Surfing L.A., Surf School

Two of my friends and I had a group lesson with Tom and would unreservedly recommend the experience. The three of us are all beginners, but were at slightly different skills levels (from never having touched a surfboard in life to having had a few lessons), and Tom was able to help each of us get better over the course of the lesson. From reaching out to make a reservation through the end of the lesson, Tom was great — clear, friendly, funny, efficient.

We had a great day with Tom today on the water! Anybody would be apprehensive learning any new sport, let alone surfing. Tom takes the time to prep you before getting in the water and is right there next to you setting you up for the first wave. Get off the fence and book Tom. You won’t be disappointed.

Tom is the best! Makes you feel very safe. Very thorough and fun! Great guy. Highly recommend to everyone.

Finding Tom and learning to surf with him is one of the true highlights of my adult life. I’ve learned and now love a great sport and also feel like I’ve made a great new friend. Tom has changed my life and I’m blessed to have found him.

My life has changed as a result of surfing with Tom. He is the best surfing instructor you could ever hope to find. I love each and every day I am able to take a lesson from him. I have greatly improved and credit him for turning me into a surfer.

I took my first surf class with Tom last weekend, with two of my girlfriends. I was a little nervous getting out there for the first time. Tom was so professional, prepared and thorough that I was quickly put at ease. I was thrilled that I was able to stand on my board twice (on the water!), which I attribute to Tom’s teaching ability. If you want to learn how to surf, Tom is your guy!

My girlfriend and I have been surfing with Tom for more than 4 years. He’s our surf guru (and my girlfriend’s «wave caddy»). When we first met Tom, neither of us had ever surfed before. We were interested in learning and I wanted a no-​nonsense teacher who was gonna get us surfing. A surfer friend instantly recommended Tom.
Our first lesson was at Zuma beach (though these days we usually surf with Tom at Sunset Beach in LA). Tom brought us wet suits and booties. Before we went out, he spent about 30 – 45 minutes with us in the sand. He explained how to get into the water, how to handle the board in the white water, how to be safe when inside the break, and the basics of paddling and the pop up. (I’ve seen him give this presentation enough times now that I could do it myself — complete with sea kelp polyp to represent the surfboard). By the time we got into the water I was nervous, but knew what i needed to do to be safe. 10 minutes later I was riding my first wave.
Tom goes into the water with swim fins and helps to position his students in the perfect spot to catch each wave. (In 4 years I have only seen him teach from his board once). «Ok, here’s your wave. Get organized» is your cue. Then he starts slowly, increasing his tone and cadence until you are riding: «paddle, paddle, Paddle, Dig HARD. .. UP!» At the beginning, Tom will even give you a push to make sure you catch the waves and get as many chances to ride as you can. In between waves Tom hangs off the end of your board and shares stories from his decades in the water and out. He’s one of the sweetest guys I know and a pleasure to surf with and learn from.
I have recommended Tom to many students and recently took a friend from out of town to Tom for his first ever surf. He was riding waves within 30 minutes of arriving at the beach. My friend is still smiling about his surfing adventure.
You cant go wrong with Tom. He’s knowledgeable, caring, safety conscious and a wonderful guy.

I had a blast. Tried to surf on Sunday, but Mother Nature didn’t like that idea. Tom rescheduled, taught me the basics on shore & we spent 90 plus minutes in the water. With two delightful women that come to Tom for lessons regularly. I caught a couple of waves on my own & rode a few waves in. Do it!!!

Tom is an absolutely amazing instructor. I had tried surfing before with different instructors and almost gave up because I got so discouraged. Once I met Tom, I found love for the sport again and am so excited to be surfing! He had me standing up on my first lesson! I feel like the lessons with Tom have completely transformed my outlook and each lesson, I’m getting noticeably better. Tom is so hands on with each student and will walk you through every part of surfing so that you never feel scared when you’re approaching the white water while paddling out. He brings all the equipment, including the gloves, booties and hood, so you’re completely warm in cold water! I get cold easily, so I couldn’t believe how warm I stayed in the wetsuit. When the water was slightly colder one day, he even brought me a thicker wetsuit. He helps with every single step of surfing, so you learn so much within each lesson. The preliminary lesson on the sand is excellent and has you feeling prepared about what to expect. Tom understands the waves so well and can talk you through each step of surfing — which includes the paddling out, facing the white water (and what to do in each circumstance so you don’t get pummeled by the white water), how to catch the wave, standing up, turning, etc. Tom can be as hands on and vocal as you need — even pushing you into the wave if you’re a beginner, letting you know exactly when to stand up on the board and when to turn. Of all the instructors I have tried, Tom is not only the kindest, but he is absolutely the most competent and has me finally surfing after all the times I tried before!

Tom is an amazing surf instructor. There’s just nothing bad I can say about his surf classes.
He starts out by suiting you up himself, and always ensures you are warm enough with booties, gloves and hoodie if necessary. Then he explains all the important info about catching waves, how to position yourself and what to watch out for in the water. Then he makes you practice the moves in the sand. Then he takes up to 5 people at a time if its a group lesson, and gets you positioned to catch waves. By the time you paddle back to him, the other 4 people have already caught their wave so it’s your turn again.
He gives you pointers on how you did on your last wave and is very encouraging. He is also very informative on which boards to buy and other gear related questions.
Thank you, Tom, for everything you’ve taught me.

OMG Tom is amazing!!! I had tried surfing about 5 – 6 times with different instructors and never stood up. He actually gets in the water with you and focuses on you, the student, and how he can help. The first lesson the first attempt I STOOD UP!!! I cried I was so happy, I had it really in my head it would be sooo difficult to surf and TOM made it a piece of cake! I love surfing now and I have recommended Tom to whopping total of 7 of my friends, all who love him as well!!! Thank you Tom for being such an amazing instructor, so patient fun and great! If you want to learn to surf you must meet this MAN! XO, KAREN

I have taken lessons from Tom multiple times and am now working toward qualifying for the World Surf Tour. Half of the previous statement is true.
I live in Michigan, where surfing is not possible, During a visit to LA a friend of mine suggested that we take surfing lessons from Tom. He and his wife had worked with Tom in the past and said it was a blast.
I was pumped to try surfing during sunrise on Malibu beach. Tom was waiting for us when we arrived and was quick to get us in wet suites and onto the beach. After a 10 – 15 minute tutorial on the beach we hit the water. I was one hungover rookie but within no time I was standing up and riding a wave. I can’t say enough good things about Tom’s patience and willingness to teach, I am sure is he is a stud surfer, but his attitude never shows it. He wades in the water and helps you line up the wave before giving you a push while you try to stand up. After each attempt, he provides pointers that really shorten the learning curve.
After an hour or so in the water, I grasped the concept of surfing and was completely hooked. Each stop in LA now requires a visit to see Tom. He always remembers me and dials up the lessons knowing that I have the basics down.
At a minimum, I know about 20 other friends who have taken lessons from Tom while visiting our buddy in LA and they are all hooked.
The only depressing part of the lesson was when a 7 year old went cruising by on her board and was hitting every wave. I am 31 and was getting shown up by a kid. Turns out she was a local who Tom taught how to surf. I need to move to CA…
In three words, Tom is knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging.
If you are near LA and have an interest in surfing, regardless of skill level, Tom is your man.

My brother and I have taken a few lessons through Tom and I have always had a great experience. Tom explains the rules of surfing very well and made sure that I understood everything before letting me out into the deep blue sea. Surf School is a MUST for beginner and intermediate surfers. Don’t go surfing without it. Thanks Tom!

I Learned to surf from Tom back in 2007. Took a total of 8 classes and by the end I was already miles ahead of where I should be had I tried it on my own.
I bought my girlfriend a lesson from him. she already had two lessons before at other schools, but this was her first REAL surf lesson.
Tom was great! Got her up and riding on her very first time!
In fact she caught soooo many waves on her first day that she was glad when he told her «1 more ride!» she was spent.
She has booked a second lesson with Tom already.

I don’t usually go out of my way to write bad reviews, but I had such a negative experience with Tom last year that I felt like I needed to write one.
I paid for my brother, my boyfriend and I to get a group lesson. I think we paid $ 100/​ea which is a great price. I was told by Tom in emails that it would just be the three of us, which is what the price reflects.
On the day of the lesson, Tom arrived late and forgot to bring a wetsuit for my brother (my boyfriend had one). He told me that I told him we only needed one, but I confirmed in the email that I sent it him said BRING TWO. He didn’t really apologize.
Next, two other people showed up to be apart of the group lesson. I felt like I’d be pretty rude if I told him that he said it would only be the three of us and I didn’t want to kick the two other women out of the group because of it. Anyway, I didn’t say anything and I should have. Oh well.
We went out to the water and did some practice moves on the boards, which all went by very fast because he was in a hurried pace. I assume it was because he was trying to make up for the time he was late.
I got into the water with everyone else, and unfortunately tired myself too quickly trying to get past the whitewater. Which is totally my fault. The real bummer about it is I tried to get back in the water, but received no help or advice from Tom about what to do. He basically left me. By the time I got back to the beach, I laid down and was starting to see stars. :{ Now, I’m an athletic person, so this was all very embarrassing and surprising to me. I was only told later about how not to use up all my energy trying to get over the white water. Oh well.
Anyway, by the end of the lesson (which I did end up paying for) I had received a couple brief words from Tom and about a ten minute total lesson from him.
This whole experience really made me sad and angry about ever trying to surf again. Bottom line, he shouldn’t have brought those extra people along, arrived late, or forgotten a wet suit. It would have been nice if actually paid attention to what I was doing. But maybe I’m idealistic. I understand why he charged me though, because his time is his money.
I see why people like him; he is very charming and knows how to surf like a superstar. If his charm only matched his attention span.

I highly recommend Tom Grubb’s LA Surf School.
Whether you’re interested in really learning the art of surfing so you can build it into your lifestyle and as my friend said, «Be like Gidget by the end of the summer,» learn enough to hold your own on a surf trip with friends, take an occasional lesson for a fun-​filled thrilling few hours out in the ocean or simply cross surfing off the bucket list, Tom’s your man.
His preliminary lesson on the sand (and provided wetsuit and surfboard) equip you with everything you need to feel confident when you get out in the waves and after several early morning outings bringing friends for lessons, his instruction allows almost everyone to get up and surf a wave their first time out.
For those wanting to go out and hang 10, I give LA Surfing a 10.

I must have called around six (6) different surf school companies I found listed on the web. I got a hold of one person who wanted to charge almost $ 150.00, per person for a semi (3 to 4 people) private two (2) hour lesson, one company called me back two days later and the rest never returned a call or my email asking for an appointment.
Tom of Surfing L.A. was available, professional, well prepared (has pay pal on his website for easy payment) and always returned every single phone message I left.
He charges $ 65.00 per person for a group lesson (usually around 5 people total) that he says is 1.5 hours but our lasted over 2.
He gave great instructions, was patient, funny and a real pleasure to join in the ocean at 6:30 am on a Sunday morning and start catching waves.
I had never surfed before and was able to stand on the board for a few moments and feel satisfied that I had accomplished, thanks to him, my first attempt at surfing.
I highly recommend him, I plan to take more lessons and eventually include my 4 year old son as well.
Tell him Marla sent you, you’ll love him!