If you’re in New Zealand and keen on giving surfing a crack, then Raglan in the North Island is a challenging but fantastic place to start. Some of the best Kiwi surfers were raised on the waves in this area, so it’s a fantastic place to learn. Who should you get to teach you? Here are our 5 top surf school picks in the area.
Like any good surf school – or any good school at all, for that matter – Green Wave Raglan are keen to see you out on the water and going for it, whether you be a complete novice or a surfer looking to take the next step along the road of improvement. Like many of the outfits in Raglan you can choose to stay and surf from two days to up to a week. This is a really great way to see some progress in your skills, and we highly recommend it.
Raglan Surfing School is one of the most renowned and well-regarded surf schools in the Raglan area. They pride themselves on offering the best, three-hour beginner surf lessons in the neighbourhood. What makes them so much more productive? They have an excellent student-to-instructor ratio, which means that newbies will get optimal time with the seasoned teachers. In the summertime they park their board trailer on the beach, which means you can switch out boards and try different sizes simply by running in and then paddling back out again. They also offer team-building for groups, great school and holiday youth camps, women’s surf retreats and awesome Raglan accommodation.
Up Surf Coaching Raglan focus on the core belief that, no matter how good you are at surfing, if you get better then you inevitably have more fun. And that, after all, is the whole point of the exercise. Improvements come in many ways – increased ocean knowledge, better physical preparation, awareness of technique just to name a few – and the instructors at UP Surf Coaching will help you build your skills and be a better surfer than when you went into the ocean. They fill the gap that many initial lessons leave out for first-time surfers – that is to say, they teach you how to go from catching that first whitewater wave on the beach to sitting out the back with the proper surfers. These guys will really see you right.
The guys and gals at Surf Safe Surf Coaching Raglan are fantastic because they aren’t just limited to surfing. They’ll help you improve on your longboard and shortboard surfing skills, paddle-boarding, and they also provide swimming lessons for those who want to just feel safer in the ocean. It’s all in the name. With the world-class waves and beaches combined with a comprehensive first-class coaching service, it’s no wonder that so many people derive a lot of satisfaction and happiness from the instructors here. Surf Safe provide foundation and progressive surf training for surfers of all abilities.
Mojosurf is actually a company that was started by two Aussie surfers about 20 years ago. Their dream was to give up their day jobs and spend their time teaching others how to surf and enjoy the ocean. That dream became a reality and this company operates surf lessons not just in Raglan, but also in Australia and Bali. It operates out of Karioi Lodge and, like the other companies on our list, offers lessons to suit all abilities. Another lovely little perk that Mojosurf offers is accommodation that boasts a sauna, which is key when unwinding after a tiring day on the water.
