Surf Academy

At Surf Academy, we're a collective of surfers passionate about bringing people closer to nature through the thrill of riding waves. Our story began in 1999 when Mary Setterholm, a US Surfing Champion and Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame Honoree, founded Surf Academy with a mission to spread the love of surfing. Today, our managing partners, Marion Clark and Jamie Marcellus, continue to build on that legacy, expanding our programs to offer a more comprehensive surfing experience.

Our Services

We offer a wide range of services designed to accommodate surfers of all ages and skill levels. From private and semi-private lessons to group surf camps and week-long classes, our expert instructors will guide you every step of the way. Our surf trips and excursions take you on an unforgettable adventure to exotic destinations like Hawaii, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Bali. For the younger crowd, we offer surf camps and teams for middle and high school students, providing a fun and competitive environment to hone their skills.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: to provide a valuable investment of your time and money by teaching you the skills and techniques needed to ride the waves with confidence. We're committed to providing enthusiastic and professional surf instructors who will coach and inspire you every step of the way. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced surfer, our goal is to help you catch the stoke and fall in love with the sport of surfing.

Our Community

At Surf Academy, we're proud to be an integral part of the local community. We partner with the City of Santa Monica to offer exclusive surf camps and lessons, and our corporate surf parties are a hit with companies looking for a unique team-building experience. We also have a community outreach program, Surf Bus Foundation, which aims to bring underprivileged youth to the beach, teaching them to surf and sparking their dreams and imaginations.