Surf & SUP Lesson Prices & What’s Covered
The Surf School operates year round in Santa Cruz at some of the best surf spots along the entire West Coast. The coastline is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which is an area of conservation and beauty, stretching from Santa Cruz, south to Big Sur.
All equipment (surfboards, SUPs, paddles and wetsuits) is provided during lessons.
Soft boards ranging from 7′ to 12′ are used for beginners. As surfers progress they can graduate to fiberglass longboards, fun shapes, and short boards.
We offer large group discount rates starting at 10 or more students. Contact us for details.
The cost of surf lessons and SUP lessons are the same. Here is a breakdown of the costs/packages and what’s included:
Surf or SUP Group Lesson
$120 per student
- 2-hour class
- Student must be 12 years or older
- No more than four students per instructor
- Great for just starting out or beginners
- This is our most popular lesson!
Surf or SUP Semi-private Lesson with Staff Instructor
$150 per student
- 2-hour class
- 2-3 students per instructor
- Perfect for 11 or younger age students
- Tailored for private group that want an instructor to themselves
- Taught by a STAFF INSTRUCTOR
Surf or SUP Private Lesson with Staff Instructor
$150 per hour
- 1-hour class minimum (you can book additional time in half hour increments)
- You can split your hours over multiple days/sessions. However, each day/session must be one hour minimum in the water.
- One-on-one instruction tailored to your needs or level
- This is ideal for more intermediate to advanced surfers wanting to work on specific techniques while getting 1:1 coaching — or for those who may require more direct and full attention in the water (e.g., small children, elderly, physically/cognitively disabled, etc.)
- Taught by a STAFF INSTRUCTOR
Surf or SUP Semi-private Lesson w/ Richard Schmidt
Surf or SUP Private Lesson with Richard Schmidt
$200 per hour
- 1-hour class minimum (you can book additional time in half hour increments)
- You can split your hours over multiple days/sessions. However, each day/session must be one hour minimum in the water.
- One-on-one instruction tailored to your needs or level
- This is ideal for more intermediate to advanced surfers wanting to work on specific techniques while getting 1:1 coaching — or for those who may require more direct and full attention in the water (e.g., small children, elderly, physically/cognitively disabled, etc.)
- Taught by RICHARD himself
Special Events
We also work with the community, businesses and non-profits doing special surfing events. From birthday parties and corporate team building events, to advanced surfers looking for extra coaching for competition, to physically or cognitively disabled people, we invite anyone to experience the thrill of riding waves!
CONTACT US if you’d like to have the Richard Schmidt Surf School involved in your special event.
Surf School Photography
Learning how to surf is a special moment in life. Have your memories of your special day captured so you can hold on to them forever. Sierra Lacey of Foghorn Studio is our main Surf School photographer. Contact Sierra directly for price details and to arrange schedules. This service is optional, and a separate cost that is NOT included as part of our surf & SUP lessons.
Email:foghornstudio@live.com