Big Dog Summer Surf Camp

This is our 4^th year, and my son literally waits all year for this fabulous camp. Ian and the coaches are AMAZING at what they do, and the quality of teaching and forming a lovely and supportive community is heartwarming. Thank you Ian and all the coaches!

Big Dog Surf Camp… I was lucky enough to be out at Bolinas Beach watching my son work on his surfing technique when Ian from Big Dog Surf Camp came along and asked me if I was ok with him helping my son to get one good long ride. Of course I said yes and Ian spent some time with Sam, asking to see his pop up and giving him some tips
After working with Sam for a while and Sam getting a couple of waves, Ian told us the group he was coaching were going on a lunch break and he would be happy for Sam to continue practicing on the school surfboard… WOW…thank you so much… mahalo… great to see the real surfing culture alive and well!

Big Dog and his instructors are top notch. They are amazing with kids and can really help you get past any worries you may have. At the end of the day everyone was catching waves and having the time of their life. Thanks guys!

I hosted a charity event where we taught 20 kids how to surf. Ian and his gang at Big Dog provided the training. They were absolutely incredible. They were kind, playful, encouraging, and excited to help the kids.
Unilocal needs to create a 6 star rating for these guys.

My kids have been hanging with Biggie and his staff for years– always the highlight of their summer. They actually asked to go to NO OTHER camps next year– all BDSC for summer 2015. Epic!

My daughter, 10, has had an amazing week with Ian and the rest of the coaching crew. This is her first experience learning how to surf (she spends hours on her boogie board… but not at all the same!). Her second day of camp, she «got the motion» and was UP. Every day she comes home telling me how awesome her coaches are and how awesome Big Dog (Ian, the owner) is… Today I drove out to Muir beach so I could take some pictures and watch her in the water… absolute pure joy on her face… coaches are in the water, helping the kiddos and pushing them into the waves and lots of cheers and high fives… I would, without hesitation, recommend BDSC for an incredible summer experince in Marin! She is already asking for TWO weeks next summer. :)

My son was in the Big Dog SUV that went off of the cliff on Highway 1, flipped 4 times, and went 300 feet down the embankment.
Luckily most of the people in the SUV had minor injuries. The driver fell asleep and simply drive right off the cliff. The Big Dog organization did not deal with it well, neither did the young adults working at the camp that day. When I drove down to pick up my son, I saw numerous fire trucks and sheriffs vehicles, sirens blaring, headed up the hill from Tam Junction. I waited 25 minutes, while other kids were being dropped off, and still no sign our group. I know now that some of the counselors who had come back by then knew that a Big Dog car had gone off the cliff, but they kept telling me that they did not know why 4 kids were still missing. When another camp counselor finally drove up, in hysterics, I heard her say, «…they just drove off the cliff…» .
When I asked the counselors there what the hell was going on, they looked at me blankly. When I asked them what they were doing about it, they looked at me blankly. Ian, the owner, was nowhere to be found. Because the camp counselors were too checked out to take any initiative, I called 911 to find out what was going on. The operator knew instantly what I was referring to, and patched me through to the sheriff. My original discussion with the sheriff had him telling me, «…we cannot confirm that there are any survivors, it does not look good…». The sheriff kept calling me every five minutes to keep me updated, and his final statement was, «They are alive, no serious injuries, but I need to tell you that it is an absolute miracle that they are not all dead.»
After several discussions with Ian, I am not confident that this is a company that you would want to trust with the life of your child. Yes, it’s cool to have your kid learn how to surf, and yes, it’s nice to have someone watch them from 8 – 4, but maybe you should drive them out yourself. You might want to stick around, too, because this is not the group that I would trust in an ocean accident either.

Big Dog Surf camp came out to Bolinas for a planned yoga surf day with the Sarah Pascual yoga group… and… It was beyond AMAZING!!!
Big Dog and his crew got it done! We were a nice sized group and we all left completely joyous and satisfied! add sore to the day after.
I was near tears scared of surfing (sharks?) and had not slept at all the night before with anxiety-​but these guys just throw ya right in-​like surfing bootcamp. It was go time and the two hours in water was magical! Even my cheeks hurt from laughing at how hilarious these guys are.
I am super grateful and appreciative of this experience and think everyone should have surfing lesson parties!
*add adult camp and parties to website. ;) Damn my birthday for being in December!
I am a child at 34-​but some people might not make the call and book ya.

Only great things to say about this incredible camp for kids. If only I could rid myself of the envy I feel after I drop my son off and the new addiction to Equator shop lattes and pastries.. .

We have been sending our boys to Big Dogs Surf Camp for 5 years and it has become the boys favorite part of their summer vacation! They insist that this is the only camp they want to do. They started at ages 7 and 6 when they didnt even know how to get up on a board to now are rippin it up! All The coaches are attentive, supportive, knowledgable and fun. The boys always have the best stories at dinner time after a week of surf camp with Ian aka «Big Dog»
I would highly recommend this surf camp to anyone who wants to learn about and explore the local Marin surf and beach scene and have a blast doing it.

My two kids both enjoyed this camp from day one and insisted on it being the only camp they attend last summer! This camp is great fun and Ian and his coaches really make the experience one to remember. Ice ream runs on the way back to Proof Lab are a bonus and a really nice touch. Pure good times, what summers should be! Super sad we can’t attend this summer, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles… Thanks for the awesome memories :)

Ian and crew got my fat ass up on a short board. I am now hanging 10 in two places…

Big Dog is the best! My son and I have been surfing with him for over a year… he is in every word responsive, capable, trustful. No fear in the water with Big Dog! He’s a great teacher!