What to Expect at Your First Surf Lesson in Malibu, California
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
A lot of people show up to their first surf lesson in Malibu not knowing what to expect. They're excited, maybe a little nervous, and usually convinced they're going to be terrible at it.
Here's what I tell every first-timer: you don't need experience, you don't need to be a strong swimmer, and you don't need to be in peak physical shape. What you need is to show up and trust the process. Everything else we handle together.
I'm Chris "Stingray" Stiegler, a Point Dume native who's been coaching surf lessons on this stretch of Malibu coast for over a decade, including years as coach of the Malibu High surf team. (In between my travels). This is exactly what happens during your first Malibu surf lesson with us, from the moment you arrive to the moment you paddle in.
Before You Arrive
Where to Meet
Our primary lesson location is Broad Beach — the north end of Zuma Beach in Malibu, California. It's one of the most consistent, beginner-friendly breaks on the coast, which is exactly why we're there. You'll meet at the beach access gate along the residential road; your exact address will be confirmed by email or text before your session.
As a note: Stingray personally coaches at multiple Malibu locations, including Leo Carrillo, Point Dume, and County Line depending on conditions and skill level. For your first beginner lesson, Broad Beach is where you want to be unless otherwise communicated.
What to Bring
You don't need to bring much. Malibu Surf Coach provides the board and wetsuit — the two things most people stress about. Just bring:
Swimwear to wear under your wetsuit
Sunscreen apply it before you arrive
Water you'll be more active than you think
A light snack if needed but keep it small (more on that below)
A towel and dry change of clothes for after
Be sure to leave any valuables at home. Since we are a mobile school, we do not have a storefront or lockers. You may safely leave your keys or personal effects in our school’s truck if you like.
What to Eat Beforehand
Eat something, but not too much, and not too close to your session. A meal about 90 minutes to two hours before is ideal. Something with protein and carbs, nothing heavy. Surfing is more physical than it looks, and paddling on a full stomach is its own kind of misery. A light snack 30–45 minutes out is fine if you need it.
Do’s and Dont’s days prior to your lesson
Do’s:
Consistent stretching!
I can’t tell you how many times clients realize thru the middle of the session, how “tight they are”. In surfing, if you think you’ve stretched out enough… you haven’t. If you are intent to make surfing a part of your life, there are other activities I would highly suggest on your off time:
Yoga
Pilates
Lap swimming - freestyle stroke
Don’t:
Weight lifting. Lifting weights can make you stiff for surfing, adding muscle to the body where it is unnecessary. If you plan on a vigorous workout at the gym, stick with resistance bands. This can be conducive with helping your paddling, among other aspects of surfing.
Hiking, or other strenuous activities prior to a lesson. I’ve had many clients arrive at their lesson after completing a short marathon and didn’t have enough stamina left over. Save your energy!
When You Arrive
It’s advised to arrive 15-30min early to find parking and get your nerves settled. The parking is free but can be scarce during the summer months. From the first minute, the vibe is relaxed. No pressure, no judgment. This isn't a class where you're being evaluated. It's a session designed around where you are right now and what your body and brain can absorb in 90 minutes.
Your coach will guide you to our truck along the residential road (usually located across from the beach access gate), get you sized into a wetsuit and set you up with the right board for your build and skill level. Beginners typically start on an 8 foot or 9 foot Stormblade foam board depending on your height and prior ocean experience.
What Happens During Your 90-Minute Surf Lesson in Malibu
On the Beach First
Proper surf lessons are tailored to the student. Everyone is different, and we teach surfing accordingly. If you are a complete beginner, you'll spend time on the beach going through the fundamentals. This is the foundation everything else builds on.
You'll learn:
How to read the ocean: where the waves are breaking, where it's safe to enter, what to watch for
The pop-up: the motion of going from lying on the board to standing. You'll practice this on the sand until it starts to feel natural. Because the pop-up may be difficult for some, we have at least 4 different techniques to choose from.
Stance and positioning: where your feet go, weight distribution, which foot leads (regular vs. goofy)
Paddling technique: how to paddle efficiently so you're not exhausted before a wave even reaches you
Most people underestimate how much the work you do before you enter the water matters. The students who take it seriously are almost always the ones who stand up on their first real wave.
In the Water
Once you're ready, you'll head in together. Your coach will stay with you in the water the entire session, they are not watching from the beach. As you paddle out, your coach will show you tips on how to navigate through the waves. They will correctly position you, and explain how to read the incoming sets. Next, is wave selection and how to choose your wave wisely. Being patient for the “right wave” will keep you from chasing the wrong ones, and in turn conserving your energy. One of the most difficult aspects in surfing is the timing. You and your coach work together as a team. Once your potential wave is chosen, your instructor will tell you exactly when to paddle and when to pop up.
The first few attempts will feel exciting and humbling. That's normal. Surfing has a learning curve that nobody talks about honestly. The first wave you catch will feel like an accident, and that's completely fine. Usually within the first 15 minutes in the water, most students have stood up multiple times and are starting to feel the rhythm of it. It comes down to trial and error, and repetition. Your instructor will be right there with you if you wipe out, ensuring that you understand how to go through it calmly and safely.
What's realistic after one lesson
You'll understand how to read a wave, you'll have caught whitewater (the broken, foamy part of a wave, perfect for beginners), and you'll have stood up more times than you can count. You won't be surfing like you've seen in videos yet, and that's not the goal. The goal is to leave the water feeling the ocean differently than when you got in. We teach at your pace, while slowly setting goals. If your instructor deems you are ready for some bigger green face waves, then you’ll accomplish this as well.
Taking a lesson with us is like achieving a different color karate belt, as you successfully and consistently execute each maneuver, we focus on our next goal. As you progress, it's common for us to take you back to the beach where we go over showing you how to turn, or prepare and discuss your next goal of catching the green face before it breaks. If you simply need to fine tune your pop-up technique, we either coach you through that process, or we may simply try one of our other pop-up methods. Not all surfers are created equal, so we coach accordingly tailored to the student.
What Your Coaches Are Actually Teaching
Remember… It's all about having fun! Our passion is introducing people to surfing in a patient, and supportive way. Patience really is a virtue in the surfing realm.
Beyond the mechanics, every lesson is building ocean awareness. How to be safe, how to be smart, and how to respect the water. That foundation is what separates surfers who progress quickly from those who plateau — and it's what keeps you out of situations like rip currents that catch unprepared swimmers off guard. If you want to understand Malibu's conditions before you arrive, that post is worth a read.
After Your Lesson
You'll paddle back to the beach together. Your coach will give you a debrief on what you did well and what to focus on next time. Most people leave with a clear picture of where they are and what the path forward looks like; whether that's another beginner lesson, a progression session, or just getting back in the water on their own in between lessons. If you are intent on making surfing a part of your life, your lessons going forward are designed to get you to the level where you can feel comfortable paddling out on your own.
Your gear goes back to your coach. You change, and drive home with that particular kind of tired that only comes from being in the ocean for 90 minutes. A lot of students decide to come early or hang out after and make it a full Malibu beach day.
Coming as a Group?
This guide covers what a solo first-timer can expect, but everything here applies to group lessons too. We regularly take out families, friend groups, bachelorette parties, and corporate teams for their first time in the water — sometimes 20 or 30 people at once. The same patience, the same instruction, just more people smiling at the same time.
Ready to Book?
Your Private Malibu surf lesson is 90 minutes led by one of the most experienced coaches on this stretch of coast. All gear included. All levels welcome. Broad Beach, Malibu, California.
Book Your Malibu Surf Lesson
Want to keep progressing after your first lesson?
Common First-Timer Questions
Do I need to know how to swim?
You should be comfortable in the water, but you don't need to be a strong swimmer. You'll be in the shallows (the inside of the breaking waves) for most of the lesson, and your coach is with you the whole time. If you are progressing quickly, you will go out further, we also go at your pace and only do what you are comfortable with.
What if I'm older / not super fit?
Surfing is more accessible than people assume. Your coach works with students of all ages (we take ages 3-103) and fitness levels. The board, the wetsuit, and the instruction are all adapted to your learning style.
What if the waves are too big the day of my lesson?
Your coach is always monitoring conditions before every session. If something changes, they will communicate with you ahead of time. Malibu has consistent, manageable conditions most of the year and it's one of the reasons it's such a good place to learn.
Will I actually stand up?
Most people do. Not every time, not perfectly, but yes. And even if it takes a few tries, you'll feel the progression within the session.
For more information check out our additional FAQ's [Frequently Asked Questions]
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