TOP RATED SURF SCHOOL

1. Children under 8: We do not offer surf lessons to children under 8 years old. 
2. Ages 8–11: Children aged 8–11 require dedicated instructor supervision and must have their own surf instructor for safety. 
3. Surfing with Parents: If a child aged 8–11 wishes to surf together with their parent(s), an additional instructor is required to provide the necessary safety and supervision. An Additional Safety & Supervision Fee of R350 will be added to the existing booking. 
4. Two Children Aged 8–11: If the booking is only for two children aged 8–11, with no other participants in the lesson, they may share one dedicated surf instructor. 
5. Ages 12+: Surfers aged 12 and older may participate in applicable group lessons, but the Saturday Public Group is strictly for adults (18+). Children and teens under 18 cannot join the Saturday Public Group. 
6. Children & Teens: We welcome young surfers from age 8, with lessons and coaching arranged according to their age, ability and experience. 

 Your safety is our priority. Surfing is a physical activity that takes place in a dynamic and unpredictable ocean environment. Before participating in a lesson, all participants must ensure that they are physically and medically able to take part safely.

Medical & Recent Injuries
Participants should not take part if they have a recent injury, operation, surgery, or medical procedure that could be affected by physical activity, swimming, paddling, falling, or entering the ocean. This includes injuries or conditions affecting mobility, balance, strength, joints, muscles, or the ability to safely move in the water.

Chronic & Existing Medical Conditions
Participants must disclose any known medical condition that could potentially be aggravated by physical exertion, swimming, prolonged exposure to the sun, cold water, or ocean conditions. This may include conditions affecting breathing, the heart, circulation, mobility, balance, or physical endurance. If you are unsure whether your condition allows you to participate, you should obtain medical advice before booking a lesson.

Swimming Ability — Mandatory
All participants must be able to swim. Surfing lessons take place in the ocean, and participants must be comfortable being in the water and capable of swimming independently. Our instructors provide guidance, supervision and ocean-safety instruction, but a surf lesson is not a swimming lesson.

Physical Fitness
There is no specific fitness level or athletic ability required to participate in our beginner lessons. However, surfing requires basic physical activity, including paddling, balancing, getting on and off a surfboard, standing, walking in sand, and repeatedly entering and exiting the water. Participants should be reasonably capable of managing these activities safely.

General Health & Physical Readiness
Participants should be in good enough general health to safely participate in physical activity in the ocean. You should be able to comfortably undertake moderate physical exertion and should not participate if you are feeling unwell, unusually weak, dizzy, excessively fatigued, or otherwise unable to safely take part on the day of your lesson.

Vision & Hearing
Participants must have sufficient vision and hearing to safely participate in an ocean environment. You must be able to see your instructor, surfboard, other surfers and relevant surroundings, and be able to hear and respond to safety instructions. Corrective glasses, contact lenses or hearing devices may be used where appropriate and safe.

Balance, Mobility & Coordination
Participants should have sufficient balance, coordination and mobility to safely get onto and off a surfboard, move through shallow water, maintain their position on the board and respond to basic instructions. If you have a physical limitation or mobility concern, please inform us before your lesson so that we can determine whether appropriate arrangements can be made.

Medication & Medical Information
If you take medication or have a medical condition that could affect your ability to safely participate, you are responsible for informing us before your lesson. Participants should ensure that any necessary medication is available and accessible where appropriate.

Pregnancy & Other Special Circumstances
If you are pregnant, recovering from an injury or operation, or have any other medical or physical circumstance that may affect your ability to safely participate in surfing, you should seek appropriate medical advice before booking.

By booking a surf lesson, participants confirm that they have considered their own health and physical ability to participate safely. Cape Town Surf School must be informed of any medical condition, injury, limitation or other circumstance that may affect a participant's ability to safely take part in the lesson.

Our instructors are trained to provide surf instruction and ocean-safety guidance, but they are not medical professionals and cannot assess whether a participant is medically fit to surf.

If you are uncertain about your ability to participate safely, please consult your doctor or appropriate healthcare professional before entering the water.

Your safety comes first — if you are not feeling well or are unsure whether you can safely participate on the day, please speak to our team before entering the ocean.

There are no specific height restrictions for our surf lessons. Our instructors can work with participants of different heights and help you find the most comfortable and appropriate position on your surfboard.

Maximum Weight — 110 kg
For beginner surf lessons, our current equipment and setup are designed for participants weighing up to 110 kg. This guideline helps us ensure that we can provide the appropriate surfboard, wetsuit and equipment for a safe, stable and comfortable learning experience.

Surfboards have different levels of volume, buoyancy and stability, and choosing equipment appropriate for the participant is an important part of learning to surf safely. Our equipment selection is therefore based not only on weight, but also on the participant's height, experience, ability and the conditions on the day.

Participants over 110 kg
If you weigh more than 110 kg, please contact Cape Town Surf School before making your booking. We may be able to discuss suitable equipment or an appropriate lesson arrangement depending on your experience, ability and the conditions available.

Important: Weight restrictions are in place to help us select appropriate equipment and maintain a safe and positive learning environment for everyone. Please provide accurate weight information when booking so that we can prepare the correct equipment for your lesson.

Please note: The 110 kg guideline applies to our beginner equipment and lesson setup and is intended as a safety and equipment suitability guideline. It is not a statement that a person's weight prevents them from learning to surf.

Experience Level — No Prior Experience Required

You do not need any previous surfing experience to join our beginner lessons. Our sessions are designed to take you through the fundamentals step by step, whether you have never stood on a surfboard before or are simply looking to build confidence in the ocean.

Our instructors will guide you through the essential foundations of surfing, including ocean awareness, surf safety, board handling, paddling, positioning, balance and the correct pop-up technique. Beginners are given clear, practical instruction both on the beach and in the water, allowing you to learn at a comfortable pace.

Coach-to-Student Ratio — Maximum 5:1
To maintain a high standard of coaching, safety and individual attention, our lessons are limited to a maximum of 5 students per surf coach.

Keeping groups small allows our instructors to spend more time working directly with each participant, providing individual guidance, correcting technique and helping you progress throughout the lesson.

For groups of more than 5 participants, an additional surf coach will be assigned. This ensures that group size remains manageable and that every participant continues to receive appropriate instruction, supervision and attention.

Personalised Instruction
Every surfer learns differently. Our instructors adapt their coaching according to your experience, confidence, ability and progression. Whether you're catching your first wave or working on improving your technique, our goal is to help you develop your skills while enjoying a safe, supportive and positive surfing experience.

Our Goal
We don't simply want you to stand up on a board once. We want you to understand the fundamentals of surfing, develop confidence in the ocean and leave your lesson with skills that you can continue building on.