Richard Schmidt Surf School

Why we ranked it 4th.

A Santa Cruz institution since 1978. Schmidt himself sometimes still teaches the longboard clinic on weekends. Our recommendation: book the 8 AM session on a weekday. The crowd is thin, the light is good, the wind hasn't come up yet. Bring a thermos.

The all levels tier here is well-staffed, the gear is in stock, and the instructors actually surf this break themselves. That's rarer than you'd think.

The pros

• Tight instructor-to-student ratio — most schools in town aren't this attentive
• Wetsuits and soft-tops included, all sizes in stock
• You'll stand up. Almost everyone does.
• Easy parking at the wharf, three-block walk down to the sand.

The cons

• Books up two weeks out in summer.
• The break is crowded — you're sharing the wave with other beginners.
• If you're already past whitewash, you'll be bored.