San Diego Surfing Academy

Brought a couple of ice hockey players to San Diego for a tournament in Feb/​2016, one had never even been to the ocean. Hooked up with Coach Pat from San Diego Surfing Academy who was very helpful and accommodating to our schedule constraints. He met us in a great spot, brought several sizes of wetsuits and boards to ensure a good fit and was glad to help us plan our surprise afternoon of surfing instruction for the two boys. His pre-​ocean coaching on the beach and quickly moving them into the waves prepared them for a very successful afternoon. Both boys (age 12) caught their first wave within 30 minutes of us getting to the beach, rode it standing up all the way to the beach! Can’t get more successful than that. Coach Pat was very patient and is a great instructor. The boys had so much fun they wanted to surf some more a second day by themselves. Coach Pat again worked with our schedule, met us in a great spot, brought them the same gear that worked for them before and hooked us up for another great afternoon out on our own. Both boys were able to surf on their own their second day out, awesome experience. Would highly recommend you call Coach Pat first, we lucked out on our trip by finding him. Thanks Coach Pat for an awesome surfing experience and fantastic video. The boys have you to thank for introducing them to a whole new sport and giving them an experience they will never forget. Tom, Franktown, CO.

My family of four had an incredible experience 2 hours surfing together for the first time over Labor Day.
Mom and teen daughter rode a wave together all thanks to Pat’s patience and knowledge of how to instruct different types of people. He was able to connect with my daughter and encourage her through her fatigue so that she left feeling victorious and confident.
The family memories were forever captured by Pat’s board mounted GoPros and then edited by him after.
Can’t recommend him highly enough. From booking to following up after for video questions — he’s a professional and caring human. We need more people like him.

Really great guy. Very patient, Very informative. I felt like I had the basics after a single lesson. The personal attention really helped a lot also. When other members of my family come to visit, I’ll be signed up for their lessons!

Coach Pat is awesome! We were at the beach with our grandsons, the 6 year old wanted to learn to surf. Coach Pat was there with a van full of boards since he was there giving lessons. We asked if we could rent a board from him, and he was nice enough to accommodate us. Two days in a row, he also assisted me with helping my grandson learn to surf he really pumped my grandson up on surfing also got photos of him on the waves if you are looking for a great coach he is the one! Highly recommend him he’s very knowledgeable and a skilled coach.
Thanks again Pat, see you at the beach!

Great experience. I’ve never surfed before, but have experience snowboarding. Came to Cali and lucked out by talking to Mitch in La Jolla (at his renowned surf shop). He was adamant that if I wanted the best teacher I needed to call Pat and try to get a lesson, and he was spot on. I’m a teacher /​coach and Pat has the perfect demeanor to dissect your personality and strengths, and then instruct you as needed. I was pretty terrible at first, but was able to finally get up and ride some waves. Pat is detailed, exceptionally knowledgeable, and just has a great vibe about having fun but also getting better. He explains things well and tries to deliver information in a way you’ll understand. Take Mitch’s word for it — go see coach Pat!

Coach Pat was a great instructor and gave me some really helpful advice to take my surfing skills to the next level. The go-​pro he set up was awesome and the video looks totally professional. I would recommend him to anyone in the area looking to improve their surfing.

Coach Pat was really flexible in regards to scheduling and payment etc. a true pro. Immediately my brother and I were comforted by his great vibe and attitude — as we were COMPLETE beginners.
This guy has ENERGY and is very very cool and helpful. By the end of the morning I was catching waves on my own.
Couldn’t recommend this higher.
As an added bonus he set up Go-​Pro video for the whole thing, and edited a killer vid.

Coach Pat is professional, positive, patient, and persistent concerning his student (s) success.
As a beginning surfer he put my worries at easy. I felt very safe in the water regardless of the size of the waves.
This is by far the BEST lesson I’ve had, and his years of experience are evident in his teaching. If you want to learn, he’s your guy!
He works hard and is worth every penny!
We had such great time that we booked him the following morning.

I cannot say enough about Pat. We were just trying to surf on our own. Pat saw us and ask to help. He got my 12 year old girl up on the board in 10 minutes. Then out of his Sweet heart he asked my husband if he wanted to surf. My husband was very scared however he got up on the board in 15 minutes. Our experience with Pat was over a year ago but was the best memorial of our family vacation!!! Thank you so much Pat!!!

Coach Pat was great! I originally emailed him about dates and details and he got back to me quickly. It was easy to get online and pay him with a credit card. We showed up the morning of the lesson and everything went great. He was very patient with my daughter (10 years old), who was having a hard time with the salt water in her eyes. My daughter’s two friends (ages 10 and 12) also had a great time and Pat was a great cheerleader keeping everyone positive and motivated. Everyone stood up a bunch of times! That night he sent us the link to 800+ photos that they took of the girls during the lesson. Such a nice touch! We will definitely recommend him to everyone we know.

This is the ONLY surf school you should go to for surf instruction in San Diego. Pat Weber and his seasoned instructors are the best in San Diego. I have been surfing for over 40 years and have seen many surf schools… some are even owned by friends… but SDSA is by far the best. I have a lot of bad things to say about other surf schools but I wanted to be positive instead by telling everyone how good SDSA was.

Myself and two daughters, ages 6 and 9, took a trip down to San Diego and wanted to do something other than just the Zoo and usual tourist activities. I also was staying in Carlsbad and wanted to avoid Legoland altogether. My solution was to suggest two days of lessons with Pat Weber of the San Diego Surfing Academy.
From my initial questions, to booking, the lessons themselves and all of the photos taken by Pat — the experience was first rate. Pat is just a great guy and his expertise with kids extends beyond surfing. Within minutes my daughters absolutely trusted «Coach Pat» and that trust enabled the surfing to go smoothly. Both girls stood up shortly after the lessons began and my eldest was consistently riding waves to the shore by the second day.
The location is easy and Pat supplies everything you need. Just call and show up in a bathing suit and you are ready to go. Surfing was the highlight of the trip for my daughters to participate in and for me to watch. Thanks again to Coach Pat.

BEST experience you’ll ever have. Not only is Pat the coolest surfer around but he is the nicest– committed to giving you a safe, fun and educated lesson. Our lesson today was with my husband and our 5 year old. Neither had surfing experience. Pat was the nicest guy and got BOTH of them up on the board. Today will forever be etched in our minds as one of our best memories. Not only did he teach them to surf but he taught our son lessons that will apply to life. He’s a wise man with great stories and a big heart. Thank you Pat, we WILL see you again soon. –maureen, dave, breck and kai

While visiting Carlsbad, CA on a business trip from Pennsylvania I decided to fit in a surfing lesson. My son and I enjoyed an amazing surfing lesson given by Pat Weber on a beautiful morning in October. It was easy enough to locate him on line and he called back immediately. He had all the gear needed including wet suits and a huge variety of surf boards.
At 42, I had never surfed before and neither had my 14-​year-​old son. Pat used a very personable style and adapted to our needs. My son picked it up more quickly than I did, but both of us rose to the occasion and stood up on our surf boards during the 3-​hour lesson. We surfed enough to be totally satisfied. I appreciated the great surfing and especially loved the photos that Lori took. We left the beach with a CD containing over 500 quality photos of the experience.
I would absolutely recommend Pat Weber to anyone who wants to learn how to surf!

My wife and i had a great surf lesson with coach Pat. He had all the required gear and we felt confident in his instruction from the start. Coach Pat is a very nice guy and he throws in a bunch of interesting (and sometimes random but funny) stories to keep you engaged, especially helpful if you don’t instantly surf like a pro.
The meeting point is easy to locate and the beach seemed perfect for learning. By the end of the lesson we were feeling great about our progress.
Be prepared to spend a solid 3 hours but it’s a great time with a fun and experienced instructor. No complaints!

This was such an all-​around awesome experience!
During a recent trip to SoCal, I found myself alone & bored at the resort where I was staying. Not wanting to let a beautiful day pass me by on vacation, I stumbled upon SDSA while looking for things to do. I lived in Los Angeles for 8 years but never tried surfing although I had always thought about it. The reviews I read on TripAdvisor were every bit as glowing as the Unilocal reviews & had me convinced that now was the time to give it a go.
I called and spoke with Lori who was able to set me up with a same-​day 3-​hour afternoon lesson with Pat. A quick cab ride down to the beach later, Pat had me in a wet-​suit and was introducing me to the art of surfing, first on sand and then in the water. His instruction proved to be kind, humorous and effective. I was up on the board (if only momentarily), on my own within the first hour. His patience and teaching technique are exceptional.
Lori was integral in her role of land-​based photographer. She shot frame after frame of my lesson and her photos were an invaluable tool. A little over half-​way through, Pat had me paddle to shore and I was able to see my successes and, more importantly, my shortcomings on the LCD screen of her camera. When we headed into the water again, I was able to actively concentrate on some of things I needed to do to improve.
I cannot rave enough about what a great experience this was. I can’t wait to go back for a 2^nd lesson – Pat’s enthusiasm for surfing is truly that contagious. Thank you Pat & Lori for turning a boring day into an unforgettable memory!

This was perfect for the kids. They supplied everything and catered to the kids (5yr old and 10yr old). We had a blast. They took quite a few pictures for us and will be sending them to us. The instructors were patient and spent time teaching technique and safety. Pat was great… ask him to do a head stand on the surfboard!

What can I say about this place? Not only are you treated to authentic surfer hospitality, Pat Weber personally see’s to it that a safe, enjoyable and extremely fun time will be had by all.
As a single father of two, I know a good value when I see one. For a very reasonable fee, my kids and I were treated to lessons by thier very capable and friendly staff. Pat gauranteed us we would all get up on a wave and ride it in. And thats exactly what happened! We had never surfed before, and my 14 year old daughter was rather apprehensive to try. I can tell you that I have never seen a bigger smile and sense of accomplishment on her face than when she caught her first wave. Its truly something I’ll never forget. She now has her own board and has a keen interest in going back for more lessons (we are return customers having taken multiple lessons). Her confidence level has gone thru the roof-​leading her to join her high school water polo team this
son was treated like royalty there-​from Pat and Lori to Grant, Jack and Matt-​our instructors during our visits. They took the time to teach him the basics and he was off and surfing in no time! Folks, this is a great family oriented place and we will return for more lessons next year. The setting there is nothing less than fantastic-​the cliffs overlooking the uncrowded, clean beach. The beautiful sunsets and the sound of the crashing waves add atmoshere to the experience. And on a personal note-​I want to thank Pat for inviting my son back for a photo shoot and more lessons this summer. It was a memory that will last a life time for us both. Again, the confidence my kids came away with after their time here is priceless and I encourage everyone to give this sport-​and lifestyle-​a chance. It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on… thats for sure! Thanks Pat-we’ll see you next summer! SURFS UP!

If you are just starting out, or if you already know how to surf, the San Diego Surfing Academy is THE Premier surf company in SoCal that is worth coming back to, time and time again.
Situated on a large scenic bluff overlooking South Carlsbad State Beach, the Academy offers trips, day and week camps, and private, group, and corporate surf sessions. Unlike other schools, SDSA is a year round full service facility, fully stocked with a range of surfboards, suits, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and sunny/​shade covered picnic tables. There is very little traffic in the immediate area and lots of free parking, even during the busy but seldom crowded summer months.
SDSA is a highly professional surf school. The owner, Pat, fully screens his quality instructors and all are trained in first aid, CPR and H2O safety. They really take the time to make sure that your safety is their top priority and strive to make every session filled with a maximum amounts of fun and enjoyment. Last month I brought my boss — who did not know how to surf — from SF to the SDSA. She had an awesome time working with her instructor and has been addicted ever since! If your skill level is intermediate, Pat or his instructors can tailor a program to guide you to the best breaks on their huge beach and can also give you valuable pointers to help you to further refine your game.
SDSA’s beach runs for several miles and is super clean, un-​spoiled, un-​crowded, and great for relaxing or taking long walks before or after surfing. The solid beach break offers smoother waves along with incredible views and wildlife. Pat and his surf crew truly offer a rock solid quality organization and service to those who seek to affirm and experience the true love of the ocean!