Real.
Surf.
Education.
Summer Surf Camp Los Angeles
BASS Founder Jake McNulty is a surf therapist and coach with years of surfing lessons experience.
My summer surf camp is real coaching + ocean therapy. You won't find one quite like it for your kids!
Whether your child has unique needs, is new to surfing, or straight up wants to learn how to rip, my summer surf camp in Venice is great for families from Santa Monica to all over Los Angeles.
Check out SurfCampLA and snag our Early Bird Deals!
Who is BASS?
Here at Badass Surf School, I set out to prove that surfing is for people of all types, no matter who they are or where they come from.
I don't just teach you how to surf. I teach you how to become a surfer. Let my team and I be your guide through your surf journey.
And for those that want to kick surfing off their bucket list:
I get you on your feet riding waves your first lesson, guaranteed. That's the easy part!
The true passion at BASS is to provide real surf education; it's the mantra here. My surf school is driven by eagerness to uncover evolving ocean's science, to protect the environment, and if I hadn't said it already, to spread the stoke of this sport onto others.
Why "Badass?"
Because to me, there's no other word to describe what sharing the surf experience truly is.
I love this photo; one of my favorites I've ever captured during a lesson.
Five bystanders people watching in awe at the surfers in the water. Surfing is a mystical, magical sport for people who have never done it. This one is special.
To me, that's what surfing is all about, perhaps the most vital message I want to send out to people from our school: Surfing is for EVERYONE!
What we do
Lessons and coaching! Our bread & butter. Check out details, levels, etc. here.
Summer Surf Camp at the beach! for ages 4-17. Check out SurfCampLA for details.
Surf Therapy, for those that are differently-abled, had bad ocean experiences, or need special guidance navigating waves.
Gear Rentals and Deliveries. Jump to rentals
Larger lessons DONE RIGHT. Head to "Group Lessons" under "Services" for more info.
Why choose us
Most surf schools will get you to stand up your first time surfing. They all say so. And for your typical surf instructor, it’s easy to get someone on their feet.
The BASS crew takes teaching you to surf a step above and beyond. Here's some of what makes Badass Surf School stand out:
Our Philosophy
Here at Badass Surf School, you are taught you how to actually read & ride a wave, starting from your very first lesson.
Reading waves and knowing where to be (positioning!) are the most crucial aspects of surfing.
Fostering the knowledge of the ocean is how you truly develop the ability to become a real surfer.
That being said, if surfing is something you want to kick off the bucket list or to do on vacation with friends or family, I have 12 years experience choosing real set waves for others--not easy for the average surf instructor!.
The focus at BASS is getting you to surf not just anywhere on the wave, but on the best, most fun part of the wave.
It's about quality and quantity!
Our Surfboards
This is 100% the only surf school that custom-makes their boards (made in California) specifically for optimal learning as a beginner.
We say “most” because we use other more typical boards too, in case you’re used to riding something more standard. Whatever kind of board you need, you can be paired up with!
Most surf schools teach on Costco Wavestorms, which are cheaper and, in some cases, not ideal to learn on. They’re not as wide as other foam boards, and have very little rocker/shape to them.
Ask your school what kind of boards they use before booking your lesson.
We also have hard-top boards for rent! Non-soft-top rentals around California are few and far between.
We want to encourage students to try their skills on boards with some legitimate shape.
Our Wetsuits
Unlike other surf schools, we don’t put our used suits in the sun to dry. Unfortunately, we've seen it become a common practice over the years. If you see a surf school leaving their suits in the sun, you know they're not being cared for.
Sunlight damages neoprene! We soak, rinse, sanitize, then dehumidify each suit after every single lesson.
We know that using (and caring for) quality, sustainable suits that fit right is paramount to staying warm in the Pacific.
Branching off sustainability, as surf teachers, a core element of our purpose is a desire to protect the planet. One way to do that is by taking care of the suits we already own.
By keeping them out of the elements when they're clean and dry, we're not only prolonging their shelf life, but we can also use recycled neoprene for brand "new" wetsuits!
Our Devotion to Safety
Each one of our instructors is CPR and First Aid certified. With the American Red Cross, certification is good for two years at a time.
At Badass Surf School, we make sure all certifications are fresh and come from highly-regarded organizations like the ISA or the LACO Lifeguards.
We also love to hire surfers with a lifeguarding background, which means our instructors not only possess their certification, but many have used their skills guarding beachgoers in real life practice.
Our work with middle and high school surf programs ensures safety is always our #1 priority!
Best of all, we are a legal, permitted surf school in the city of LA!