YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
It’s never to late to learn something new
About Us
Bolinas Surf Lessons was established in 1998 by Nick Krieger. Nick’s positive attitude and love of surfing inspired him to start the first surf school in Bolinas over 20 years ago.
When Bolinas Surf Lessons first started, Nick would load up his surf van and meet his students in the parking lot just steps from the beach. After countless people asking to rent the boards he had brought for his surf lessons, Nick realized that Bolinas needed a surf shop that catered to the ever-increasing number of surfers coming to Bolinas.
So in 2003 Nick started 2 Mile Surf Shop. Although Bolinas needed a surf shop, running the business wasn’t Nick’s passion and in 2009 he sold the business. Nick continued to own Bolinas Surf Lessons and to run of all of the surf lessons and surf camps out of 2 Mile Surf Shop. In 2020, a fire destroyed the building that the surf shop was in and 2 Mile had to close. Since the fire Nick has continued to offer the same Surf Lessons and Surf Camps and now meets his surf students at the beach. On most summer days, you’ll find Nick and BSL’s other surf instructors on the boat ramp at the end of Brighton Avenue with your board and wetsuit.
Bolinas
Bolinas is located at the southern end of the Point Reyes National Seashore, surrounded by the ocean and parkland.
You will meet your instructor at the entrance to Bolinas Beach on the boat ramp at the end of Brighton Avenue.
It takes about an hour from the Golden Gate Bridge or from Petaluma if there is no traffic. If your lesson is on a weekend, you should give yourself at least an extra ½ hour to compensate for traffic and parking.
Surf Lessons are offered from March through October when the conditions are ideal for beginners.
Reminder!
Please always be respectful of the town residents and pack your trash when you leave the beach!
The Surf
Because of the unique coastal position, the surf in Bolinas is protected from the winds and huge swells that make other beaches in Northern California too challenging for beginners. This is why Bolinas is considered to be the Bay Area’s best beginner beach.
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Since Bolinas has two surf spots and breaks at almost every tide, there will always be room for you to learn during your lesson. One of the surf spots (The Channel) is perfect for beginners who want to practice popping up on the board in the white water. It is a large sandy inlet where there is lots of room and lots of waves to catch. It is not uncommon to catch 20 or 30 waves during a lesson in the Channel.
The other surf spot (The Patch) is a long, slow reef break that is perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers who want to improve their timing and maneuvering. At this spot, you can catch waves before they break and get long, smooth rides to shore. On perfect days, rides over 60 seconds have been timed at The Patch. When you arrive at the beach, your instructor will check the surf and decide which spot is right for the conditions and your ability. Many students like to take a surf lesson at each spot.
