About Club Ed Surf School
Club Ed Surf School and Camps has been teaching people to surf at Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz since the early 2000s, and it has earned a reputation as one of the premier surf schools on the California coast. Operating from a rental trailer right on the sand at Cowell Beach — just to the right of the Municipal Wharf — Club Ed puts students in the water at one of the most beginner-friendly surf breaks in the world. The gentle, rolling waves and sandy bottom at Cowell's make it an ideal classroom, and Club Ed's certified instructors know exactly how to get first-timers standing on a board within a single lesson.
The school offers private lessons, semi-private sessions, and group surf classes for all ages and ability levels, with surfboards, wetsuits, and all necessary equipment included in the price. Beyond surfing, Club Ed also runs stand-up paddleboard lessons for those who want to try a different way to experience the water. For younger surfers, their summer surf camps provide multi-day immersive programs that combine in-water instruction with ocean safety education and beach games. The school even operates international surf camps in Mexico, Costa Rica, and other tropical destinations for students who catch the bug and want to take their skills abroad.
What distinguishes Club Ed from other surf schools in the Santa Cruz area is the prime beachfront location, the depth of their instructor team, and the structured progression from complete beginner to confident wave rider. Cowell Beach's consistent, forgiving waves mean students get more rides per session than at almost any other break, and the walkable location — right next to the Boardwalk and downtown — makes it easy to turn a surf lesson into a full Santa Cruz day out.
