Venice Surf Shack

My daughter Ava took her first-ever surfing lesson at Venice Surf Shack last week, and within 30 minutes she was up riding a wave! The instructor was incredible—patient, encouraging, and made safety a top priority the entire time. Even with Ava being young and brand new to surfing, I never once felt she was unsafe. This ended up being our favorite experience of the whole trip. I’d absolutely recommend Venice Surf Shack to any friends or family interested in learning to surf.

My son recently took surf lessons with Wagner, and I couldn’t be more impressed! From the very first session, Wagner made him feel comfortable, safe, and excited to learn. His patience, experience, and clear passion for surfing really stood out. Wagner not only taught solid technique but also helped build my son’s confidence in the water. By the end of the lessons, he was catching waves and absolutely loving it! Highly recommend Wagner to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and encouraging surf instructor. We’ll definitely be back!

Surfing has always been a dream of mine, but living far from the beach and having a busy schedule made it hard to ever give it a real try. After many years, I finally decided to go for it — and I’m so glad I chose Venice Surf Shack in Venice Beach. From the very beginning, the experience was amazing. Coach Wagner was super friendly, supportive, and professional. Even though it was a group class, he made it feel like a private one-on-one session. He gave everyone personal attention and explained things in a clear, easy-to-follow way. Thanks to his great teaching and encouragement, I was able to stand up on the board during my very first class — something I didn’t think would happen so soon. The vibe was relaxed, fun, and really motivating. If surfing has ever been something you’ve wanted to try, I totally recommend taking a class with Wagner. He helped me check off a lifelong dream, and it felt amazing. Wagner, you’re the best — thank you for everything and God bless you, man!

My two children (13yrs and 10yrs) had a great time. Wagner explained things very simply and supported them brilliantly when they were in the water. And they were getting up on the boards in their first few attempts and made the experience really enjoyable. Thank you Wagner and definitely recommended your lessons to other beginners wanting to give it a go!

Book this guy! My 10 year old (an Iowa kid with no surfing experience) had the best time learning to surf. Wagner was kind, patient, fun, and had my kid surfing in no time! He can’t wait to try it again. Thanks, Wagner!

Wagner is an incredible surf coach! He has a calm, positive energy that instantly gives you confidence in the water. His lessons go beyond technique — he teaches you how to truly read the ocean and connect with it. I’m so grateful for everything I learned from him and can’t recommend his classes in Venice Beach enough!

Having my kids join the Venice Surf Shack has been one of the best decisions I've made. All 3 of my kids have gained confidence and have began to love surfing. Their teacher Wagner is patient, knowledgeable, kind and helpful. He really takes the time to explain and show the kids how to properly Surf. In just a couple of classes the kids have learned to stand on the board and ride the waves. They are so excited to attend the classes. The ocean has always intimidated my youngest however with Wagners help, he makes him feel safe and secure to learn freely. I am very grateful to have found a school of Surf that enjoys teaching and instructing children. The love really makes me feel comfortable to continue the courses. Thank you Wagner for all that you do.

I bought a surf lesson for my 15-year-old nephew, and he said Wagner was amazing! He made the whole process super straightforward and was an excellent instructor in the water. My nephew was popping up and riding waves within just a few tries. I highly recommend this surf school for both small and large groups!