Whether you're interested in learning to surf for the once in a lifetime experience or you're a sincere "wanna-be surfer", a 2-hour beginner introductory lesson is all it takes to learn the basic fundamentals of surfing and ride waves. We guarantee that you will stand and ride at least one wave in your first 2-hour lesson or it's free!

Since 1994 we've had the pleasure and privilege of successfully and safely introducing approximately 75,000 students to the awesome experience of surfing.

These stoked surfers have ranged in age from 3 to 77. They come from all walks of life and from all over the world. All the students pictured on this page, and 95% of our graduates, had never surfed before their first lesson, and stood within 2 hours. We attribute much of their success to our highly developed methods of teaching and coaching and the world class beginner surf spot where we instruct. Students learn fundamentals for surfing much like they would learn from practicing Yoga or Martial Arts. We've had an immense amount of experience and time to develop a method of teaching based on fundamentals and principal areas of focus. Along with introducing four different surfing stances, instruction focuses on safety, navigating the surf zone, and ocean awareness. Goofy Foot Surf School instructors provide patient professional instruction, excellent equipment, and the best waves possible for learning. Plus we love what we do!

Beginner group lessons are available to virtually everyone, and there are very few limitations when considering the age, weight, height, or swimming ability of the potential surfing student. Prior ocean experience is not necessary. Group class sizes will range between 1 to 5 students per instructor, guaranteed! Students are outfitted with surfing booties, rash-guard shirts and beginner soft longboards which are included with the lesson.

Through years of experience, we know a good beach lesson almost always translates into a good water lesson. Easily over 30% of our students stand up on their first wave.The first half-hour of the beginner lesson is spent on the beautiful beach and in warm waters of the reef-protected lagoon out in front of our shop in Lahaina. The surf break is a short paddle or walk from there.

On the beach, students learn and practice Goofy Foot's easy approach to learning to surf that is based on four fundamental stances and introduces easy methods for paddling, navigating the surf zone, timing and catching waves, standing up, board maneuvering, stopping, and even wiping out.

As safety is paramount, our instructors instill in students the concepts of "360 degrees of awareness" and "constant anticipation" which are vital to safe participation in surfing. The beach lesson also gives students and instructors time to develop a rapport and a chance to go over rules of the road, our coaching voice and hand signals, and any questions before their surfing session.

After their initial half hour of training, students spend the remainder of their time surfing with their instructor and are professionally coached and supervised at all times. At the beginning of the day the primary instructor sets a buoy near to the surf break that students use as a reference point for navigation and to mark the resting area.

The instructor paddles with students to the buoy and instructs them on maintaining their position in a moving body of water. At that point the students work on a rotation with one or two students paddling over to their instructor to prepare to catch their first wave. Students begin in small surf and progress according to their own abilities.

After their ride they are instructed to paddle back to the rest area to await their next turn. Surfing and paddling in this method helps orientate students to any ocean currents and to the surf zone. The instructor is responsible for every aspect of maintaining this rotation with students until each student displays a sufficient grasp of the basics and feels comfortable in the waves. At this point, with instructor approval, students are given more freedom to surf on their own and the instructor continues to facilitate students throughout the duration of the lesson. The goal of the instructors is to divide time evenly among all students and to ensure that everyone stays safe and gets at least one successful ride standing. The large majority get a great many successful rides.

At the end of the lesson the instructor remains in the water until students have made their way to the beach. Students are awarded Beginner Surfer Diplomas and an opportunity to put their thoughts on surfing in our logbook. Students are informed about opportunities for continuation lessons, mentor programs, day camps, surf safaris, rentals, and other positive stuff like our Goofy Foot logo wear!

WHAT: 2-HOUR Beginner Classes.
WHEN: Daily at: 8:00am, 11:00am & 2:00pm

Click here to watch a Quicktime or Windows Media video
with an excellent overview of a Goofy Foot beginner surfing lesson!

Filmed and Produced by The Surf Channel.

At Goofy Foot Surf School we feel it is a privilege to teach surfing. Our primary focus is on giving each student the best and safest surfing experience possible. It is our responsibility to professionally teach the skills of surfing and instill in students a healthy respect and awareness of the beauty and power of Mother Ocean.