Surf San Diego with a Local Guide: 3 Hours, No Lesson Needed

Surf the waves that fit your level while someone else handles the boards and the planning.

A 3-hour guided surf session in San Diego for experienced surfers who want to skip the research and logistics. Your guide Lanz picks the break based on your skill level, provides board and wetsuit, leads a beach meditation, and spends roughly 2 hours in the water with you before finishing with snacks. Prior surf experience (at least one lesson) is required.

The experience

You show up with your skill level and preferences. Lanz handles the rest. He picks the break that matches your ability and the day's conditions, so you're not hunting online for the right spot or driving boards around town. He provides a board and wetsuit fitted to your body and your level, and you suit up together while he talks through San Diego's surf culture and etiquette. The meetup point shifts based on where the waves are best, and he coordinates it with you before the day.

The session opens with a guided meditation on the beach to settle in, then moves into the water for roughly 2 hours of surfing. Lanz stays with you the whole time, and the pace is set by the waves and your comfort, not by a fixed itinerary. When you're done, he feeds you a healthy drink and snack tailored to what you eat, so you leave fueled instead of starving.

The whole thing runs 3 hours. Beginners with at least one lesson under their belt are welcome, though this is not a lesson. It's a session built around your existing ability and what you want to work on.

What’s included

• Board and wetsuit fitted to your size and skill.
• guided meditation on the beach.
• roughly 2 hours in the water with your guide.
• healthy drink and snack after the session.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (18 to 79 years) · Child (10 to 17 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 3

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Surf with Lanz

Is this one for you?Book this if you're an experienced surfer seeking a shared session where Lanz picks the break based on conditions and your skill level, so you spend your afternoon surfing rather than scouting spots.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need to have surfed before, or can I learn on this experience?

You need at least one previous surf lesson to join. This is not a lesson. It's a guided session for people who already know how to paddle and pop up. Beginners who have taken a lesson are welcome, but complete beginners should book a lesson first.

What happens if the waves are bad on the day I book?

Lanz picks the break based on conditions that day, so he'll take you to wherever the best waves are. The meetup point changes depending on where he chooses, and he'll tell you where to go before the experience starts.

Do I need to bring my own board and wetsuit?

No. Lanz provides a board and wetsuit fitted to your size and skill level. You just show up ready to surf.

What's included in the snacks at the end?

A healthy drink and snack tailored to your dietary preferences. Let Lanz know what you eat when you book, and he'll have something ready when you're done in the water.