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No Rush Surf

a surf school & brand with attitude

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Lessons

Your lesson is all inclusive- surfboard, wetsuit, and instructor. Your first lessons take place in Santa Monica, which is great for learning. Where waves are gentle, the bottom of the ocean is sandy and locals surfers are respectful. As you start progressing your surf skills, we will start moving along the coast depending on swells, wave conditions, winds and demands of lessons at the surf school. Adding to the list; El Porto, Sunset beach, County line, Venice breakwater/pier. ​ At No Rush Surf School we offer surf lessons for beginners and intermediate. Lesson can be 1 hour, 1.5 hour or 2 hour lessons. We recommend your first lesson to be either 1.5 or 2 hours lesson, as we spend 20-30 minutes in the sand learning all the basics so you go to the water in good terms. We learn: 1)basic anatomy of the board 2) proper surf stance 3) how to pop up and 4) safety and etiquette in the water. After that, the remaining time we spend in the water catching as many waves as possible.
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Our Philosophy as no rush surf instructors

At No Rush Surf School, we are a small, selective group of passionate surfers who love sharing our knowledge and experience with our students. Many of our instructors have 25+ years of surfing experience and 10+ years of teaching in our local community. We are very selective about who becomes a No Rush instructor.Excellence is our standard. Our instructors don’t just teach surfing—they live it. When the waves are good, you’ll find us in the water surfing, even during the busiest part of the season. That’s why we keep our team small and our lessons personal. We also don’t believe in large group lessons where people with completely different skill levels and backgrounds are mixed together. If you have your own group, we are happy to take care of you. But we are not gonna combine you with a group of strangers. Our goal is to provide the best possible experience, and we believe that comes from small groups, personal attention, and high-quality instruction. Go ahead and book your lesson with No Rush Surf School. We’re excited to share our passion for surfing with you and help make your experience unforgettable!
AGGY
My name is Aggy, a surfer from the beautiful islands of Cabo Verde, Africa. I share a deep connection with the ocean and a strong commitment to human development through surfing. _I work with technical and safe instruction for children, youth, and adults, using surfing as a tool to build discipline, confidence, respect for the ocean, and environmental awareness. Surfing is more than a sport—it is education, culture, and purpose. 🌊 Technique • Safety • Education • Sustainability The ocean teaches, surfing shapes, and God guides every step. _I am an instructor committed to safety, truth, respect, and purposeboth in and out of the water. 🌊✝️ Book a lesson with me and let's get to shred some waves.
Claudio
Hey my name is Claudio. Hailing from the coastal paradise of Chile, I've spent the last 20 years riding waves and honing my surfing skills. For the past 6 years, I've been sharing my passion for surfing through teaching lessons- helping countless individuals discover the thrill of riding the waves. With a deep love for the sport, I excel at breaking down techniques and providing personalized guidance to help students learn and improve quickly. After many years teaching and surfing in Los Angeles, I decided to join no rush surf school to help all individuals looking to have a great time riding waves. What created this driving force is the countless positive feedbacks from regular clients I received over the years. So please book your lessons and expect to have an amazing time with me at No Rush Surf School.
Hi my name is Oliver. I am from a country with no waves, no mountains and not too much sun, it's called the Netherlands. Luckily enough I was able to escape to sunny California and ended up in the beautiful mountains of Santa Monica, close to some of the best surf breaks Southern California has to offer. Here I grew up as a surfer between sharks and locals. It brought me a life in the ocean that exceeded my imagination. Now I would like to share my knowledge with anybody interested in exploring the California lifestyle. It will be a pleasure to get you on the board and ride those beautiful waves. Let me help you navigate these waters and give you a taste of what Cali is all about. I'll be your trusted guide!
OLIVER

The Brand

The brand was born in Hawaii, where the rhythm of life is different, and time moves at its own pace. In a world that constantly pressures us to rush and commit, I found myself slowing down and prioritizing moments of peace and presence—often responding with 'no rush, I’ll be there when I’m done with my surfing.' This simple thought sparked the creation of this brand, inspired by the laid-back beach culture that runs deep in our souls. It represents the freedom of living under the sun, practicing our sports, and fully embracing the now, where past and future fade away, leaving only the present. this is a celebration of that moment—when you're fully immersed in the experience, and nothing else matters.

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No Rush Surf Experience

Common questions

Is Surfing Better in the Morning? Yes and no — it depends on the tides and the surf spot. Morning sessions are often better because the wind is usually lighter, creating those clean, glassy conditions that experienced surfers love. Wind tends to pick up around noon and can continue for several hours, turning clean waves into windy and choppy conditions. However, at our local spot, the tide is just as important as the wind. Sometimes coming too early means dealing with a low tide, which can leave less water for the waves to break properly. So, yes, coming early can help you avoid the stronger afternoon winds, but you also need to make sure the tide is right. Every surf spot reacts differently to tides, wind, and swell direction. At No Rush Surf School, we recommend checking with our instructors before your lesson so we can help you choose the best time to surf.No Rush-- just the right conditions. How Long Does It Take to Learn to Surf? Surfing is one of the most challenging sports to learn. Standing up on a wave is only one part of it. You also need to learn how to read waves, position yourself, paddle efficiently, choose the right wave, and time your pop-up. Putting all of these skills together takes time, patience, and commitment. You shouldn't expect to become an advanced surfer after your first or second month. At No Rush Surf School, we recommend surfing at least once or twice a week. With consistent practice, you will likely start noticing meaningful improvements after a couple of months. Our instructors will help you catch and ride proper waves, but there is also important work to be done on your own. The more time you spend in the water, the faster you will develop your skills and confidence. So get out there, be patient, connect with the ocean, and ride the waves.
Do I Need to Be a Good Swimmer to Surf? You don't need to be an advanced swimmer to start surfing, but you should be comfortable in the water and know how to float. You should also be able to remain calm and hold your breath briefly when a wave passes over you. Your surfboard is attached to you with a leash, so knowing how to stay calm in the water and retrieve your board is important. If you're not a confident swimmer, please let our instructors know before your lesson. We can work with you in shallower water where you can stand and feel more comfortable. Keep in mind that waves generally break in shallower water. When you ride a wave, you're usually traveling toward the shallower part of the ocean rather than heading farther into deep water. Your safety and comfort always come first.
Do I Need to Be Physically Fit Before I Start Surfing? Being active definitely helps. Surfing requires coordination, strength, flexibility, balance, and agility. You don't have to be in perfect shape to take your first lesson, though. If you're not very active right now but want to give surfing a try, that's okay. Your first lesson might even motivate you to become more active and discover a new lifestyle. Don't be afraid to try it. Get in the water, see how your body responds, and find out if surfing is for you.
How Can I Tell If the Conditions Are Good for Learning? For beginners, we generally recommend looking for waves around 1–2 feet to 2–3 feet. Once the waves get bigger, conditions can become more challenging for someone who is just starting out. One of the apps we recommend for checking surf conditions for beginner is call surflens.life or Surfline for more experience surfer with live cameras in most of the breaks. Find your local surf spot and look at the predicted wave height, wind, swell, and tide. For example, you can check Santa Monica Beach South, which is our local surf spot. Remember, wave height isn't the only thing that matters. Wind, tide, swell direction, and the shape of the beach all affect the conditions. If you're unsure, don't stress about figuring it out yourself. Ask our instructors what conditions are best for your level.
What Kind of Surfboard Should a Beginner Use? At No Rush Surf School, we recommend that beginners start on a soft-top surfboard. The right board depends on your height, weight, and ability, but for an average-sized adult beginner, an 8-foot wide soft-top is often a great place to start. We frequently use boards such as Stormblade soft-tops with our clients because they provide stability and plenty of flotation, making it easier to catch waves and learn the fundamentals. We see many beginners using narrower 8-foot boards, which can make learning more difficult. A narrower tail provides less stability, making it harder for beginners to balance and successfully pop up. Once you've become comfortable on an 8-foot board — not just catching waves, but also controlling the board, turning, handling different types of waves, and staying in control when a set comes through — it's time to consider moving down to a smaller board. Southern California waves are relatively soft for much of the year, so having the extra flotation and stability of a soft-top can help you catch more waves while also reducing the risk of accidentally hurting another surfer. Shortboarding is generally better suited to stronger, more powerful waves and requires a higher level of skill. Areas such as Huntington Beach can offer stronger waves where experienced surfers can progress toward shortboarding. The goal isn't to ride the smallest board possible. The goal is to ride the board that helps you catch waves, improve your skills, and have fun.
__We hope this FAQ gave you a good rundown of some of the most common questions we get as surf instructors. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to reach out and ask. We're always happy to help you feel more prepared and comfortable before you get in the water. Other than that, we'll see you at the beach. No Rush Surf School.




Reviews and why to choose No Rush

Discover what our customers are saying about No Rush Surf. With over 150 review over the past 5 years of surf lessons.
I highly recommend No Rush Surf School! Claudio is an excellent coach! He is super personable, attentive, and genuinely responsive to your skill level. I’m always able to come to him with questions, and we adjust each lesson depending on what I need most, whether that’s paddling technique, reading waves, or getting comfortable on bigger surf. When there was an opportunity to switch beaches to find better conditions, he made it happen. That said, even the lessons in Santa Monica are absolutely worth it and a big reason I keep coming back. If you’re serious about improving and want instruction from someone who truly knows what they’re doing, this is the place to go. He also has super cool, comfortable T-shirts that had my friends back in Nashville asking where to get one.
Gabriela Peralta December 20th 2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Jenny SheetsNovember 24th 2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Oliver was an extraordinary surf instructor, especially for a timid beginner! He was kind, patient, and very informative. He believed in my abilities but was never pushy. I highly recommend!
Claudio is the BEST! He chose just the right board for my skill level AND the conditions for the day which is so important. HE helped me with my pop up on land and I was able to implement the feedback right away and get props from other surfers in the water on my pop up! Caught some great waves and got solid feedback from Claudio on what I did great and what I can do better after every wave. I can’t wait to come back and surf with Claudio again. His communication is quick and his attitude is so positive and contagious. Support a local and independent surf coach, it’s the right thing to do.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sasha ChigloJuly 14th 2025
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Had a last-minute lesson with Aggi today It was a great experience start to finish. It really took his time to make sure I understood each thing he was trying to show me and how to put it into practice before he moved onto the next skill. Never in my 35 years did I dream I would stand up on a surfboard my first lesson will definitely be coming back when I go home and work on my cardio lol All of the staff that I met today was amazing and super friendly.
Eddie Pruetfebruary 4th 2026

Amenities

  • Paid parking lot right next to our surf van:During the summer (Apr 1 - Oct 31), the flat rate is $10 per entry on weekdays and $12 per entry on weekends. In the winter (Nov 1 - Mar 31), weekday parking costs $7 per entry, and weekend parking costs $10 per entry
  • Public showers and restrooms walking distance
  • Customer belongings can safely be store inside of our surf van, the van will be locked while the class is taking place.
Where to find us

contact: (513)641-7968
address: Parking lot, Appian Way, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Address
Contact Us
Our Hours
Parking lot, Appian Way, Santa Monica, CA 90401
513-641-7968
Monday - Sunday 7:00 AM - sunset
norushsurf@gmail.com