Real.
Surf.
Education.

What is Surf Camp LA?

Venice Beach Ages 4-17

BASS Founder Jake McNulty is a surf therapist and coach with years of surfing lessons experience.

Whether your child has unique needs, is new to surfing, or straight up wants to learn how to rip, our surf camp in Los Angeles has a proper place just for your surfer at LA beaches.

Check out SurfCampLA and snag our Early Bird Deals!

Who we are

You saw our bus, love our name, and now want to know how our surf lessons can help you surf or surf better.

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. We teach you how to become a surfer. Let BASS 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, or next lesson's on me.

My surf school is driven by our eagerness to keep learning about the ocean, 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 Hasidic Jewish 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

We specialize in all of the following:

Lessons and coaching! Our bread & butter. Check out details, levels, etc. here.

Surf Camp for ages 4-17. check out SurfCampLA

Surf Therapy, for those that are differently-abled, or need special guidance through healing in the ocean

Gear Rentals and Deliveries. Jump to rentals

Larger lessons DONE RIGHT. Head to Events for more info.

Why choose us

I mean, yeah, I guess there are lots of surf lessons out there....

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.

Our Philosophy

Here at Badass Surf School, we teach you how to actually read & ride a wave, starting from your very first lesson.

Reading waves and knowing where to be are the most crucial aspects (it’s really one aspect) 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, no one on our team right now has taught this sport for less than 5 years.

Our focus 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

We are 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. We also carry fiberglass boards for intermediate and advanced surfers.

Most surf schools teach on Costco Wavestorms, which are cheaper and much harder to learn on. They’re not as wide as other foam boards, and have very little rocker/shape to them. Nothing against them, we just want you to learn better!

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.

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 test our instructors monthly during peak seasons so that certification always stays fresh.

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!

Want discounts & swell reports?

Occasionally we'll throw those and some other goodies your way
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