A Wanchese surf school company
Surf School in Wanchese, Outer Banks
Small groups, local guides, and the spots you won't find on your own. Booking now across Wanchese, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills — most trips fill up in season, so reserve ahead.
Our trips
Surf School on the Outer Banks
Guided by people who grew up on this stretch of coast and know where to be, and when.
Beginner Surf Lessons
Two-hour lessons on the sand and in the water, for people who have never stood up.
See details →
Intermediate and Advanced Coaching
Video-based coaching for surfers who can already ride, in the right part of the island for the right swell.
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Youth and Family Camps
Full-day surf camps for kids in small groups, running through the summer season.
See details →Good to know
What should I know before I book?
- How long before I can surf on my own?
- Two or three lessons for most people, and a lot of practice after that. Being able to stand up and being able to read a wave are different skills, and the second one is what makes it enjoyable. We will tell you honestly where you are after the first lesson.
- What should I bring?
- A swimsuit, a towel, sunscreen you have already put on, and a hat for the sand. We bring the board, the leash and the wetsuit. Leave your rings, watches and necklaces at home — they are the things that get lost in the whitewater.
- What if the waves are too good for a beginner?
- We will move you somewhere more forgiving, or we will run the session on the sand. Good waves are for people who can already read them, and a lesson in the wrong place teaches you to be frightened of the ocean rather than how to surf it.
- Do I need to be a strong swimmer to surf?
- You need to be comfortable in breaking surf and to swim back to shore when a wave takes you. That is a real bar, and it is why a first lesson happens in the whitewater. If you are not sure, swim in the ocean for twenty minutes first and find out.
- What should I wear for a lesson?
- A swimsuit you can move in, and bring a towel. We provide the wetsuit in the right thickness for the water and the season, the board, and the leash. On the sand you want a shirt and a hat, because you will be out there for an hour.
- What happens if the conditions are bad on my lesson day?
- We will either move you to a sheltered break that suits the swell, or reschedule, or run it as a sand-and-skills session if the water is genuinely unsafe. We will tell you which, and we will not take you out in conditions we would not surf in ourselves.
Where we work
Which Outer Banks towns do you cover?
We run surf school out of Wanchese, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and the surrounding Outer Banks.
See our full service area →How it works
What happens after I reach out?
We'll come back with availability and confirm the details of your trip.
- 1
We read the swell, the wind and the tide before we meet, and we go where the wave is right for you. The beach break that is perfect on Tuesday is soft on Wednesday, and a lesson is a product of the conditions.
- 2
The first half hour is on the sand: pop-up, stance, where to look, and what to do when a set comes in. Then we go in and do it badly for a while, because that is how the skill is built.
- 3
We stay in shallow water with beginners and we go further as the reading of the water improves. The safety instruction is not a formality and it is not optional.
- 4
At the end we tell you where you actually are — what you can do now, what you cannot, and whether another lesson is worth it. Sometimes the honest answer is that you are ready to go on your own.
Check availability
Tell us about your group
You'll talk to a guide, not a booking desk.
Questions before you book?
Call and talk to a guide about tides, timing and what to bring. Departing daily from Wanchese, Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills in season.