How do we sign up?
Simple! Just go to the REGISTER page of the site. Simply pick your day and time and number of people attending. Lessons occur before and after the life guards come on as you cannot surf in Ocean City during guarded hours. (It is true the there are certain locations that surfing is permitted, but lessons are not possible in those areas. Typically, the conditions are much better earlier and later in the day anyway. Please text for more details if needed on that, (443) 203-9283). We will not charge your card until AFTER you arrive at the lesson. Please bring payment with you to the lesson. Your online payment is just used to secure the reservation unless you request the charge be processed prior (typically only applies to Gift Cards). All of our surf lesson registration is done online to expedite your onsite paperwork. The process is simple and easy.
Once you sign up you will receive a confirmation email that provides all the necessary information on the lesson and introduces you to your instructor. If we need to adjust your lesson based on availability, we will call or email shortly after you register to adjust. If you would like to call and discuss a time / date prior to registering, that is encouraged. A text is the best option, but if a call is better, please text us and ask us to give you a call. If you call between 8-10am and 5:30-7:30 pm and reach the voicemail, just text and request a call back. We will call back once we finish lessons for that day. We are very quick to return all texts and we are very accommodating to get you in the water for your surfing lessons while at the beach.
Where do we meet on the day of the lesson?
All of our surfing lessons will meet at K-Coast Surf Shop on 35th Street and Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842 (3505 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842). You can park on-site at the shop and you will see the instructors at the Wave Riding School trailer on the south side of the store parking lot. We will provide all equipment while at the shop, so we ask that you meet us there instead of on the beach.
Do I need to bring anything with me? Are all supplies included?
All you need is YOU. All boards, wetsuits and equipment is provided. A bathing suit and a towel are always a great idea for your surfing lessons!
Can I bring my own board and wetsuit?
Absolutely! Depending on your skill level, we may highly recommend that we bring your board along with ours to the beach. Our goal is to teach you how to surf. The biggest mistake people make is trying to learn on the wrong equipment. If we feel that your board is too small to master the basics, we will provide our professional input and use our proven method of learning to surf to help you maximize the enjoyment of the sport and ultimately, in doing so, your board will work even better once we place you on the right path.
If you haven’t bought a board yet and are considering it, a lesson can be an ideal way to ensure you get the right equipment from the start. Our school itself does not sell boards and because of that, we are very upfront about what you should look for to maximize “fun” in the water.
Can I book a birthday party or a large group lesson?
Yes. We offer packages for all size events, parties, corporate gatherings, educational retreats, etc. For more info call or email 443-497-0900 or [email protected]
What is your cancellation policy?
We don’t charge until after you arrive at your lesson and in the event that Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, you will not be charged for your lesson. 99% of the time we will simply reschedule and if rescheduling is not possible, you will not be charged. When registering, you agree to pay a $50 fee in the event you simply don’t show up. We are charging our cancelation fee for those booking lessons just to secure a spot and then canceling within 7 days.
If you register and a legitimate emergency circumstances calls for a rescheduling, we will simply reschedule or cancel you. If you need to reschedule or cancel, we simply require a minimum of 48 hours notice.
Any questions, simply text and we will gladly work with you.
Please note that ocean conditions are ever changing and with any type of ocean activity, our lessons are dependent on the ocean conditions. If our team feels the ocean is not conducive we may postpone or cancel lesson. Safety is our first priority.
What happens if it’s raining?
We are going to get wet either way during a surf lesson. That said, if there is any signs of lightening, surfers are the first ones off the beach. Safety is our priority! In the event that mother nature is not cooperating, we will reschedule. Any questions the morning off, call us at 443-497-0900. Keep in mind, often the rain helps give us the best waves for surf lessons. Anytime we feel that weather or waves are unsafe, we will reschedule lessons with you. We do not charge you until after lessons, so obviously, we don’t charge you if we don’t take you out due to weather conditions. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email that explains this process in detail .
What is the student to staff ratio?
As mentioned, we have teaching down to a science. Our success is in our product and ability to make the sport easy and fun. To do this correctly we only offer private lessons with your group, typically a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio for lessons.
Wave Riding School does offer several group based programs, but even when we do group based we perform the lesson in a unique way which provides for a more one on one instruction while in the water. To us, this is the only way to stay the course with teaching the right way. We are proud of the system we have developed and it is one of a kind. We ask that you call to discuss this if you have questions. Knowing is half the battle! A lot of our business comes from onlookers watching in amazement at the instructional process we offer. Our best sales point on this is to simply say, come watch and see for yourself.