Highline Surf Instruction

I hesitate sharing Richard with anyone else but since we can’t hog him as much as we would like, here goes. I was looking for an instructor for my 10 year old son. I was impressed by the reviews so decided to contact Highline. Richard called me back as he thought it important that I get to know him a little before I turned my only off spring over to him. He made me feel totally comfortable and assured me that if I or my son felt at all uncomfortable, we could bail on the lesson, no charge. I thought we might have to do that as my son is far from fearless. But, Richard got him into the water and on the board. Thanks to Richard’s magic, my son trusted him completely. He had a great lesson and we had to go out and get him a wetsuit the following day. He was totally hooked. Only down side is that we have to hear non stop about Richard! Honestly, we love it. We feel so lucky to have had this great experience and will be back this summer:)

Seriously awesome. not just going through the motions of how to stand up, but really explaining everything, each important motion, to make you successful. Top notch equipment, wetsuits. communications, arrangements. truly white glove service!!! Highline is where I bring anyone who wants to learn to surf safely when they visit here in sunny Cali!!!

Awesome teacher, lots of valuable information! He made sure that we went to a great location at a great time and learned all the basics. We all were able to ride waves comfortably very quickly! Highly recommended!

I can’t imagine a better surf instructor than Richard. I was a complete newbie, and it was only on the 2^nd lesson for my friend, but he had us surfing right away. We caught more waves than many of the regulars out there, because Richard is so knowledgeable about timing. He teaches safety and etiquette and how to spot the best incoming swells. If you do exactly that he says, you will be amazed at your results! Not only that, he’s a super nice guy who provides everything you need and makes you feel really comfortable.

Richard was fantastic!
Not only was he reliable in checking in with me the day before our lesson, he was 30 minutes early to ensure our wetsuits and gear were on and ready to go. This guy has been surfing for 35+ years and you can definitely tell.
He really took care of us. From small gestures like offering us bottles of water because (like he said) we became super dehydrated, to letting us know the ins and outs of how to park, where to eat and hangout post lesson; we felt like we had made the best decision.
The best thing was our lesson was actually a private one, which was awesome! Not sure if anyone else will enjoy that luxury — but it made the class all the more fun and helpful!
Highly recommended!

I’ve had several different surf instructors in the past including a 1 week surf camp but Richard has been my go to guy when I actually want to learn something. He doesn’t bother with groupon because he actually cares about his profession. All his referrals are from word of mouth. The majority of getting good at surfing is time in the water but you can drastically reduce that time by getting the right training from the start. I highly recommend Richard because of his attention to detail from the basics of paddling, the pop-​up, and surfing etiquette to wave selection, turning, braking and pivoting. His equipment is top notch and he knows the best spots for that one-​on-​one experience. I knew that his lessons worked the moment I caught my own waves at Manresa. I almost forgot that he works well with kids, especially with autistic kids, which I was privileged enough to witness last weekend.
When it comes to surfing, the journey is the destination.

I had a great experience learning from Rich. He was very informative and patient. Patience is key when teaching a city gal from Texas. I felt very calm and relaxed. His ability to quickly identify your challenges helps you overcome and get up on the board. I caught a lot of waves my first day. Foam or or not, who cares?! Enjoy the ocean and get you some.

I am new to surfing. I started out not knowing if I would become a life long surfer, but after taking a lesson with Richard, I knew I would stick with it for life. The attention to detail, making me feel comfortable and providing tools to move forward on my own have been amazing. I have taken lessons privately and with a group. We learn to read the waves, learn etiquette/​safety and how to ride the highline! Richard takes into account learning style, which is very unique. Richard has the surf boards and wet suits, so you don’t need to bring anything but a towel. Well worth taking a lesson. You will come away with good memories and being a better surfer.

I had one lesson with Richard while on vacation with my family and I was amazed at how easy he made surfing! I had seen people do it before but never thought it was something I’d be able to do. Needless to say, four of us spent a few hours with Richard and by the end of, I was not only surfing but surfing with confidence! He is an excellent teacher and makes it seems so easy. He knows the perfect spots to go to that aren’t crowded with other surf schools. I would take another lesson in a heartbeat and highly recommend him. As mentioned before, the warm shower afterwards is great as well.