Are you ready to experience surfing and the glorious ocean with confidence, connection and joy? Are you ready to learn how to navigate the ocean and how to interpret and forecast optimal weather conditions? Are you ready to be in a community of surfers at all levels? Surfing with the guidance of Jonathon has transformed my experience. His teaching style of step by step instruction and curriculum has shifted how I interpret the ocean, how my body changes positions for an optimal ride and helped me see and feel the importance of timing. I highly recommend learning to surf with the guidance of Jonathan ‍ read more

There are a lot of things I could say about Jonathan's demeanor, his teaching style, his knowledge about the ocean and about surfing, and his persistence about fundamentals ("move your feet back"). Indeed, all of these things are important and he excels at them. But the thing that sets Jonathan apart from other instructors, and the reason you should stop reading this review and schedule a lesson right now, is his capacity to deal with the trepidation that makes people not want to surf in the first place. He understands that the ocean is a scary place for many who want to learn. He understands that if this fear is reinforced in the beginning of the process it's likely they'll never learn. And he genuinely wants people to overcome their fear and develop the confidence to surf on their own. If you're thinking about learning surf and you're in LA, Jonathan is who you want to learn from. read more

Whether you are local or a tourist I cannot recommend a better teacher then this guy. When I first started learning I did the usual thing, went to one of those places advertised on the beach and booked a lesson. Awful. I got some stoned 'duuuuude, far out' surf teacher that although as a one off was fun and if I was a tourist , adaquat I suppose for the experience and photo op but I actually wanted to learn something and being a local I wanted to find a teacher that I would be able to grow with, invest in and be certain I could come back on a weekly basis and feel I was progressing. 4 stoned, bleach blond 'malibu' looking god-awful surf teachers later I decided in frustration to search yelp. Thank God for yelp. I found the teacher of all teachers. Boom! I have been surfing now for around 5 months on and off when my schedule permits with Jonathon and I LOVE it. I stood up on the first lesson, most of you will and the difference with his approach to teaching is so vast in comparison to the others but I've summed up the main points: He won't take you out unless conditions are perfect for you current ability. I CANNOT stress enough how important this is in a teacher . every other teacher I've had will take your money, throw you on a board , push you into a wave at any given time of day and let you deal with it. That will NOT work for a beginner and you will learn nothing. Especially in Santa Monica . waves change dramatically throughout the day and conditions dictate your ability to learn and if you are not sent out at the right time you are completely wasting your time and money . I've had Jonathon text me 6am to cancel a lesson because conditions changed and he knew it would be a waste of my money. HOW AMAZING IS THAT? anyone else would just take the money , but he cares about your progress on a long term basis and would prefer to take a personal cut then have you have bad experience. He has an explanation for everything and presents it in a scientific approach which allows you to really understand what's happening, how to adjust and learn the ways of the ocean. Ask me about riptides, wave sets, conditions, winds, ocean etiquette, I dare ya. He is literally a fountain of knowledge . He will change the spot you go to based on conditions and ability . the more you progress, the more cool spots become available to you and he knows them all. He has so many students ongoing that once you become confident he has the ability to match you up with similar abled students if you so desire as one off lessons which makes it really fun to surf with and meet new people. Surfing has become a regular hobby for me and I couldn't be happier with a better teacher. If you are looking to improve and make surfing a regular thing he is definitely the guy for you. read more

Well.... I can honestly say he's the most patient instructor. I had a one on one session he explained from the get go it's not an easy sport. You'll spend 30 min on the sand, he will go thru some safety tips or if you find yourself on a rip. Every wave I try catching and wasn't able to get up he would observe what I needed to do to fix my posture or If hesitated to get up, which I really liked Because I would focus on that specific thing what I needed to do and I was finally able to get on that wave. I highly encourage anyone to get him for your sessions he does provide the gear plus he's very nice and patient seems to know a lot about the ocean! read more

Jonathan was recommended by a friend of mine help take my surfing skills to a higher level. I've been surfing for almost 15 years and wasn't able to get over that hump from a beginner to an intermediate surfer. I took my first set of lessons from him three or so years ago and I can't be more thankful for him and his excellence in teaching me. He's a skilled communicator, very patient, extremely knowledgable about the water, and one of the best surfers I've paddled out with as well. He really loves his job -- there's not doubt about it. The location where we meet is also very convenient. There is pretty much good surf for lessons nearly every day out in Santa Monica. He's always prompt and overall makes the lesson very enjoyable. I've refereed him many people and everyone that has taken a lesson from him has personally called me to thank me for the referral. That says something!! I actually still take classes from him--he continues to help hone my sills. I can confidently say that I've never respected the water more so now but also have a sense of comfort out there even when there's a big swell because of the skills he's taught me. If you are just starting out or are weekend surfer that wants to take his/her skills to the next level or even an advanced surfer, Jonathan is worth checking out. Thanks again brother. You rock it. read more

My son (17 yrs old) and my daughter (12 yrs old), wanted to surf on our trip to SoCal. Both kids had previous surfing experience, and I wanted to look for a private surfing instructor to help them get better. I was a little reluctant to call Jonathan because there were not many yelp reviews. I am glad I called anyways because it turns out that he is a highly regarded instructor who had worked with another company before. He has 20 years of surfing experience and is very well respected in the area. Jonathan connected with the kids right away, explaining the mechanics of surfing and safety in the ocean. He was able to help my son and daughter improve their skill and learn to connect with the ocean. Both of them believe Jonathan is the best surfing teacher. They ended up taking lessons with him for the whole week. My son now is a surf-a-holic, and he continues to seek Jonathan's advice on which wet suit and board to buy. I am sure we will be returning to take more lessons from Jonathan in the near future. My husband is already talking about taking a few lessons with Jonathan himself. read more

I call myself vacation surfer, because I don't live near ocean so every time I go somewhere where is an ocean I take few surf classes. I absolutely adore ocean and even if I keep on starting from the beginning and never seem to move further away from the beginner level, I am having so much fun while trying, that it is definitely worth it. I almost gave up on surfing when I met Jonathan. Year before, I had a knee injury with not-so-good surf instructor on one of the beaches of LA and I wasn't very keen to get back into the water. On top of that the weather conditions were really bad for surf classes so we keep on postponing them. That seemed to bet another "sign" that was telling me that maybe I should just give up.Nevertheless I've decided to just go for it and try. I remember the moment I went down the car parking to meet Jonathan and how nervous I was. But in the first few seconds I met him, I knew that it is going to be ok. And it definitely was! Not only that Jonathan made me feel safe, helped me re-gain my confidence and enjoy the surf again, but he was definitely the BEST surf teacher I ever had. Jonathan is knowledgeable, patient, great surfer himself and as a person: kind, well mannered as well as worldly, well travelled and fun! Every year I come back to LA and I reach out to Jonathan and have few more surf classes. I highly recommend Jonathan to the surfers of any level and any age: kids and grown-ups; beginners and/or surfers that want to improve their skills. You'll see, it will be the best surf experience of your life :-) !! read more

Jonathan is an amazingly patient, knowledgeable, articulate and experienced instructor. He goes the extra mile and teaches you not just about the waves, but about the ocean, surf etiquette and other things you need to know to be a better surfer. He has an amazing sense of humor and works around your schedule. I am very happy that I decided to learn surfing with Jonathan and not just from my surfer friends... Trust me it makes a difference!!! read more

I took a few months off of surfing after being pretty consistent over the last year. Had to shake off the rust, so I got a few lessons and it made a huge difference. My paddling needed a bit of work and the small adjustments that were made in the lessons made a huge difference right away. Always super friendly and able to push you to get your best surfing done while being supportive. I see a lot of other instructors out in the water and it always makes me grateful that I found Jonathan & Surfer's Ed. The right instructor can totally make or break your experience, especially for beginners or groups where anyone is nervous in the water. read more

My friend and I signed up for our first ever surf lessons, and were lucky enough to find Jonathan. He has been the perfect teacher! He's easy going, extremely knowledgable and always made me feel safe in the water. Jonathan is patient and spent a lot of time preparing us for what to expect before we got into the water. Once we were in he gave us detailed feedback and recommendations after each wave, making it easy to improve. I had never surfed before meeting Jonathan, but by the end of my first lesson I was able to stand up and ride a wave all the way into shore. We had such a good time that after the first lesson my friend and I were hooked! Surfing with him was one of the most fun things I've done in the last year, I can't recommend Jonathan and the experience he gave us enough. He makes learning to surf safe, fun and easy, just the way it should be. I can't wait to get back out in the water with him. read more

If you're serious about learning to surf, look no further - go with Jonathan! He'll make a surfer out of you and inspire you to love the sport, even if initially, you couldn't paddle to save your life (like me) and panicked out of sheer fear whenever a tiny 2-foot wave was about to crash in front of you (as I did). In a few months of surfing on and off with Jonathan on weekends, I went from being afraid to swim in the ocean to catching my own waves and even making turns on them from time to time. All thanks to Jonathan, and I can't wait to learn more from him. He is so patient, responsive, knowledgeable, and encouraging, you will gain confidence and progress when surfing with him no matter what level you start at. Jonathan genuinely loves surfing and loves teaching it. More than anything he wants to see his students enjoy surfing for life. Safety is a top concern for him and and he will spend time teaching you all the things you need to know - from assessing conditions to surf etiquette - to have the most fun and avoid injuries when you go out. You'll meet many of Jonathan's students riding waves at the popular surf spots near LA, and every one of them will eagerly tell you that Jonathan is the best surfing teacher around. Because he is. Go learn surfing with him, you won't regret it. read more

I am a grown adult, and was self-conscious to try surfing, next to the young ones, and concerned to have a 'dude' instructor that would not care - but that could not be further from the truth with Jonathan! I cannot say enough about him - He will be the first to say that there is work and practice involved, and he helped guide me thru every step. Not only is he an expert on surfing, waves, techniques, safety (I could go on about his extensive knowledge), but the most comforting thing about him is that he genuinely cares, which is very rare these days in any service industry, amongst so many people who just "do their job". I never felt like he was doing his job, but instead he really wanted me to succeed and be able to surf, and that made a huge difference in building my confidence. I don't know where he finds the patience to teach someone new as often as he does, looking back at how bad I was, and still took the time to teach me every step I needed to improve. Thanks for him, not only do I surf on my own now, but it is one of my favorite things to do! read more

Jon is both relaxed and intense in how he approaches training. If you're starting out he brings you to great places to learn and just have fun. If you're a bit more experienced he will make adjustments and give you specific drills to fix the stuff you could do better. He's always in a good mood and works with you to get you to the next level. Highly recommended!! read more

Some things about Jonathan: he's extremely patient, smart, good-natured, fun, knowledgeable and supportive. But most importantly, he loves to surf -- and his attitude is infectious. Now I love to surf. Through his patient analysis and coaching, I've gone from a complete beginner to someone who dreams of waves and can't wait to buy her first board. He'll teach you more than just how to get up on your board (though he'll also teach you that, and quickly too) -- Jonathan will teach you how to make sense of the ocean, with its tides, swells and rips, and he'll impart an appreciation for this humbling, awesome sport. I blame Jonathan for getting me hooked on surfing. (He also may or may not have a secret talent for attracting dolphins, and their babies. Basically, he's a magic man.) read more

My friend Jill and I wanted to try surf lessons and didn't do much research before enlisting Surfer's Ed- we live in the area and decided based on Yelp reviews. We were set up with Jonathan- and are so lucky that we found him!! We are complete novices, and in the 4 lessons that we had with him we saw a huge difference- I even caught my own wave! Jonathan has a natural sense of the water and waves and gives feedback after every take at a wave- which is really helpful because you can make immediate adjustments. He is patient and explains what little changes you can make to have a more successful ride. He is also very chivalrous and will help you with the board in and out of the water as much as you need/like. I would definitely recommend Jonathan to anyone looking to improve their surfing abilities- from those who have never been in the water with a surfboard to advanced surfers. Thanks Jonathan! We need to schedule our next lesson :) read more

I have always wanted to surf but been quite scared of the Pacific Ocean. Jonathan has a way to teach you about ocean management that's just so comforting and which gave me the confidence I needed to surf. I've had classes alone and in a group and have to say that both have been fun and I've felt I learned a lot. read more

Went surfing with Jonathan in April with a friend. We surfed with a bunch of instructors at different beaches and Jonathan was by FAR the most knowledgable about the ocean, safety, and good technique. Highly recommend and looking forward to surfing with him again! read more

We live out of state, and have hired Jonathan for three lessons for our 13-year-old daughter, her friend, and our 8-year-old son. His knowledge, temperament and kindness put my kids completely at ease. My daughter even caught a wave on her very first try. Although Jonathan said she was a natural, my daughter said if it wasn't for his instruction, she never would have done so well. Jonathan is a genuine soul who is completely in tune with the sport and each person's individual needs. We feel fortunate to have found him, and will continue to hire him for each visit. read more

This guy is great. I have been surfing for a couple of years, I've done the obligatory beginner lesson, and I've also done a group lesson while on vacation. Both of those were okay but it took a session with Jonathan to really improve. I went out today and this is the best and most valuable lesson I've ever had. Right of the bat the money was worth it. You get an invaluable lesson about how the ocean and the waves work. Then a quick look at your technique on land. Then you get in the water and get to put it all together with a very patient and informative instructor. If you are trying to reach to a higher level this is your guy. read more

Jonathan is such an amazingly patient instructor. He goes the extra mile and teaches you not just about the waves, but about the ocean, surf etiquette and other things you need to know to be a better surfer. I have and will continue to recommend Jonathan to my friends and family. I've never written a Yelp review until now. But Jonathan is the best surf instructor in SoCal and the world needs to know! read more

Jonathan is a GREAT surf instructor. My 16 year old nephew comes to visit me each summer and for the last couple years he's had surfing lessons with Jonathan. It is always the highlight of my nephew's trip, what he talks about most when he gets home, and a big reason why he can't wait to come back. I tend to be overprotective but Jonathan made me feel at ease right away. He spent a significant amount of time teaching my nephew about the waves, how to handle the surf board, paddling out, and standing up before he even touched foot in the water. Once out on the water Jonathan never took his eyes off my nephew, gave him constant feedback and instruction, and made him feel safe on the water. My nephew caught his own wave and was surfing by the second lesson. Aside from being a highly recommended surf instructor, Jonathan has a way of making the student and in my case, the aunt waiting on the shore line, safe, comfortable, and excited about the experience. He built rapport with my nephew quickly and always provided lots of positive reinforcement. I can't speak highly enough of Jonathan. If you get the chance to take a lesson, book with Jonathan! read more

My buddy bought me a surf lesson for my 40th, and it's one of the best gifts I've ever received. We were lucky enough to have Jonathan as a teacher, and not only is he very gifted as a surf coach, he is endlessly patient. I spend a lot of time in the Pacific with an ocean-swimming group, and my buddy is a newbie to the water. Jonathan managed to teach both of us at our own pace, and he is constantly introducing us to new aspects of surfing. We have had 6 lessons and can't wait for more time out there with one of the best instructors in the business. Seriously worth every penny. read more

Short version & in a nut shell: Jonathan is the instructor you want to teach you how to surf. I can attest - every review written on yelp to now, is accurate - He's professional; patient; incredibly knowledgeable -an excellent surfer. He's the walking poster-child for "do what you love and love what you do ". You will learn how to surf. Period. longer version (for those who are not convinced or - like me - had special issues, read further ... the longer version. At 50, I decided it was time to face my biggest fear in life (as a very young child, I had almost drowned - twice - in the ocean) and do something I've always wanted to do - swim in the ocean and learn to surf. I took a couple classes and although my instructor was good, he made me more anxious and made me feel (even though I was paying him and we had discussed my obstacle at length) he was there to teach me to surf, not overcome a fear of the ocean - which is more common then I realized, as I have come to find out. I felt a bit defeated, but ... (thank goodness for yelp) At the beginning of this summer I goggled "best surfing teacher in Los Angeles - there was Surf Ed and Jonathan. I called him and told him my issues. He told me he understood and we set a time and date. I was at best, skeptical. He rescheduled me once due to conditions (note: Jonathan will not take you out if conditions are not at your level - his goal is to get you to fall in love with the sport, not turn you off by getting in over your head. That alone says a lot about how seriously he takes his students and his work) and I was even more skeptical. Until we met. He took me down to the beach and we spent a good 1/2 hour on ocean management. He explained currents; sets; rip tides; waves ad their energy. Basically, he demystified the ocean. He made it something you respect but can manage. We went at the pace I needed and didn't put me on a board till I was completely comfortable in the water. when he saw my face as we got into the ocean - he knew how anxious I was and what he was up against. He dealt with it with patience, with grace. He didn't give up; he kept pushing me little by little and it worked. It took about three lessons, and I was swimming out to the lineup - no board - swimming. By the fifth lesson, I was popping up on the board and catching waves. Jonathan's knowledge, technique, patience and encouragement have led to a very successful experience - one I will always cherish. I know, I'm gonna be surfing for the rest of my life. Thanks Jonathan! I will always be grateful to Jonathan for showing me - fears and anxiety - with the most knowledgeable, patient teacher - can be overcome. if surfing has been something you have always wanted to do, i encourage you. Life is for the living - start today! read more

Jonathan got me and my husband up and surfing within 3 lessons (my husband was up the first day). We felt safe in the water and had a great time! read more

Jonathan is super patient and wants to help you learn. He has a good way of boosting your confidence and calming you so that you don't get antsy or give up easily - totally gives off good energy and is genuine about the process. I also didn't feel shy or awkward, even though I don't feel naturally like a guy who is meant for surfing. He's also just an easy guy to spend the hour with. I would definitely recommend him for anyone looking to learn how to surf, and I could see him working for people of a wide range of ages and personality styles. read more

Jonathan is a great instructor. I would not recommend going to anyone else. He really knows his stuff. He takes the time to not only teach you how to surf but to also teach you the science of it. He explains the technical side of surfing that other instructors do not explain. His honesty and patience are much appreciated. Get your moneys worth and stick with Surfer's Ed with Jonathan, otherwise you're wasting your hard earned cash! read more

You will not find a more awesome surfing teacher than Jonathan. He is patient, astute and has a keen knack for pinpointing exactly what you're doing wrong and then helping you correct it so you can become the better surfer you want to be. Also, I think he is one part psychologist! I got into surfing after a long delay because of some massive ocean phobias; Jonathan has devoted a lot of time finding ways for me overcome them. Not many teachers have that kind of understanding and tolerance. He's also taught me a lot about the ocean itself, about recognizing what swells and what tides are going to work for me. I would never have imagined being able to solo but I do solo now. I still have a long way to go, but I'm pretty sure with Jonathan's help I will get there. read more

Jonathan is the best! I have taken several surf lessons with him. I was totally nervous my first time out. We spent the first 20 minutes or so observing the water and going over the basics. By the time we hit the water, I was completely at ease. The best part was I got up ...my FIRST time out! He's incredibly intuitive and seemed to tailor the lessons to me personally. Most importantly he's cool as hell! Not annoying at all and not a super affected LA surfer dude. He even helped me, via text, when I went to purchase my own wetsuit and board. I cannot recommend him enough. I've referred friends to him and they all feel the same. I look forward to taking a refresher lesson with him. read more