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Whitlock Surf Experience

4.8 (184 reviews)
Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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Julie P.

My bucket list, since I moved to SD 3 years ago, has been to surf with my eldest daughter. She has fears around the ocean but after spending 8 hours in the water boogie boarding on the past 4th of July, we took the plunge with a Groupon and I signed her up for Whitlock....no regrets. The instructors got her comfortable with the water and when it was time to leave she got back in and wanted to give another try! We will Be back:)

Taylor S.

Everyone here was super nice, helpful & encouraging. JD & Ray were our surf instructors. They taught us the basics & then guided us into our first few waves. They even helped more if you were a chicken like me lol overall it was an awesome experience. My son & I had a lot of fun & now we can say we know how to surf We will definitely go back to them for more surfing & even surf camp ‍‍

Thank you to my instructor Hana!
Joadys C.

What an amazing day , Cory was super friendly and personal upon my arrival made me feel totally welcomed and calmed my nerves about the day that awaited me. Within 30-45 minutes you are out on the water after your class on the fundamentals. Hana was my instructor, she had me catching waves right away and most notable after her notable corrections she had me STANDING ! She is a wonderful instructor, a blast to be around the type of confidence and energy you need to make this experience worth wild. Thank you Hana. I can't wait to practice my new found skills !

Ruth W.

We made a 2 hour surf lesson reservation and I'm so glad we booked Whitlock over other surf company. Randall was the instructor and he was amazing and patience. The kids had a wonderful and memorable time. He was patience and allowed the kids to figure out what will work for them. He was nearby and was readily available to help them. I highly recommend them. They also rent just surfboards only! Looking forward to our next visit.

Thanks Wally!!
Diana V.

First time surfing and couldn't have asked for a better experience and instruction than the one we received from Wally asani at Whitlock Surf. From the moment we stepped foot in the place to the last minutes, he was not only very welcoming, but was very attentive and provided us with detailed instructions and answered all of our questions and concerns. If you're in SD looking for a place to learn how to surf, DO NOT look further. Wally is absolutely THE BEST. I was able to find my balance and actually "surf" the waves after a few tries and following Wally's guidance and advice. He knows exactly what he's talking about and he has been doing this since he was a kid. Loved loved our experience. Will definitely be returning again. Thank you, Wally!!!

Kelly P.

Our family had a great time learning to surf with "Captain" Ron! First, the directions he provided were clear and easy to execute. Second, he really catered to my daughters (10) and made sure their experience was positive, actually one of my daughters loved surfing so much she can't wait for our next trip to the beach to do it again! Lastly, this business obviously has a lot of experience in costumer service, from booking to surfing everything was easy. Thanks again for an unforgettable experience!

Marija P.

My brother and I had the best surfing experience with our instructor Karl! He was very helpful, a great teacher and at the same time we had so much fun with him! Definitely recommend to everyone !

Kat K.

Holy hell, I was shocked at how much fun the surfing lessons were, I purchased two additional ones on the same day! For some context, I'm NOT a good sporty person. I'm awkward and clumsy and tend to overthink everything. But, Ron was such a great sport and super encouraging while taking the time to coach me through everything. I didn't feel judged for being too slow or felt like I was holding the class up because I couldn't pop up properly. Ron was determined to get me to "pop up" and stand on that surfboard. And, I did!

Whitlock Surf Shop

Awesome experience!! Ethan was a fabulous instructor. The owner Cory welcomed us into his shop like it was his home and made my kids feel extra special! Such a good experience with our rentals and family lesson that we are on our way right now to rent equipment and hit the waves again! Backstory: Before heading to California I was looking at options for surf lessons for my son's birthday. He's been wanting to learn for years. I check out reviews from yelp to help me decide which one would fit our needs best. So glad we went with Whitlock, we will be return customers for years to come! My son says it was the best birthday present ever! After we surfed the guys recommended Swami's Cafe for lunch and Parlor Doughnuts for dessert. Both were scrumptious and spot on after working up an appetite on the water. Thank you so much Ethan and Cory!

I would highly recommend this awesome surf school. Tye Testerman was amazing! He was so kind and patience with my kids. Helping them learn how to get up on the surf board. The gal who worked in the shop was so sweet and friendly. Just a wonderful local small business

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Ask the Community - Whitlock Surf Experience

Review Highlights - Whitlock Surf Experience

Captain Ron at Whitlock Surf Experience had our 2 daughters (ages 6 &10) standing and surfing within minutes!!

Mentioned in 19 reviews

Read more highlights

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Real Surf Surf Shop - "O'SIDE TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN" - a design for the locals of Oceanside California is now at Real Surf Shop on Coast Hwy

Real Surf Surf Shop

(108 reviews)

$$

We had a horrible experience. Our money was deposited in August for an order we needed by…read moreSeptember 23rd. We received mulitiple excuses as to why we didn't have our order. It took me and two others to track Shawn, the owner down. After constantly asking, we got our order at 9:30pm on the 25th, by meeting the guy in a local park in his white van. Turns out, the count was off and the shirts were done incorrectly. In addition to this, the shirts were different brands and qualities. It was such a nightmare. In fact, it was not until Thursday, October 9th that I had to drive to his house to pick up the remainder of the order. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY.

I've always seen many of their comical posts on Instagram, so I decided to head down to Real Surf…read moreShop in Oceanside to what it's all about. Located off the main road 101, Real Surf is an Oceanside shop that caters to all of your surfing needs. It's where you can rent your board, wetsuit, wax; the works and hit the water (which is just a couple of blocks down the road). I don't surf, but I could see that their board inventory was extensive and their customer service was knowledgeable and superfriendly. But the apple of my eye was definitely their clothing line!! Real Surf Shop has the BEST locally-themed clothing inventory in the city. I'm not talking about generic, tourist-styled designs with "Oceanside" on them. I'm talking about some very witty, comical logos and designs that are indicative & representative of life in Oceanside. If you're an Osider or city local, you NEED to get one of their shirts, tanks, hoodies or hats. Some Logos Include: "Keep Oside Real" "Localization Not Gentrification" and "Oside Takes Care of its Own" All of these should resonate with an Osider. Even more importantly, the staff is down-to-earth and truly care about their community. They give back to and are representative to the spirit of the Oceanside Community Unity. So, whether it's for your surfing needs or just to get a unique shirt that shows you love Oceanside, The Real Surf Shop is where it's at!

Whitlock Surf Experience - surfschools - Updated May 2026

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