Heather is! We were three first-timers, two of the group were visiting from out of town and hadn't spent a lot of time in the ocean. She was so thorough and reassuring, as well as a lot of fun! And we ALL got up with her guidance and practice of setting you up with the wave. Highly recommend and planning to book again! read more

Heather is rad! She made my first ever surf lesson a super awesome experience, and I'll definitely be signing up for more lessons with her. If you want to give surfing a try, Heather will hook you up! read more

Great surf session with Heather! She is very thorough about making sure you do some drills on the sands and on the shore...so be prepared to do that before trying to head straight into the water. The drill on the shore was a good warmup! She was so helpful about answering ALL of my surf related questions and made me feel safe in the water. She was very mindful of my wave comfort and asked what size waves I feel comfy in. Definitely recommend and loved the beach spot Heather chose! read more

She is a perfect combination of awesome teacher and great human being! I wasn't trained right with other teacher so we had to start from the beginning with Heather. And it was the best decision! She helped me to build my foundation and catch first waves! She also gave me a consultation about best wetsuit and surf for now. Very happy and look forward to continue my lessons with you! read more

Heather is an incredible instructor who is fun, knowledgeable and effective. She gave a thorough lesson on how to identify good beginner waves and pop up before we hit the water. Heather even spent an extra 20 minutes with me in the water after our class ended so I could get more practice. This allowed me to get up several times. Heather offered simple, helpful feedback after each wave and I was surprised by how quickly I improved. I also got a sense of how to self-correct. Aside from Heather's skill and charm, a huge benefit is that her lessons are private. I found this class SO much more helpful than a small group class I took a couple months ago. Heather helped me feel completely at ease and motivated. Her passion for the surfing lifestyle and instruction were genuine and it was clear that she wanted me to succeed. I feel very fortunate to have found such a personable, talented instructor. Thank you, Heather! read more

Felipe was an amazing instructor for my daughter and her friend. It was their first time surfing and both had such an awesome, positive and fun experience! Thank you! read more

Heather was such a great/knowledgeable teacher and a quality human! Highly recommended!

Great team of instructors! They provide thorough instruction, offer flexible scheduling, use various locations, and always provide positive feedback. Heather is an awesome instructor and is an accomplished surfer. Felipe has great energy, is very patient, and thrives in challenging conditions. I look forward to booking another package and developing more skills with this team. They plan on offering group classes this year, so get your squad together or make a new one! read more

Surf Lessons Surf Coaching What are you waiting for! Five Star Friyay! I have been seeing Heather around the South Bay teaching beginners and coaching novices for the past three years. I got a card from her a while back and thought I would set up some coaching since I had plateaued on my surfing ability. I have recommended her in the past since she was the only surf instructor I had contact information for, and the people I recommended were so stoked (excited) after their lessons, so I figured it was my turn for some of that stoke. Heather is an expert on South Bay surf spots so for our lesson session she recommended we meet at the Rosecrans Tower at the South end of El Porto beach. Luckily she was able to accommodate my pre-work requirement at 5:45 AM. I got to the Tower early and did some stretches and right at 545 I saw Heather coming down the beach ready to go. She picked out a good sandbar and we paddled out together. I brought the new board I was trying to learn on, but if you are an absolute beginner she has gear that she will bring down to the beach for the lesson. She saw a wave coming and told me to paddle for it and she immediately saw what I was not doing right and we made some adjustments. She caught a few waves to show me, which really helped a lot. Pretty much the entire lessons was like going surfing with a buddy that was giving you valuable surfing advice. the lesson ran longer than an hour and Heather had to leave to get to another lesson in Venice Beach--she isn't tied to Manhattan Beach--but was able to see me catch a wave and angle in, which was pretty much my goal of the lesson. Woot! She also cheered me on. A big confidence builder. I have used the techniques she taught me even while catching waves on my log. since then I went from catching a few waves a session to like 100 waves! Now if I can learn how to roundhouse cutback! My advice is not learn surfing on your own, cause you will get frustrated and give it up. Invest in an awesome surf coach like Heather. read more

First lesson with Heather and it won't be my last. She is patient, knowledgeable, knows so much about the Southbay and friendly. I learned more from her in one lesson than I have tried to teach myself for a year. Definitely will be scheduling another lesson like next week haha. read more

Great with young families! On a dark and stormy New Years Eve, Heather boldly led our family of 3 kids (14, 12, 10 and Dad) into a surf playground. She explained the surf, we practiced paddle to stand form and then hit the waves. She led us all in the water and then stayed with our 10 year old daughter who was standing up to cheers from Heather and the rest of the gang in no time. Once she saw our daughter was safe on her own, she walked around and gave the perfect tip the boys and Dad needed which worked like magic for each of us to up level our abilities. For example, don't use you knees to get up, get settled before popping up, look straight ahead instead of down, etc. I don't normally write Yelp reviews, but was so impressed with Heather, I had to let the word out! read more

Heather is the best. I've so loved learning to surf with her over the past year. She's an excellent teacher and person all around. 10/10

If you are researching surf schools/teachers, stop here! Heather is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Her passion and enthusiasm for surfing is contagious. I went into the lesson a little shy and intimidated and left feeling super confident and much more knowledgeable. She took the time to explain things that felt complex and overwhelming in a simple and understandable way like- tides, wave height, places to surf, and when to surf. I've tried other surf schools and teachers and tried to learn on my own and I can say with 100% certainty no one else compares. Get out there! You won't regret it :) read more

My daughter really enjoyed her first lesson! Will definitely go back for her second class! Heather is an amazing instructor and very helpful/insightful. read more

Heather is a kind-hearted soul well suited to teaching and I'm glad that the internet managed to guide me to her. Surfing can be incredibly difficult without the right trainer. Her combination of pure skill (she's a surfing unicorn), patience and positive attitude can guide even the most inexperienced to succeed. Heather defines the Aloha spirit and generously shares that definition in her practice as a teacher. I can't imagine learning to surf from anyone else and you should too. read more

Heather is awesome! She gave my Dad a private lesson and he had a wonderful time and learned a ton. I couldn't get him out of the water today. read more

I've had two surf lessons with Heather so far and they were so fun! I've never surfed before so it helps that she is very hands on and extremely patient and positive. I definitely recommend her to any newbies or anyone that has experience but wants to correct some things! read more

I found Heather off her site http://www.soulsurfsessions.com I decided to book 10 lessons as a birthday gift to myself and completely fell in love with surfing thanks to Heather. Heather was amazing!! She definitely made me feel comfortable and confident in the water. During our first lesson she spent time on the beach with me ensuring that I was safe before getting into the water. Then I got to surf and was able to connect with the waves pretty quickly. The package of lessons helped me build a strong base and at the end of our time I bought my first board. I can comfortably surf on my own and it's because I had such a great instructor. Heather is really positive, a great athlete and surfer, and one of the nicest people I have meet in LA. I highly recommend Heather to anyone really wanting to learn how to surf properly. read more

Eduardo was a great teacher and the entire lesson was a lot of fun.

My daughter and I were both a little anxious about surfing but Heather immediately put us at ease with her teaching style and confidence. Her sense of humor and positive demeanor helped us have a lot of fun and want to keep practicing. Heather is great with kids and I highly recommend her as an instructor. We will be back for more lessons. read more