Eli Howard Surf School

Thanks to my instructor’s patience, clear communication, and professionalism, my first surf lesson at Eli Surf School went incredibly well. My instructor, Hugh, identified exactly what I needed to do to stand up and ride a wave (mainly relax, be confident, and keep my eye on the nose of the board). By the end of the lesson, I was standing up, a huge smile on my face, and hooked on this incredible sport. I would recommend Eli Howard Surf School to anyone looking to learn how to surf.

Quintessential surf camp! My kids (8 &13) were in great hands with all the coaches and they loved the camp! Very supportive, easy going, kind, helpful, fun, encouraging and chill! Love the vibe and the snacks rounded out for a great experience and fun memories! Thanks, Eli Howard!

This is a great school that will teach you how to surf. Great ratio of 5 students to one instructor and lots of water time to learn to surf. For beginners I highly recommend it.

I recently took a lesson with Hugh, an instructor with Eli Howard Surf School. I have taken surf lessons before, both in Huntingdon Beach, CA and in Bali, Indonesia. The lesson I had with Hugh stands out for its personal, humorous approach and Hugh’s outstanding professionalism. Hugh is simply the best surf instructor I have ever come across. Hugh’s instructions were straightforward and simple, which meant I got on the board and learned to «pop» fast. The lesson was some of the best two hours I have ever spend — loads of fun. Thank you Hugh!

Just got back from overnight surf camp with 3 adults and 7 girls (10−11yrs). It was amazing! Loved being hidden away in the Surf Shack area for plenty of fun hang out time when not on the beach — ping pong, hammock, indo boards, lounge area. Food was delish — including organic fruit, salad and veggie options (burgers, desserts too!). Staff is incredible — especially Emily — getting the kids and adults excited and having a blast! Surf lesson was perfect — all the first-​timers were up and riding most waves, many on their first try. The staff was awesome — well-​trained, fun, and encouraging. My daughter was scared to death but they took it slow, and got her up and riding. They have lots of options for camps, rentals, lessons. Can’t wait to go back!

As far as surf schools go in san diego county this one is the best. Professional Surfing instruction. Period. None better.
Recommend highly

We stayed overnight with my son’s community service group, and the experience was absolutely incredible. The surf instructors were friendly, knowledgable and patient. They had many of the kids surfing in an hour! The couple that runs the program are nothing short of amazing. The food they prepared was delicious, they taught the kids a ton about the ocean and the environment. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone. My only complaint (and it’s not anything that they can do a lot about) is sleeping in a tent. It was hard for us adults to sleep in sleeping bags and it was noisy (there’s a train that runs nearby and some people at the nearby campsites talked until the wee hours). But, again, an awesome experience!

I haven’t gone surfing in 10 years, so I’m really glad I chose this camp as my route back to riding waves. The weekend escape that the school offers is probably one of the most affordable things I’ve encountered in my search for surf lessons, as it includes lessons, equipment and meals (my group brought a giant cooler full of snacks that we didn’t really need), plus an amazingly chill camp site to hang out in.
Emily was informative and friendly from the moment we arrived. The instructors were great, making us all feel welcome in the water despite the fact that we all clearly sucked at surfing. The food was amazing, including some of the best brownies I’ve ever had. I’ll be back next year with my friends, and I really cannot wait.
Also, book super mega early! I was told that girl scout troops snatch up all the good weekends by early January.

My friend found this deal online and we registered and went with a group of four for one of their first «Weekend Escapes» of the year. Wetsuits, boards and lessons, three delicious meals, and an amazing camp setting make me wish I never left.
This is truly one of the best experiences of my life. I had a smile plastered on my face even when the waves were kicking my ass. The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable and friendly, and the price was so affordable.
Can’t wait to go back!

The Best Surfing Camp Ever !!!
I have taken my Girl Scout troop 3 times over the last few years and Emily and her husband and staff are so great with the girls. Definately planning another weekend. Thanks Eli Howard Surf, I’d give them 10 stars if I could.

It’s been close to 20 years since I last attempted to surf. My company decided it would be fun to get everyone together after work and do something together. We decided to go with taking surf lessons at Eli Howard Surf School.
Once we arrived, we were greeted by a very enthusiastic Emily, who told us how the next two hours was going to work out. They helped us pick out wetsuits and we were on our way.
We had 5 instructors out in the water showing us methods of standing on the board and helping us catch waves. These instructors were really encouraging and would get excited if we caught a wave and rode it in to shore.
If it weren’t for the encouragement, I would have given up and took a rest at shore.
After we were done, I found my foot to be cut and bleeding, but they had all the necessary first aid and bandage kit to make sure I was alright. They’re very hospitable people.
Overall, it’s a great surf school with a lot of friendly people employed there. Once my nieces and nephews get a little older, I’m sending them here to take some lessons.