REVIEW · SANTA MONICA
2-Hour Private Surfing Lesson in Venice Beach
Book on Viator →Operated by Fun Surf LA · Bookable on Viator
Trying to catch real waves starts on land. A 2-hour private surf lesson with Fun Surf LA means your coach, like Jonathan, can focus on what you need instead of spreading attention across a crowd. You’ll learn at a quieter part of Venice Beach, so the session feels more controlled and less chaotic than the typical surf-fun scene.
What I love here is the lesson structure: detailed coaching on land first so you understand what to do before you’re paddling for your life. I also like the value of having surfboards and wetsuits included, which removes a couple of common hassles and extra costs.
One thing to think about: photos aren’t included, so you’ll need to rely on your own phone or accept that this is more about progress than keepsakes.
In This Review
- Key takeaways before you paddle
- Santa Monica surf, minus the crowd pressure
- Skills, age, and fitness: who this fits best
- Meeting at 20 Bicknell Ave: the practical start of the session
- Land lesson time: learn the mechanics before the wipeouts
- Water time at Venice Beach: coaching that follows your attempts
- What’s included: surfboard and wetsuit (and why that’s good value)
- Price and logistics: is $99 per person fair?
- Weather matters: plan for real-world surf conditions
- Is it really private? What you should expect from the group setup
- Who should book this lesson?
- Should you book Fun Surf LA’s private lesson?
- FAQ
- How long is the private surfing lesson?
- How much does it cost?
- Where do we meet for the lesson?
- Is this lesson private?
- What’s included in the price?
- What’s the cancellation policy if weather is bad?
Key takeaways before you paddle
- Private coaching for all levels: beginner to advanced, with the plan adjusted to your ability
- Land instruction before the water: you get the mechanics first, then you try them on the waves
- Instructor Jonathan has a patient style: great for parents and for students working through specific skills like drop-ins
- A remote part of Venice Beach: helps the session feel calmer and more focused
- Equipment provided: surfboard and wetsuit are included, so you show up and go
- Two hours goes fast: expect full attention from start to finish, not a half-class and free time
Santa Monica surf, minus the crowd pressure
This private lesson is built for one thing: getting you useful feedback while you’re learning. In a group class, you can end up waiting your turn, guessing what the instructor meant for someone else, or watching others get the corrections you really needed. Here, you’re paired with a coach for the full 2 hours, so the instruction stays tied to your technique, your timing, and your wave selection.
What also makes this session appealing is the “remote part of Venice Beach” idea. Venice can be busy. A quieter setup usually means fewer distractions while you’re focusing on balance, movement, and reading conditions. Even if you’re excited and a little nervous, you’ll likely feel like the lesson is under control instead of being swallowed by beach noise.
And yes, Coach Jonathan comes up often in the positive feedback. The common thread is not just that the instruction was effective, but that it was paced well and delivered in a way that helps you actually change what you’re doing.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Santa Monica
Skills, age, and fitness: who this fits best
The lesson is designed for all skill levels, from total beginner to advanced. That matters because surf coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. Beginners need the basics made clear. Intermediate surfers tend to need corrections that tighten up timing and stance. Advanced students often want technical tweaks that help them progress—like getting drop-ins to finally click the way they should.
There’s also a clear minimum age: 7 years old. If you’re doing this with a kid or teen, you’re not stuck in an adult-only “figure it out” vibe. A parent-friendly format also makes sense here because the instruction is private, so you can split attention between you and your child without the instructor trying to manage a whole mixed group at once.
For comfort and safety, the lesson calls for moderate physical fitness. You don’t need to be a gym athlete, but you should be ready for the effort of getting in and out of the water, paddling, and spending time balancing and moving with a wetsuit on.
Meeting at 20 Bicknell Ave: the practical start of the session
You’ll start at 20 Bicknell Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, and the lesson ends back at the same meeting point. That’s a nice simplicity factor. You’re not dealing with a complex route across town or a confusing handoff at a different beach access.
Once you meet up, the session is focused right away. Expect that your coach will sort out a quick sense of your current skill level and then build the plan around you. Since it’s a private session, this “setup time” is usually more useful than in group settings—there’s less time wasted repeating things you already know.
Land lesson time: learn the mechanics before the wipeouts
A big reason this lesson works is the balance between land and water. You’ll get detailed land lessons before moving into the water. That’s more than a nice “warm-up.” It prevents a common beginner problem: trying to learn technique while simultaneously managing the chaos of waves, paddling, and board control.
On land, you should expect coaching that helps you understand:
- body position and balance
- how to move with your board under control
- what to do next when something goes wrong
If you’re working on a specific goal, this land coaching is also where you’ll usually get the clearest “do this, not that” feedback. In the experience, that kind of correction is what helps surfers finally feel the flow of harder maneuvers. One of the strongest themes from the feedback is that a session like this can straighten out long-term habits—especially when you’ve been trying to self-teach and the same frustrating issue keeps repeating.
Water time at Venice Beach: coaching that follows your attempts
After the land work, you head into the water with a coach training and helping you the whole time. Since the session is only your group, the instructor isn’t cutting away to check on other students. That matters because surfing skills improve through repeated attempts and immediate corrections.
The lesson is flexible based on your skill level. If you’re brand new, you’ll likely spend more time learning how to handle the board and build confidence. If you’re already catching waves, you’ll still get guidance, but the coach can target specific adjustments that help you read waves better and ride with more control.
The Venice Beach setting adds realism. You’re learning in a real surf environment, not a staged “easy mode” that feels nothing like actual waves. The tradeoff is that you need decent judgment about conditions, and that’s why the experience is weather-dependent.
A point worth highlighting: the program is built so the instructor stays with you both in the water and on land for the full 2 hours. That’s what makes the private format more than just paying for solitude—it’s paying for ongoing coaching while you’re trying.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Santa Monica
What’s included: surfboard and wetsuit (and why that’s good value)
This lesson includes surfboards and wetsuits. That’s not just convenient. It protects your budget and reduces friction.
Surf gear rentals can quietly add up, and it’s easy to show up with the wrong board or an ill-fitting wetsuit and lose time right away. Here, you start with the essentials provided, so the lesson stays focused on learning instead of logistics.
One more practical note: since photos are not included, your “souvenir plan” should be simple and intentional. If you care about getting action shots, set expectations and prepare to capture your own moments on your phone. Otherwise, you’ll be paying mostly for instruction and water time—which, for most people, is the correct priority.
Price and logistics: is $99 per person fair?
At $99 per person for about 2 hours, this can be very good value if you want real coaching rather than a “tourist surf attempt.” Group lessons often feel cheaper on paper, but the coaching attention is diluted. With a private lesson, your coach can spend the time diagnosing what’s blocking your progress and coaching the fix while you’re still in the moment.
You also get equipment included, which helps the math. Board and wetsuit rentals elsewhere can eat into your budget, especially if you’re traveling and don’t already have gear.
The other value angle is skill progress. If you’ve tried to learn on your own (common with surfers who get stuck on timing, stance, or drop-in confidence), a focused session can produce a shift fast. That doesn’t mean it turns you into a pro overnight, but it can remove years of guesswork in a single 2-hour block.
If you’re an absolute beginner who only wants a first taste of surf culture, you might decide that a cheaper group class is enough. But if your goal is to improve quickly with feedback you can apply immediately, the private format is the more direct route.
Weather matters: plan for real-world surf conditions
This experience requires good weather. If conditions aren’t right, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s fair, and it’s also practical: surf lessons don’t help much when visibility, wind, or wave conditions make the basics unsafe or unteachable.
To make this smooth, keep your schedule flexible around your booking date if you can. Surf is a “time and nature” activity. The best session is the one where conditions allow the coach to actually work with you, not just gather gear and hope.
Is it really private? What you should expect from the group setup
This is a private tour/activity, and only your group participates. That means:
- you’re not sharing the instructor with strangers
- the coaching can stay tailored
- the session pace can match your level without waiting for other people’s turns
For families, this is especially helpful. A parent and child can learn side-by-side with the coach adjusting feedback to each person’s needs. Feedback on the instructor’s patience is a recurring theme, and it makes sense: in private lessons, the instructor’s “people skills” become part of the technical success.
Who should book this lesson?
I’d point you to this private session if you want:
- real skill coaching instead of a generic surf introduction
- a teacher who can explain and then help you apply the fix immediately
- a calmer setup within Venice Beach rather than pure crowd chaos
- equipment handled for you (board and wetsuit included)
It’s also a strong pick for people trying to solve one specific issue. One of the best examples in the feedback is that a student had trouble learning drop-ins and catching waves on a shorter board, and a single private session helped straighten out the technique. If you have a “stuck spot,” private instruction is often the fastest way to get un-stuck.
And if you’re traveling with family, the private nature plus the minimum age of 7 makes it a realistic activity that isn’t just for adult daredevils.
Should you book Fun Surf LA’s private lesson?
If you’re the kind of person who likes instruction you can use right away, I think you should book this. The big strengths—private coaching, land lessons before the water, and equipment included—all serve one purpose: getting you progress during the short time window you have.
Skip it only if you’re mainly looking for a casual, low-effort beach experience, or if you already know you won’t care about technique feedback. Also, if you want professional photos handed to you afterward, you’ll need to look elsewhere since photos aren’t included.
FAQ
How long is the private surfing lesson?
The lesson runs for about 2 hours.
How much does it cost?
It’s $99 per person.
Where do we meet for the lesson?
Meet at 20 Bicknell Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA. The activity ends back at the meeting point.
Is this lesson private?
Yes. It’s a private activity, and only your group participates.
What’s included in the price?
Surfboards and wetsuits are included.
What’s the cancellation policy if weather is bad?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. The experience requires good weather; if it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
