Child riding a wave during a kids surf lesson in Essaouira — Windy Essaouira school

— Surf for Kids · Essaouira

Surf lessons for kids in Essaouira from age 5.

Surf lessons for children are the best introduction to the ocean a kid can have. Foam boards that float well, gentle whitewater waves, an instructor in the water right next to them — most children stand up on their first or second lesson. Essaouira beach is shallow and forgiving, with the soft sand bottom and consistent small waves that make learning fun rather than scary.

— Why surfing is great for kids

Why surfing suits children.

Surfing builds confidence, balance and a real love for the ocean. Children who learn early are usually more comfortable swimmers, more aware of waves and currents, and develop a healthy respect for the sea. The first time a kid stands up on a wave on their own, the smile lasts the whole afternoon. We have been part of that moment hundreds of times and it never gets old.

“Our four children did an intro session with Mohamed and Ali — they loved it! It was a fun, playful morning with lots of great teaching. I recommend it if you come to Essaouira.”

Angélique Horsin · Parent of four · Google review (translated from French) ★★★★★

Child standing up on the board during a kids surf lesson in Essaouira — Windy Essaouira

Beach briefing before a kids surf lesson in Essaouira, instructor pointing at the waves

Two smiling kids in wetsuits on Essaouira beach after their surf lesson, other students and instructor behind — Windy Essaouira

Young child smiling while standing on their board riding a wave in Essaouira

Group of kids and teens practising the pop-up on the beach during a surf lesson in Essaouira

Two teenagers in wetsuits holding their foam surfboards before a kids surf lesson in Essaouira — Windy Essaouira

Group of students with their foam surfboards near Essaouira beach, Windy Essaouira school

— Ages we accept

Ages we welcome.

We take children from age 5 on a one-to-one basis with the instructor in the water. From age 7, kids can join small group lessons of up to three children of similar level. From age 10, they ride with the regular group classes if they are comfortable. We adapt the wave size, board size and time in the water to each child.

— In action

Our young surfers in the water.

A typical session with our young students on Essaouira beach. Coaching, laughs and first waves.

@windyessaouira

— Safety on the water

Safety in the water.

Lessons in waist-deep whitewater close to shore
Soft foam boards with rubber fins — no hard edges
Wetsuits with built-in floatation for kids under 7
Instructor-to-child ratio never above 1 to 3
Time in the water adapted to age, with regular breaks for younger children
Sun protection: rash guards and zinc on the face

— What a lesson looks like

How a lesson runs.

15 minutes on the beach with a quick game to learn the pop-up movement. About an hour in the water catching whitewater waves, with the instructor pushing them onto each one. The first 5 to 10 waves are usually on the belly to feel the speed. After that, we coach the pop-up and most kids stand up within the same session. The last 15 minutes is breaks and play time on the boards in shallow water.

— Pricing

Kids surf lesson pricing.

Private kid lesson (1h30)

€40

Group kid lesson (1h30, min. 2 kids)

€30

— F.A.Q.

About kids surf lessons.

We teach kids from age 5 in private lessons. Younger than that, kids usually do not have the body strength or attention span for a real lesson. For 3 and 4 year olds we sometimes do beach play and water introduction with a parent involved, but not a proper surf class.

Yes. Our quiver includes boards down to 5 foot 6 inches, made for children under 30 kg. They are soft foam, light enough for a kid to carry, and shaped to float well at low speeds. Wetsuits start at size XXS for ages 5 and up.

Yes, but only in shallow water with one-to-one supervision and a wetsuit that adds floatation. The lesson stays in waist-deep water where the child can stand any time. We do not push children to deeper water until they are confident swimmers.

Water in Essaouira ranges from 16 degrees in winter to 22 in late summer. Kids feel the cold faster than adults, so we use 4/3 mm wetsuits and build in breaks to warm up younger children during the lesson. Summer (June to September) is the warmest and most comfortable time for kids to learn.