Leucadia Surf School
Leucadia Surf School
5
Full view
About
We have been giving surf lessons and camps since 2002 in Encinitas. Year-around beginner surf lessons for adults and kids, and summer surf camps. Fast results, surf on your first time out. Experienced Instructors, easy waves. No one goes home disappointed around here! Our city permit location is at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California. We are a fully insured and permitted surf school.
Similar Experiences
Leucadia Surf School
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsContribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
121 reviews
Excellent
118
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Bella A C
1 contribution
Mar 2023
Gerry is a wonderful surf instructor! I traveled to Encinitas over spring break and wanted to try surfing, but had low expectations that I would be successful. During my surf lesson with Gerry, I stood up on the board 90% of the time and felt confident in my ability to surf in the future. If you are looking for a kind, enthusiastic, and experienced surf instructor, look no further than Leucadia Surf School!
Written March 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jemma
Puerto Penasco, Mexico7 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
If you want a no BS surf lesson Gerry is your man. He had our grandson surfing within 30 minutes. Talked us out of more lessons because he said that grandson just needed to practice on a rental board. Refused to book a lesson when the tide was not good. He might just be too honest!
Written August 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NMSwiss
Zug, Switzerland65 contributions
Jul 2015
Gerry and his team kept their promise of getting everyone standing up on their boards on the first day. Motivated by their success, the kids (11, 12 & 15) were eager to keep surfing for the five-day surf camp. He has a low instructor-student ratio, so it seemed as though there was always someone to help the kids catch a wave. His young instructors kept it fun for the kids.
My husband & I also gave it a go and were surprised to find that we too were able to get up on the board (more than once!) during our first morning out there. Gerry took the time to explain some options for me, so that even with a bad knee, I could stand up. He also makes sure to choose a board that suits each participant's size and ability, and gave us the attention we needed in the water.
Gerry's open and easy-going manner put everyone at ease and ensured we all had a great time. The only downside would possibly be the range of ability among his instructors: some were fantastic, making sure to give you the pointers you needed to get up and giving you a push of the right strength at just the right time. A couple were less in tune with their students' needs. Having said that, most of the instructors were great and the kids quickly learned who to avoid.
My husband & I also gave it a go and were surprised to find that we too were able to get up on the board (more than once!) during our first morning out there. Gerry took the time to explain some options for me, so that even with a bad knee, I could stand up. He also makes sure to choose a board that suits each participant's size and ability, and gave us the attention we needed in the water.
Gerry's open and easy-going manner put everyone at ease and ensured we all had a great time. The only downside would possibly be the range of ability among his instructors: some were fantastic, making sure to give you the pointers you needed to get up and giving you a push of the right strength at just the right time. A couple were less in tune with their students' needs. Having said that, most of the instructors were great and the kids quickly learned who to avoid.
Written October 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jennaphant
Boulder, CO5 contributions
Jul 2017
Gerry and his staff are incredible! They took our "land mammals" family from Colorado and had us surfing right away. This was hands down one of the best vacation experiences we've ever had. We learned so much, had an absolute blast and can't wait to come back next year and do it again. Best crew ever!
Written July 4, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon_HB007
Bristol, UK3 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
We had two weeks with Gerry and his team during which my kids, ages 8&6 learnt everything they needed to get confident in the waves and to stand up and feel the lure of surfing ( be advised that not all 6 year olds will necessarily take to surfing instantly !!). My wife who hasn't surfed since the kids arrived rediscovered her love of surfing with the help of Gerry and his excellent instructors. Personally, I loved their easy going yet conscientious approach and their methods which are different from those of instructors in the UK where we live, they get results and my kids were on their feet riding waves really quickly. They are thoughtful and attentive and Gerry pushes them to ensure all clients have an instructive time at Leucadia surf school. Gerry is a great guy, a one off and they don't make them like they used to - I enjoyed his surf stories and his vast experience, an old school Californian surfer who has seen it all. A refreshing change from the more commercial modern surf ethos of today. Recommended.
Written August 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam T
Saint Louis, MO11 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Leucadia is great. My girlfriend and I had a bad experience trying to set up lessons with another "surf school", and scrambled to find something else last minute. We called Leucadia the afternoon before and Jerry helped us get something set up for the next day at a great price. We did a group lesson (2 other people had signed up), and we had 2 instructors for 4 people. Jerry never tried to sell us on extra lessons, but said if we wanted to learn anything more advanced he would be more than happy to help, or even just rent us boards for the day if we wanted to come back. Leucadia didn't just get us "standing" on waves, but also taught us some basics for catching waves on our own, and how to read what is a good wave and what is not. Even though the water was a little rough, they worked through it and found us some great waves. I wish we would have had more time on our trip to go out surfing again.
Riding in the last wave of the day with my girlfriend was one of the best experiences and the guys at Leucadia were just as excited as us to be out there in the water. Overall great experience, and the guys were funny.
Riding in the last wave of the day with my girlfriend was one of the best experiences and the guys at Leucadia were just as excited as us to be out there in the water. Overall great experience, and the guys were funny.
Written June 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fallbrookian
San Diego, CA293 contributions
The instructors are fun and do a good job encouraging everyone. They praise the ones who do well, and give extra attention to those who are not doing as well so that they can finally succeed.
Written April 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sabrina M
Pleasanton, CA5 contributions
Feb 2013 • Solo
Leucadia Surf School was nothing short of amazing. I had a private lesson since it is February and freezing cold x) but it was great. Wet suit and board provided and the undivided attention were well worth the price. Gerry was unbelievably well-knowledged, not to mention really kind :) definitely recommend!!!
Written February 11, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris M
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States1 contribution
Oct 2012 • Solo
I had a 1.5 hour private lesson on a cloudy October Sunday. After signing up late the night before, I was quickly responded to via email and told that we'd get going at 11am the next day. Even before the lesson began, Gerry was attentive, quick to help, and a cool guy.
The lesson was more of the same. We had a quick lesson on the beach about safety, general knowledge stuff, and he walked me through several "pop-ups," ensuring that my feet were set right and explained the keys to getting up on a surf board. Then, we got out into the water and started catching waves. Through Gerry's direction, I was up in the first few waves, and he encouraged me to keep progressing. By the end, I was paddling into my own waves and riding them to the beach. Throughout the lesson, Gerry was super helpful, friendly, and tells great stories while waiting for waves.
Leucadia gets my highest recommendation, and to them I owe my new fascination with surfing. Check them out!
The lesson was more of the same. We had a quick lesson on the beach about safety, general knowledge stuff, and he walked me through several "pop-ups," ensuring that my feet were set right and explained the keys to getting up on a surf board. Then, we got out into the water and started catching waves. Through Gerry's direction, I was up in the first few waves, and he encouraged me to keep progressing. By the end, I was paddling into my own waves and riding them to the beach. Throughout the lesson, Gerry was super helpful, friendly, and tells great stories while waiting for waves.
Leucadia gets my highest recommendation, and to them I owe my new fascination with surfing. Check them out!
Written October 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DTravs
1 contribution
Apr 2019 • Family
We are back at home now after an amazing trip to San Diego. Perhaps the highlight of our trip was our time with Gerry at Leucadia Surf School in Encinitas. It’s going to be hard for me to adequately articulate how amazing our experience was but I will give it a shot. If I could have written the script for how the day would go I would have fallen short. I wanted to learn how to surf and I was hoping that I would love surfing. More importantly I was hoping that my family would do the same. Gerry is the real deal. Old school. Exactly what we wanted. He wanted exactly what we wanted too, which was for us to learn how to surf and love surfing. He delivered in a big way!! He started by calming our apprehensions about the water and the waves and got us more than excited about getting into the water. He taught us great things about finding the right waves, he taught us how to be safe, he taught us how to stand up on the board, and we all eagerly hopped into the water. Within 10 minutes we were all riding waves to the shore!!!! It was awesome!! Gerry was right in the middle of us all, giving everyone what they need to maximize our experience “Do we have to stop?”,’ my daughter asked when it was time to get out of the water. Music to my ears. Mission accomplished!!! Gerry followed us to the shore, all of us smiling from ear to ear. Gerry is the best and I so highly recommend him. You will learn how to surf and love surfing if you hook up with Gerry and Leucadia Surf School. Use PayPal the night before to handle the money and fill out all the forms before you arrive in order to maximize your time doing what’s important, SURFING!!! Thank you Gerry!!
Written April 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.