My kids (10&13) had a wonderful surf experience. It was their first time surfing, and it was a very positive experience. The friendly staff put my kids at ease right away. Owner Cory was very friendly and personable and my kids adored his niece Hana who instructed them daily. Thanks for an unforgettable week. My kids will enjoy surfing their whole lives thanks to this positive experience. read more

Had such an amazing time surfing with Captain Ron! He was so friendly and enthusiastic, and gave our group a lot of great advice so that we were all standing up quickly. Thank you so much for the great experience- I definitely recommend signing up for a surf lesson through this shop! Also there is parking in the back, and street parking is available on Sundays (the rest of the week is 2 hour parking). read more

Came to Oceanside for July 4th weekend. We absolutely loved the instructors. Carl and his staff wee amazing, professional and super fun. They really love what they do. We had our family kids from the age of 8-13 have surfing lesson. They made sure the were in safe hands. We would definitely come back to oceanside and take lessons with them and recommend them to all of our friends and family. read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

I took my daughter here last week who is 8 years old and had never been surfing before. I, myself, had only been once 20 some years ago. We had the best time!! The staff was amazing and super personal and very helpful! We successfully caught some waves and built memories for a life time. I would highly recommend this spot to anyone plus it's family owned and operated which makes it that much better :) read more

Carl is Awesome!! He taught three of our children, ages 12, 15 and 17 to surf. He was so much fun and patient while teaching them. His personal touch and going above and beyond in his service was exceptional. Our kids cannot wait to get back and surf again. We have 5 children and our youngest two hope Carl will be there teacher when we return to Oceanside. Thank you Carl!! We had a blast. read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

I took my three kids ages 10, 8 and 6 to Whitlock for some surfing lessons. I had surfed once before in my life, as had my oldest son. The other two kids have never touched a surf board. So, we are all very much beginners. The four of us joined four others (2 adults, 2 kids) for a total of 8 people in the group. For our group of eight we had two instructors. Captain Ron started with the adults and Carl started with the kids. The Whitlock staff worked with us individually on our own strengths and weaknesses and had all of us standing up by the end of our 2-hr lesson! We all had a fantastic time!! Captain Ron watched me for a few runs and then took me back on the beach to give me a few very simple instructions that made a huge difference. On the very next run, I was up and surfing! I then watched all three of my kids, over time, get up and stand on their boards. The smiles on their faces were awesome. They taught us how to paddle ourselves into waves on our own. After watching me a few times, Carl gave me some instructions on how to stand up on the board more quickly. I tried a few times and failed. He then took me on shore and went through a few simple step-by-step instructions on how to achieve the quicker version. Back to the ocean I went and success was found! Captain Ron and Carl were absolutely awesome. Also, I can not forget about Cory. He managed the day for us, gave us history on surfing and was our transport to and from the office. He was great with the kids, absolutely full of passion and energy. A person who truly loves his job. Being around him was uplifting and energizing! Thank you Whitlock crew!!! We can not wait to come back again!!! -Jay, Paxson, Tia, Ty read more

Carl and Rodney are the best! My cousin and I got a groupon for 2people for a 2hr lesson. When we got to the beach, Carl and Rodney made sure we got down the basics and helped us catch our first couple of waves. When they caught me needing some extra help, they gave me constructive tips and helped me catch more waves. I live 50minutes away and I'd have to say that this experience was well worth not only the drive, but the sunburn, scrapes, and repeated wipeouts. I would definitely recommend Whitlock :D. read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - After our surf lesson with Carl and Rodney aka Bruce Willis :) - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

Such a positive and fun experience all throughout! I was the oldest in the group with no balance, minimal flexibility and relatively no experience riding boards. Yet, I was able to stand and rode a few waves to shore! Carl, the instructor, made a world of a difference with his patience, expertise and constructive feedback after every intent. Listen to Carl and you'll be able to ride in less than 2 hours. read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

We ended up taking two days (two hours each) of lessons with Whitlock -- we had Ethan as our instructor the first day and Ron the second. Both were great! We got lucky in that I think most kids are back in school now, so our family of four (with kids aged 12 and 14) had the lessons to ourselves. The logistics were very straightforward, the instruction was great, and the beach where you surf was very safe and manageable. We loved our first day so much we immediately signed up for a second. Would highly recommend Whitlock! read more

Rusty. Whitlok. A pioneer. Or surf. Industry. One. Of the leaders in his craft. Son. Corey. Follows dads. Footsteps. Both. A credit. To you me. All of Oceanside. Rusty. My pleasure to chat with such a legend. Tks. Sarge OHS 1962. 100star rating read more

Though there was a mix up in the surf lesson date and time, the staff were very accommodating and flexible. Hanna was great with the boys giving their very first surf lesson. Would definitely schedule more lessons read more

Loved renting from here! Owner is almost always there and he was able to give me an amazing price for surfing for the first time. Will be back the next time I'm in town! read more

This review is long overdue so I feel it would only be fair to make this comment a damn good one: I've been using Groupons for Whitlock Surf Experience several times for the past couple years. I'm in love with surfing but have a super demanding work schedule, and on top of that, none of my girlfriends surf or skate like me, and my personal surfing rule is to never surf alone.... So I purchase lessons to get instructors to critique my surf skills and help me better myself as a surfer. The guys over there at Whitlock: Karl, Cory, Rodney, Rich, and pretty much everyone at the shop are unbelievably rad!!! They're super nice and engaging. They do great jobs breaking down the motions and movements for beginners, getting them up on a board, and they also educate those who've never surfed before on ocean safety (ALWAYS important). Because I'm in between skills of beginner and novice, they give great constructive criticism on how I can improve on various things such as my posture, foot placement, and the one I'm currently working on: reading waves. All in all, Whitlock Surf Experience is a great place to learn to surf. The instructors there are stellar and will get you dialed in and standing up on a surfboard in no time. PLEASE NOTE: They have some pretty awesome tees, sweaters, hoodies and apparel there that you can buy. I bought their pocket logo long sleeve sweatshirt in navy blue and their eco-friendly multi/colored (purple, grey, and baby blue) poncho and have worn them plenty of times! Prices are super reasonable too! 10 for 10! These guys rock!! Mahalos Whitlock Surf Experience!!! read more

We checked out a surf lesson just a week after they were allowed to re-open. Staff was patient and appropriately social distancing. The lesson was helpful and fun! Highly recommend this spot. read more

My fiancée and I were visiting San Diego and drove up to Oceanside specifically for Whitlock. It's a small family run business, which we love supporting, and the owner is super nice. Our surf instructor was Captain Ron who was totally awesome. He was extremely supportive and really actively coached all of us during the two hour lesson. With his help, I actually got up on the board and felt like a legit Cali surfer chick for a hot second. They also do very reasonably priced full day wet suit and board rentals. Bonus- the shop sells really cute merch and I bought a cute white crop top which I will rock on the East coast. I will definitely be back when I'm back in the area. read more

We called ahead and made our reservation the day before. Met at the shop at 8:30 to get wetsuits and sign waivers. Provided transportation to the beach. Spent time on land going over the technique of standing up and surfing. Captain Ron was absolutely awesome! Very good at explaining and coaching you through the steps on land and in water. The whole experience had a very good transition from one on one coaching and baby steps to doing it on your own and pointers. If you want hours of fun and good people this is the place to go! Price you can't beat! read more

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The best place to go for all surfing needs. Bar none. Hands down. This crew is the best if only I could give 6 stars I would. We took lessons from them and they were the best. I even got up on my first time out what a thrill I'm always coming back to Whitlock. Thanks Carl your the best. read more

Had to write a great review for Whitlock! Everyone I met there was super friendly and helpful. My friend and I loved our first surfing lesson so much, we bought two more. Even though it's a group class, the instructors give everyone plenty of feedback. It took a few times, but I'm finally standing up and surfing all the way to the beach! Can't say enough great things about them. Each time we came in, we always had a great instructor. Shout out to Capt. Ron, Tai, and Brooke. Thank you! read more

We bought a 2 hour lesson for our daughter's 12th birthday. From the moment we started talking to then everyone was so nice and helpful. She was so exited and so nervous, but her instructor (Captain Ron) made her feel comfortable & confident. We couldn't believe how quickly they had her standing up & riding a wave. She loved every second of it. Thank you Whitlock Surf Experience for making our daughter's 12th birthday one she'll never forget! read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

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We had a fantastic experience paddle boarding in the harbor here!! The main guy Cory was very helpful showing my guy the right way to hold paddles and very friendly nature. Definitely recommend this surf school and board rental location for Oceanside that's fr sure!! read more

We cannot say enough about Whitlock! They made our time in Oceanside feel like home. By the first lesson, we were standing up, and by the second, we were confident surfing independently! Karl, Jorge, and Matthias were incredible instructors for us, and they continued to encourage us when we were surfing outside of lessons. Every interaction we had with the Whitlock family and staff was kind, generous, and fun. Highly recommend them! Thanks for everything guys. Sorry if we spelled your name wrong. read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

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We found the Whitlock's on Groupon. My 15-year-old daughter wanted to learn how to surf and I couldn't have picked a better group of people to help her out. They were patient and fun and very knowledgeable. Without a doubt a great day was had thanks to this group. read more

Wonderful surfing experience. Kids loved the instructors. Tons of personal attention and no hidden fees. The student to instructor ratio was small and the lesson was very thorough. They even calmed my 10 year old from some fears. Can I give them 10 stars??? read more

I visited a friend in San Diego, and wanted to try my hand at surfing. I'm in my late 30s, physically fit, and I up to the challenge. I found Whitlock Surf and an on-line deal that made a good price even better. My friend and I - with no experience surfing - and 2 others with some surfing experience had a group lesson. After fitting for a wet suit, we were driven over to a suitable surfing location. Kanika was great teacher, and I'd highly recommend him. He was able to teach the 2 of us how to get up on the board and ride a few smaller waves within a couple hours. At the same time, he was able to help the more experienced surfers improve their game. Four was a good number: we had enough time to rest between surfing, and still got many rides in over the couple of hours. If your looking to learn to surf, or looking to improve your surfing skills, I highly recommend Whitlock Surf Experience. read more

Our family had an awesome time learning to surf with Whitlock Surf Experience. This was the first time most of us had ever been swimming in the ocean let alone surfing! Our instructors Draven and Jorge were incredible, top-notch, and so encouraging. They made us feel confident and comfortable from the very beginning and throughout the whole experience. This was definitely the highlight of our vacation and we cannot wait to catch waves with them again! We would highly recommend these instructors and surf company to anyone who wants an amazing and affordable surfing experience! read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

The friendly crew at Whitlock kept us coming back all through our Spring Break. My fiancee and I loved learning with them - they were passionate and very thorough. We took a two-hour class from them and rented our boards and suits from them after that. The guys had us catching waves in no time so I have to say that it was a very successful experience for us! They also gave us a fun tour of the town and tips on local eateries so that was an extra plus. We loved our time in Oceanside because of them and will be sure to swing by every time we're in the area. If you're looking for experienced and patient teachers (Adam and Carl were ours), look no further! Whitlock Surf Experience far exceeded any expectations we had about surfing lessons and we would recommend them to anyone. read more

We just completed our first ever surf lesson with instructors Carl, Rodney and Mia. My wife and I both caught waves and had a good time. There were 6 in our group and everyone got up and rode waves. I believe instruction on the beach before hand and going over safety was very important in not only learning how to surf, but being respectful of others. I look forward to going back and trying a smaller board for my next experience. Thanks again to the entire staff at Whitlock for a memorable adventure. read more

My niece came out from Ohio and wanted to try surfing. I found Whitlock on a website. The staff at the office on Mission were very helpful and explained everything very thoroughly. We went down to the ocean where the instructor was very nice, helpful and walked through everything step by step. She had a great time and turns out she was pretty good at it! Highly recommend for anyone looking for lessons. Ask for " Bruce Willis!" read more

I found Whitlock Surf through Ideal4aCause and I'm glad I did. I was interested in Stand Up Paddle Boarding. Cory Whitlock did a great job. I was surprised how easy and fun it was. I plan on bringing my wife back for a class soon. Thanx Cory read more

Captain Ron was an amazing teacher. He had us up and surfing in no time! We rented boards all week. Definitely a repeat!

It really should be 10 's! 4th day going out with Cory. Seriously the NICEST guy around. He makes you feel like family after 5 min. Genuine, humble, funny, kind and retired Pro Surf Champion. You really can't do any better. We can only aspire to make the world as Good a place as Cory does! Hung out at the shop, hung out with the band, would have moved in if we lived here! Thanks Cory and friends, you are all amazing! read more

I had such an awesome experience with Corey and his son Skyler this morning that I had to write about it. Extremely helpful and super friendly, their technique really works! I've gone surfing twice in my life and this time, I actually got to ride the wave more than once. I brought my GoPro3 whom Skyler helped film while I got up on the board. It was truly an incredible and fun experience. I will definitely be back for the advanced class. You guys rock! read more

Whitlock Surf Experience - After I felt confident to go on my own. :-) Video on their Facebook fan page! - Surf Schools Near Me - Oceanside, California

My friend and I discovered this family owned and run shop through Groupon and we are so glad we did! Cory was inviting and friendly from the moment we stepped out of our car. He gave great instruction on how to paddle board while at the shop and continued at the lagoon. He made us feel confident and comfortable from the beginning. When we got to the lagoon there was an issue with permits required to board on the lagoon. They quickly figured out what was needed and ran out to get the correct documentation. He made up the time lost in the end. We were impressed with the way they handled the situation. We were on the water in no time. Cory gave great instruction as did his assistant. No one fell in! I couldn't believe that. The class was small and there was plenty of personal attention. I definitely recommend this place, especially for beginners! We can't wait to go back! read more

These guys really treat you like family! Trust me, I have gotten to where I just expect apathy when I walk into a business. I was so pleasantly surprised when I walked in with my 13 year old daughter and we were both treated like family. Out on the water the instructor (we got Phil) did his best to make sure we got it! I am an old fat guy so this had to be very challenging for the instructors. Never once did they stop smiling or being pleasant! I sent my other two daughters down the road to surf camp a few years ago. I know they had a good time but neither one of them came back wanting to buy a surf board and start surfing every weekend. After just the one lesson my 13 year old is hooked! These guys get it, so if you want to become a "surfer" or just learn to surf go here! read more

It was a life long dream for me to take a surfing lesson and actually catch a wave. This was one of the best experiences I've ever had on the water and I can't wait to go back for another lesson. From the moment my wife and I walked in we were treated like part of the family. Everyone was so welcoming and they even showed us where they make their boards. Carl was a great instructor and it didn't take long until I was riding my first waves! read more

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I feel blessed that i found these guys through living social. I asked for a SUP lesson at the beach. Cory took me out there and besides giving me some great tips and helping me learn how to paddle better, he was a blast to surf with. I was so happy with the service that i cant wait for my next lesson and even more for my kids to be old enough to take a surf camp with them. Highly recommended!!!! Book your lesson NOW! read more

Abstract: Friendly, kind, inexpensive, family oriented business. I hope everyone in California are like these guys. I was in Carlasbad for a vacation; it being my first time in California I thought I would check out the surf and see how it compares to the east coast where I grew up and learned how to surf. I checked out the reviews on yelp for this place and gave them a call. It was good that I gave them a call. He told me the waves were 1-2 feet, so I asked him if he had any boards in the 8-9 foot range and sure enough they did (I was hoping so considering they rent and sell boards). I was mostly just happy at this point to find a shop that was renting something other than foamies at a reasonable price. Then he said he'd set it aside for me whenever I came down in the afternoon. Wicked nice guy. We drove our tiny rental sedan down to the shop, thinking I would be able to just walk it down to the shore. He greeted me, I told him I was the guy that called earlier and we chatted a bit. I didn't know they shaped their own boards until he showed me his shop in the back where they're starting to use more epoxy materials instead of the traditional resin/fiberglass to cut down on the air pollutants. That was cool to see his shop. He ended up renting a 9 foot Walden Magic Model for 25 bucks (2 hours and a wet suit). Since we had a small car and had about a mile to go to the beach he offered to drop off the board a the surfing beach and pick it up later when he came back to grab his kids (who he also dropped off with their boards). The board was a bit heavier than what I used to it and it seemed pretty well used since there were cracks all over it. But I was able to catch a few good waves and leave the shore with a smile. 2 hours later he came by, grabbed the boards, we followed him back because my girlfriend saw a shirt she wanted that I ended up buying for her. I bought one for myself because I thought they were running a really nice business. The shirt I bought was a little sun stained from being outside so he let me keep that one and he gave me another one for free and five stickers. WHAT!? Alright, these guys are probably the nicest business owners in the world. We were chatting a bit more and he offered me to come by his place in the morning if I wanted to get an early surf session in before we left and finished our vacation; unfortunately I couldn't make it. read more

This place is awesome and I can't imagine how this experience of learning to surf could have been any better! My instructor Carl was great. He is super friendly and obviously has deep knowledge and passion for surfing, which he loves to pass on to others. I went from not knowing how to put on a wetsuit (I put it on backwards like an idiot at first) to being able to go surfing on my own and get up on the board and everything after just an hour or so, not to mention I had so much fun and didn't want to stop! He gave me a very logical step-by-step process for how to catch the wave and get up on the board that makes sense. They gave me the confidence and ability to get up on the board reliably. I loved it so much the day after I went again on my own and I was able to do it without the instructor! What I didn't expect is that they actually make high quality hand-shaped surfboards at their shop. Before the lesson started, they told me about the history of their family business and showed me how the boards are made, what the different kinds are, etc. It was an interesting education for someone just getting into the sport! I highly recommend Whitlock for anybody looking to learn to surf! read more

I came to San Diego for a solo weekend trip and decided to take a surfing lesson. I'm not a great swimmer and was very nervous, but Rodney and Carl made me completely at ease. They're very easygoing and great instructors so I knew I was in good hands. Both Carl and Rodney worked with me over the course of the lesson to help me get the mechanics and movements down. It was absolutely one of the greatest feelings when I stood up on the board and rode the wave all the way in!! I loved the experience so much that I convinced a friend to come to SD with me in a couple of weeks to take a lesson with these guys! read more

Captain Ron was awesome! I hope I can come back to take some more lessons. I caught a few waves which was the best feeling ever.