How Old Do You Have to Be to Learn to Surf? | Calibunga Surf Lessons Podcast — Episode 7

Hosted by Lucas Coleman  ·  Calibunga Surf Lessons, Santa Monica Beach (Lifeguard Tower 26)  ·  calibungasurflessons.com

Welcome back to another episode of the Calibunga Surf Lessons podcast, your go-to guide for learning to surf in Los Angeles. I'm your host, Lucas Coleman, professional surf instructor and owner of Calibunga Surf Lessons right here at Santa Monica Beach by Lifeguard Tower 26.

If you're new to this show, every episode we answer one real question that people are typing into Google or shooting us through email or asking me repeatedly in person while I'm teaching them to surf. These are questions I get all the time as a professional coach in the Santa Monica area. And I figure if enough people are asking me, why not put it out there into the ether to help educate all of you?

So today's question is one I get all the time — from parents, from adults, from all walks of life, people from all over the country and the world. I probably get three, four or five calls a week on this one alone.

How old do you have to be to learn to surf?

There is no true age limit for learning to surf. Calibunga Surf Lessons teaches everyone from young children to adults in their 80s. The short answer is: if you want to surf, there is an approach and lesson plan that can work for you — regardless of your age.

Starting Young: What's the Right Age for Kids to Learn to Surf?

The thing that gave me the light bulb and made me think this was the perfect question was a father who called in this week. His son is 11, a little shy, not necessarily adjusting to school and friends. He wanted to get his son into something — the kid seems to really spark up when he's around nature and doing something active.

What is the best age for a child to start surf lessons?

Seven years old is generally the sweet spot for kids beginning surf lessons. At that age, children have enough independence to decide for themselves whether they love it, and they're less likely to get spooked in the water. That said, fearless, active kids as young as five can absolutely start — just know your child before signing them up.

Seven is the age I typically recommend when parents call Calibunga Surf Lessons and ask. I've taught kids that are five, and I've taught pretty much every age in between. Seven is generally when your kid is not going to get spooked, they're going to have a good time, and they start to get enough independence to decide for themselves: I'm going to enjoy this, or this is not for me.

Can a 5-year-old learn to surf?

Yes — with the right instructor and conditions. At Calibunga Surf Lessons, very young children start in extremely shallow water (no more than three feet deep) on specialty foam boards made just for toddlers, roughly five feet long. The most important thing with young kids is not creating a fear of the ocean. If your five-year-old is a natural adrenaline junkie who loves being active, give it a shot — but always ask your child directly if they want to try it first.

I do have parents call where they're like, look, I have a five-year-old, but my five-year-old is a little adrenaline junkie in the making. He loves being active, he's just go, go, go all the time. And if that's the case, I'm like, sure, let's try it. As a professional coach, the one thing you don't want to do when it comes to toddlers and kids is create trauma. If a parent shows up and we get in the water and the kid is immediately scared or apprehensive, we're going to start them out in really, really tiny, shallow water on these specialty little boards made just for toddlers — very cute, about five feet long and foam — in a maximum of three feet of water. There's no reason to take a kid that small way out past the break.

Typically, seven is where kids start to fall in love with it on their own. Nine is perfect for camps and group programs. In Santa Monica, Calibunga is not a kids' camp — we offer professional independent surf lessons for one-on-one sessions and groups who sign up together — but there are some really cool kids' surf camps in the area doing great work. High schoolers, young adults, young professionals — everyone can gear up and get into this sport.

Is There an Age Limit for Adult Surf Lessons in Los Angeles?

Am I too old to learn to surf?

Absolutely not. There is no upper age limit for surf lessons. The oldest student Lucas Coleman has ever taught a professional surf lesson to at Santa Monica Beach was 82 years old — and he rode a wave all the way to the shore on his own. If you've ever wanted to try surfing, the time is now.

I want to jump to the other end of the spectrum and approach the question of what age am I too old to surf. I hate using that word, "old." You'll feel younger if you surf and if you try it, because that is the nature of what surfing does — it makes you feel alive.

There is no real cutoff. The oldest person I've ever taught a professional surf lesson to at Santa Monica Beach, right near the Santa Monica Pier, was an 82-year-old. He signed up — and for the record, this gentleman was in fantastic shape for 82. He had really good mobility, and we actually had a really, really great session. I took it very slow. If you're going to get a surf coach who's worth his salt, he is going to evaluate that particular client and adjust the lesson to suit their physical abilities.

So we took it slow. It was very informative. He seemed fascinated — hanging on every word. We paddled out there. It took him many attempts, but we did it one thing at a time, one small adjustment at a time. We didn't rely on physical strength. Since that wave has all the power you need, we let the wave do the work. I coached him into making small adjustments to allow his weight placement to leverage the strength of the wave.

He got to his feet. He rode a wave all the way to the sand. He stepped off. He was cruising all the way to the shore and I'm body-surfing the wave behind him trying to catch up. And he said: "That was amazing. That was everything I set out to do today."

Afterward, I asked him why he waited until 82. He said he grew up here — he remembered being a kid in the 50s and 60s, watching people surf at the beach and thinking, man, I really want to try that. He never did. Then he shared with me that he'd recently received some bad health news and didn't have a lot of time left. The one thing he always regretted was not giving it a shot. So he came out and rode the wave.

What is the best age to start surfing as an adult?

Any age. Whether you're 30, 45, 60, or beyond, adult beginners learn to surf successfully every day at Santa Monica Beach. The key is finding the right location with forgiving waves — like Ocean Park, just south of the Santa Monica Pier — and working with a qualified instructor who tailors the lesson to your current fitness and mobility. Age is far less important than instruction quality and the right break.

It was one of the rare moments where what I do really mattered, and I felt good about that in the long term. The moral of the story: it is never too late. Even if you struggle with some elements of mobility, you can get out there — boogie board in, experience the wave in some capacity that suits you. If you have a good coach, call them ahead of time, talk through what you're trying to achieve and where you're at. If it's a permitted surf school actually doing good work, they will talk with you and put together a lesson plan to help you achieve those goals, no matter your age or what you're dealing with.

What Actually Determines How Fast You Learn to Surf?

Does age affect how quickly adults learn to surf?

Less than you'd think. The number one factor determining how fast an adult learns to surf is not their age — it's the quality of the instruction and the location. Teaching at a spot like Ocean Park in Santa Monica, where the waves are soft, rolling, and forgiving with a sandy bottom, makes an enormous difference. Lucas has watched 45-year-olds stand up on their first couple of attempts, and 55-year-olds ride waves all the way to shore.

The number one thing that determines how fast an adult learns to surf isn't their age. It's the quality of the instruction and the location. That's why we teach at spots like Ocean Park, just south of the Santa Monica Pier, where the waves are soft, rolling, and very forgiving. The sandy bottom means it's safe. The wave shape means you actually have time to practice your pop-up instead of getting crushed. I've watched 45-year-olds stand up on their first couple of attempts. I've watched 55-year-olds ride a wave all the way to the shore. That never gets old.

Where is the best place to take surf lessons in Santa Monica for beginners?

Ocean Park, just south of the Santa Monica Pier, is one of the most beginner-friendly surf spots in all of Los Angeles. The waves are gentle and rolling, the bottom is sandy, and the wave shape gives you enough time to work on your pop-up. Calibunga Surf Lessons teaches at this location specifically because it gives adult beginners and kids alike the best possible chance of success.

Book Surf Lessons in Santa Monica | Calibunga Surf Lessons

If you're searching for adult surf lessons in Santa Monica or beginner surf lessons in Los Angeles, that's exactly what we do at Calibunga. Private lessons, personalized coaching, no judgment, and no rush. Just motivation, inspiration, and walking you through every step of the technique.

How do I book a surf lesson at Calibunga Surf Lessons in Santa Monica?

You can reach Calibunga Surf Lessons on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, by emailing info@calibungasurflessons.com, or by visiting calibungasurflessons.com. Private one-on-one lessons and group sessions for people who sign up together are available at Santa Monica Beach near Lifeguard Tower 26.

If you would like to ask us a question, you can reach us on the socials for Calibunga Surf Lessons — we're on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, you name it. You can also send us an email at info@calibungasurflessons.com or visit our website at www.calibungasurflessons.com, where you can view all of our podcast episodes, submit a question, and explore our transcript page.

I'm your instructor and host, Lucas Coleman. We hope to see you in those waves soon. Surf's up!