Each summer, city surfers flock to the Rockaways to ride waves at NYC’s only legal surfing beach. But Rockaway swells aren’t just for grown-ups–several of the neighborhood’s surf schools also offer programs for kids who dream of becoming the next Kelly Slater, and provide boards and wetsuits to boot.
Locals Surf School
Beach 69th Street and Beach Front Road
Founded in 2011 by two local skaters and surfers, Locals Surf School offers a Kids Surf Camp for children ages 5 and up. The camp runs Monday-Friday from 9am-1pm, and offers a 3:1 ratio of students to certified instructors. In addition to surfing, kids get to enjoy beach games and and activities and refreshments, and surfboards and rash guards are provided. Instructors are current/former lifeguards. A Kids Skate Camp and private lesson packages are also available. Surf camp is $450 for one child; camps run through 9/2. localssurfschool.com
New York Surf School
Beach 69th Street & Beach Front Road
In addition to offering private and group lessons, New York Surf School also offers surfing camps for kids ages 5 and up during the week! You can choose from a one, three, or five-day camp, which all run from 9am-1pm, and the school will supply all necessary gear. $399 per 5-day camp, $100 per day; camps run through 9/16. surflessonsnewyork101.com
Sierra Surf School
Beach 65th Street
Ages 6-12 can learn how to catch a wave during Sierra Surf School’s “Grom Package.” The week of lessons, from 9am-2pm with an hour lunch break in between, not only teaches kids the basics of surfing, but how to truly appreciate the ocean and develop a respect for nature. Surfboards are provided, and wetsuits are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. They also offer one-on-one lessons for $100 per session. The Grom package is $375 per child. sierrasurfscool.com
Skudin Surf
Beach 67th Street
With 30 years of surfing instruction under their belts, the pros at Skudin Surf know what’s up when it comes to teaching young surfers. They offer a Kids’ Surf Camp at Rockaway Beach for surfers of all levels from ages 4-16, which runs Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm. Certified instructors teach campers about ocean safety, rip currents, surf safety, and etiquette–and instructors are stationed with each child in the ocean. Equipment, including surfboards and rashguards, is provided. $445 per 5-day week, $105 per day; camps run through 9/2. skudinsurf.com
