Pacific Beach Surf Shop opened in 1962 when the surf scene was just in its infancy.
The old logo still conjures up images and feelings of “Good Vibrations” and dreams of riding waves! PB Surf Shop has a longtime association with iconic surfboard maker and former owner Gordon and Smith Surfboards. Their roots run deep in the San Diego surf scene.
Randy Strunk, the owner, has had a lifelong commitment to the San Diego surf community, He has created deep connections to its history and positioning himself as a mentor to the San Diego surf culture. As a well-known surfer/waterman, as well as his dedication to environmental causes.
In 1993 Randy took over as owner of Pacific Beach Surf Shop. Randy’s background as an expert surfer became the basis for pioneering a how-to-surf curriculum and the safety standards necessary for establishing a surf school since 1994.
Pacific Beach Surf Shop has a large rental selection of beach cruisers, tandem bikes, trailer bikes, kid bikes, and skateboards. All bike rentals include a safety helmet, bike basket, and bike lock at no extra charge. You will also get wrist guards, knee, and elbow pads when you rent a skateboard.
Kyle Anderson
12:41 20 Mar 24
Rented a nice 9 foot long board and two body boards and wetsuits for the family. Super cool staff and great attitudes.... Will continue to rent every year as we vacation in San Diego annually. Way cool place highly recommend….read more
Sarah Athanas
20:47 20 Feb 24
I've rented boards from this shop twice now, and they always have a great selection of boards and shapes for all... abilities. As an east coast surfer I appreciate being able to travel to SD and rent something that is actually fun to ride! The staff is friendly and knowledgable, and the location is very convenient, right on the beach.read more
Jaedan Ford
20:57 17 Feb 24
Chad’s a very cool guy, he helped me out with exactly what I needed. My body runs a little cold so it was nice to have... the help picking my first wet suit.Suits have a one-year warranty and when I bought the Wetchute he gave me 25% off. Suits are fair market price but used wetsuits are under $100. They’re a cool shop with some cool employees, I can see why they’ve been around since the ‘60sread more
P B
02:23 01 Dec 23
PB Surf Shop always treats me and my family like their own family. My surf lessons were fun and catered well to my lack... of experience. We've rented boards, wet suits, skateboards, bikes, and more. The retail items are also really cool! I got cool hats, tees, and more. Love it!read more
James Haun
19:24 28 Sep 23
Took my son on a surf trip to Pacific Beach for his 18th bday. Walked in to this shop and instantly felt welcomed.... These guys really took care of us for the week. Great people, fair prices, knowledgeable, and experienced. While my son surfed from dawn to dusk, my wife and I decided to take a lesson and give it a go too. Daniel was awesome and we had a blast! Highly recommend this place! We’ll be back. Thanks again Pacific Beach Surf Shop!read more
Molly
06:35 29 Jul 23
I rented a 7’0” hard top from them for 24 hours, as well as a couple of umbrellas and chairs which I kept overnight.... Everyone working was so helpful and positive, including Randy, Aura, Dylan, and Daniel. They take great care of their equipment, especially the boards, by inspecting them before and after each usage.On top of that, the shop is located in a central location, making it super convenient to access. Overall, I loved my experience renting from here and if I ever return to PB, will be sure to rent from them again.read more
Jason and Carol
05:34 20 Jul 23
What an amazing find!I signed my tween daughter up for summer camp. She took M/W/F afternoon lessons and we couldn't... have been happier with the experience.Eric was his instructor and he was incredible!My daughter had never surfed before and was so nervous leading up to the first day, but when we picked her up after her first lesson, she was all smiles! She loved the lessons. Eric made sure she was prepared (he had her try his Surf Durt sunblock - really good stuff), fueled her up with snacks, and went at her pace. By the end of day 3, she was catching waves and having a great time!Everyone working there is very professional and seems genuinely happy to be there. They're super welcoming and there's a lot of talking and joking around. I think other people like to just hang out there - probably because it's got such a great vibe.My daughter's already asking for more surf lessons, so we'll be returning to get more lessons with Eric!read more
Monica Hernandez
23:52 28 Jun 23
Thank you to Rafa for an amazing experience! Not only did he make it fun, he explained everything in detail and made it... easy to understand. With 30+ yrs of surfing experience there’s no question Rafa knows what he’s doing!10/10 Recommendread more
Joel Baker
16:26 27 Jun 23
Wonderful time, everything provided, easy, convenient, great instruction. Rafa was awesome! Would recommend to all... regardless of age.read more
bex ahuja
03:24 24 Apr 23
Daniel was a really fantastic surf instructor- he took his time, was attentive, supportive and very patient with us. He... coached us in ver specific ways that helped us get standing up! We’d go back just to work with him again.read more
Jess
16:46 31 Mar 23
Highly recommend their surf lessons! The second you walk into the shop, you already can tell you’ll be in good hands.... All the employees are very welcoming and knowledgeable, creating a positive environment. You can tell that they really do love what they do!I took a lesson with Daniel, who not only taught me proper technique and gave helpful tips, but was also very encouraging throughout the whole lesson. I know I have a better foundation, which I can now bring back to the East coast. My lesson will forever be a fun, core memory for the books (despite the rain)!Thanks PB Surf Shop! I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn or wants to improve their skills!read more
Carol K
21:53 31 Dec 22
I had a wonderful experience with PB Surf Shop! Tanner was a fantastic teacher; he was very patient and gave really... specific tips and technique suggestions that were much more helpful than surf lessons I've had in the past. I would highly recommend this shop and lessons!read more
Taylor Lex
21:36 23 Dec 22
These guys are awesome! Surfing has been a life dream of mine for years and they helped make it a reality for me!... Robbie was an awesome teacher and got me surfing in no time! You can tell these guys are very passionate about what they do. I'm currently looking to buy a board of my own so I can surf on the great lakes and have it be a permanent part of my life. I will forever treasure this experience.read more
JJ Atkinson
10:15 26 Oct 22
Amazing! The longest running surf shop and school in San Diego for a reason. 60 years and standing strong. these guys... know their stuff. I had a 9 am private intermediate lesson and brought a friend who had never surfed, and had a beginner private lesson. It would be an understatement to say we had a good time, it was phenomenal. Rafa had me catching glassy rights and lefts all morning. Very knowledgeable teachers, welcoming staff, and the owner who’s been there from day 1, still there with a passion. The equipment we had was great quality, wet suit selection was perfect for any size, and the photographer took so many amazing shots that we could purchase. I’m so glad that I found PB Surf Shop for our lessons. Better yet, my friend who had never surfed was paddling into waves in 20 mins. Not white wash, real waves! Thank you Pacific Beach Surf Shop, you guys made our first trip to San Diego better than we could have imagined. I will be back, and you will be my first stop.read more
Salt Lake City Diamonds
21:11 20 Sep 22
100% PB Surf Shop! The ONLY place for legit lessons. We were welcome from the first step onto the surf shop... patio.Tanner ROCKS! He was super encouraging and has some amazing ability to help alleviate any doubt. He showed us everything from the stingray shuffle, to timing the wave right. All 4 of us were able to get up on our boards and were riding waves in no time! This was THE most memorable experience for our family while we were in San Diego.Thank you PB Surf Shop! Max took a ton of photos! All of were fabulous! When we had some questions about the photos after we got home, max was still friendly and able to help us out.We did a lot of research on surf lessons, when we finally came across Yellow Productions on YouTube, we knew this was the only place to go! It was a quick endorsement but was exactly what we needed.There are a lot of places along the beach that do lessons... Don't go anywhere except PB Surf Shop - You won't be disappointed.read more
Carolynne Liu
02:18 02 Aug 22
Tanner and Daniel were my two surf instructors at PB Surf Shop. This was my first experience surfing ever, and they... both made it so enjoyable. I came back for the rest of the week to rent out a board and wetsuit and just surf on my own, and they were great and very accommodating. I also just left my stuff in the back every time which was very convenient. Thank you for making my experience in San Diego so amazing 🥰read more
Bahram Khazaei
15:43 20 Jul 22
The staff are very friendly and helpful at PBSurfShop. They make your surf experience fun and stress-less. I got a surf... lesson with Sam. He is a brilliant and talented surfer and an inspiring teacher. I really enjoyed the lesson. The shop is very close to surf areas in the Pacific Beach. Their lesson and rental prices are also very reasonable. Highly recommended!read more
Jason Hulshof
18:55 16 Jul 22
Worked with Burke, Bella and Robbie on a 3pack of lessons the last few days and also with Dylan and Aurora for a couple... of other lessons back in May. They were all great teachers and people. It's a great place. The owner Randy is such a cool guy and everyone I've met working there is great. If you are looking for surf lessons in San Diego. Check these guys out!read more
Kim Anderson
22:27 27 Jun 22
Excellent experience for two adults who always wanted to learn to surf. Surfing lessons are not just for kids!Rafa,... our instructor, had a fantastic calm and confidence-inspiring energy. He was so knowledgeable about the ocean, and how to stay safe, I felt confident before we even stepped in the water. We were standing almost right away. We got so much out of the experience we returned for another lesson. He was a big reason we came back. Now we are totally hooked!The shop itself is full of great staff who are super friendly. Awesome experience, and we will be back!read more
Andre D'Elena
12:41 27 Jun 22
Pacific Beach Surf Shop is the best place to rent boards in the area. They have a great inventory of everything you... need at very reasonable prices. This is my second time renting a hard surfboard from them. Both experiences have been really positive. Great staff, good selection, all around good vibes. Highly recommend.read more
Amit Nayak
15:33 14 Jun 22
Amazing surf shop, great instructors and really friendly people. Can't wait to visit again! Would highly recommend to... people who want to learn how to surf.read more
Jeff Grove
20:55 30 May 22
My wife and I had a great experience taking a surfing lesson with a fun, excellent instructor. As a bonus we were... provided some great photos. The cost of the lesson and the photos was very reasonable and felt like a great value for our vacation. On a side note, my wife and I are both in our late 50's and only tried surfing one other time in Hawaii years ago. We were made to feel comfortable and welcome. Anyone can try this sport with the help of the Pacific Beach Surf Shop!read more
Robert Woods
04:25 01 May 22
Did a one on one lesson for my 10 year old niece and myself. Nick was our instructor and he was awesome. Very... insightful and helpful especially with my very nervous niece. Love this place and so glad I got lessons through them. Highly recommend.read more
Ben Miller
02:55 30 Apr 22
Awesome core shop with down to earth surfers/staff. I came to CA on a work trip and needed to rent a board and suit for... the day and these guys were super helpful, gave me some local tips and hooked me up with a fun quad. Thanks guys!read more
Jeremy Anderson
16:33 31 Mar 22
Great experience with Blake as our surf instructor. Sent confirmations prior to lessons and had fun photos to remember... it by. Highly recommendedread more
Ray Friesen
18:20 24 Mar 22
Great surf school! We did a private lesson as a family of 4 with kids age 9 and 11. Nick our instructor was all... business for reviewing safety at the start, then once on the water he was relaxed, encouraging, fun and provided invaluable simple little tips to get everyone up right away and consistently surfing throughout the lesson! He also quickly jumped away for 2 minutes to assist until the life guards could get there to a minor situation next to us that showed his ocean awareness and the top notch type of person he is! The icing on the cake for us is we booked again for 2 days later and we woke up that morning with 2 sick kids. I called in that morning and they were instantly accommodating arranging a refund for us as we were unable fit in another session before leaving….I highly recommend PB Beach Surf Shopread more
Greg Austin
11:54 15 Mar 22
We had a group of 6 with various skill levels and rented surf boards. Everyone in the shop was great, chill, and very... helpful. The shop is right on the water so access is easier than the surfing! They provided helpful surf tips and threw in restaurant recommendations for post surf food and drinks.read more
Elvira Bakalbasic
20:30 04 Feb 22
Awesome place to rent from and the best dealin the area. $17 for wetsuit and board! Super knowledgeable and kind... staff. Definitely recommend.read more
Patrick Doyle
19:38 18 Jan 22
Easy wetsuit and board rental right on the beach. I left my wallet there while on vacation and they sent it back... through the mail, amazing staff!!read more
Matthew Burress
04:05 31 Dec 21
One of my favorite scenes in Point Break is when Bodhi explains the importance of the spiritual side of surfing, and... another scene I love is when the cashier at the surf shop says to Johnny, “Surfing is the source, it’ll change your life.”I’m an amateur surfer at best, but I’m confident in saying that the guys at this shop are authentic. They’re about living out the energy that they get from surfing by encouraging others of any background and skill level. Wether you’re beginner, intermediate, or advance, you’ll feel welcomed here by people who understand that the ocean is for everyone, and that surfing can indeed change your life. They seemed genuinely stoked to see how excited I was. They were helpful and accommodating, and will be my one and only rental shop in San Diego on all my future trips here. Thanks PBread more
Omer Davidovitz
20:35 06 Dec 21
I come to visit every few months and this the best service that I get in San Diego! use this store multiple times to... rent surfboards! The Most Trusted Surf School offers a safe, fun, and memorable San Diego Surfread more
Adam Trafas
00:13 17 Sep 21
Everything you’d want in a surf lesson. Chill vibes, knowledgeable instruction, encouragement, and patience! Special... shout out to Alicia! She was awesome. 10/10 would recommendread more
Scott Melin
21:33 11 Sep 21
Great location, fair prices and good people. Shout out to Sam, my wife's surf instructor. He did a great job. He was... informative, patient and personable. Thanks Sam and the PB surf shop!read more
Christina Simpson
00:08 11 Sep 21
Great service and great people. From the moment you walk in everyone is super nice and welcoming! I was lucky enough... to get Carlo as an instructor. He's knowledgable, patient, encouraging and was able to get me up on the board a few times in my first lesson!! Even when the wave conditions weren't the easiest that day and I had zero experience on a board of any kind. Max had some awesome action shots too, his photos really captured the whole story for family back home. Wonderful experience all the way around, will definitely be back with my kids for their lessons.read more
Michael Bratcher
08:56 29 Aug 21
Took a 1-on-1 surf lesson with Ian while on a babymoon with my wife. I had dabbled a bit with surfing in a wave pool a... long time ago but never the real deal. Ian gave me the info to get going, the feedback to make some adjustments and really go for it, and a solid hour and a half of good times, sunshine, and catching waves. Many thanks from Indiana!read more
William Roehrich
03:33 17 Aug 21
Great instructors and great service, Randy runs an awesome shop. My daughters 8 and 12 took a week surf camp and loved... it!read more
Karen Santy
04:26 31 Jul 21
My daughter (17 y/o) asked to do this on a whim while vacationing in PB. She was very nervous as we are from Upstate NY... and she has only experienced the ocean on vacation. They worked us in for that afternoon and Chris, her instructor, was dynamite! So encouraging and patient with her. She LOVED it and that 90 minutes is on top of the fav list after a very packed 8 day vacation! Book with these guys! We will next time we are in town! You won't be disappointed 👍read more
Meichuan Su
22:53 20 Jul 21
My kids had great time of surfing lessons with PB surf shop last week. Randy is extremely nice and helpful! Surfing... instructors Dillon, Alda, Robby are awesome. We will definitely go to them when we have chance to visits San Diego again.read more
aviad tapiro
15:14 19 Jul 21
Great team, great surfboards for all levels. I can't compliment them enough. Every year I go back to this place and... they're just amazing!Thank you PB Surf Shop!read more
Big AL
01:34 21 Jun 21
I rented a beach cruiser for a little ride over to Campland. The staff where super friendly and got me on the boardwalk... in no time. The bike was like brand new and pedaled so smooth. I definitely recommend renting your next bike here.read more
Pandora Fights
21:26 25 May 21
This place is awesome! Great prices on rental gear. It was my first time trying to surf. The staff is super helpful... and encouraging. Alicia was extra awesome! She can just look at you and tell you what size board, suit... you need. And she was definitely rooting me on. I thought about calling it a day, but she helped me find a spot on the beach that was a little tamer, made sure I kept track of time to get the gear back, and she was full of good vibes! I ended up having an awesome time. I’ll be back. Pacific Ocean better watch out! Mahalo!!! 🏄♀️ 🙂read more
Eléonore MB
17:16 12 May 21
Best place in San Diego to learn surf or rent a board. They are professional and so nice. They gave us really good... advices and made us feel at home. Very good prices and very good vibes !read more
Jaxon Friesen
18:43 07 Apr 21
Pacific Beach Surf Shop is definitely the place to go for an awesome surfing experience!! My whole family took a lesson... and we all had a BLAST!! Robby was the best and he even got my Mom to surf!!read more
Kevin K
18:33 04 Apr 21
3 day rental, board and bikes. These guys rock. Very knowledgeable and friendly
rockh ardcock
21:09 08 Mar 21
Amazing place and instructors! I had so much fun there and got standing up on my first lesson! Super cool, super nice... people.read more
Aiden Ryan
21:42 24 Feb 21
Randy and his team have a long tradition of providing the very best in surfing lessons and rentals in Pacific Beach.... Super friendly and helpful, this is the place to learn to surf from. Check them out.read more
Andy Yeo
14:27 05 Jan 21
This place is a surfer’s sanctuary! I visited from Washington State and decided to keep my board athome while I... surfed San Diego. They are located right on the boardwalk, quite literally a 5 second walk to the water. Chad is so incredibly helpful about how to read waves, which board to use, how I can progress, which boards to use for FREE. I asked him where I can surf and which board to buy, and he could have used that opportunity to turn a profit but he pointed me to a different break then the one he was located at and recommended I stick the board I own for my level. He is an absolute sweetheart, and an invaluable dispensary of knowledge.I also had a tear in my wetsuit, so I brought it to them looking for products or services for wetsuit repairs. They said they don’t have a formal service bur one of the staff members, Aura, told me she would do the repair at her home overnight! At the price of a coffee! She is absolutely legendary!My only complaint is that these people and this surf shop cannot travel with me back to Washington and whereever I surf.I have half a mind to make this my surf hub whenever I travel back to San Diego.I love you PB Surf Shop!read more
Tyron Pretorius
01:35 30 Nov 20
This place is great! The people who work here are all really friendly and got us setup quickly with suits and boards.... The price of $32 for the day and being able to drop the suit and gear off at say lunch after a morning surf and come back later on for a sunset surf is terrific!read more
Gabriel Hoffman
22:36 26 Nov 20
Great people, fun instructors that got us up standing on our first lesson. Would recommend
David Baraharon
22:24 22 Nov 20
This surf shop is by far the best one in La Jolla! They have unbelievable service and amazing gear. They we super... generous and gave us some discounts. Make sure you talk to Chad, he is the nicest guy. He will take care of you and make sure you have a great surfing experience no matter how experienced you are. I will definitely be back and go to PB Surf Shop!!read more
Madeline L. Thompson
00:59 17 Oct 20
Great shop everyone was super friendly and helpful! Will definitely come back
Betsy Maggard
22:11 11 Oct 20
Inexpensive beach chair and umbrella rental, great for those of us who want to be at the beach but need shade! Just... steps from the beach. Super friendly and customer service oriented employees.read more
Jesil Philip
20:48 30 Sep 20
It’s been 14 days since I went there. Paid for pictures and have yet to receive them. I just counted the total from my... call history, I’ve contacted them 9 times and once by email. Multiple workers have assured me I’d get them by now but nothing has been sent. I requested a refund and a girl said she took care of it but I see nothing even pending on my credit card accounts. So clearly this place is having trouble with customer service despite some of these reviews.Update: Took another week almost but I finally received a refund and the pictures. Still unacceptable that I spent this much time just for some pictures but since my experience with the instructor was good and they seem to be making an effort to get better as seen by the owner’s response to this I’ll bump my review up to 3 stars.read more
Noah Swensen
16:06 14 Aug 20
The owner is super cool and has an interesting story about the shop.Stood up first try (for like 2 seconds lol) after... their instructions. They were super helpful for any questions I had. And everyone is super nice!read more
Janelle Sherako
16:46 19 Jun 20
I am local and signed my son up for surf camp. He has been having the time of his life. Despite living a few blocks... away and having full access to surf anytime, he has been hesitant. This camp is amazing. It has taught my son the skills needed and boosted his confidence so he will be ready to go out with us in the water. They have a wonderful program, provide an extremely detailed booklet to keep to provide even lifetime surfers with knowledge they may have not known or were afraid to ask.The instructor are wonderful, he had Alicia and Jake. Randy the owner is beyond amazing.Please support local, this camp is so much more than just water time.I will be signing up for a semi-private as well after watching them all week!read more
Nikki Kofkin
02:37 25 Nov 19
If this is the only line of of my review you read, GO TO THIS SURF SHOP. I came here for my second surf lesson after... doing my first at a different surf shop. My experience at the first was fine, but my experience at PB surf shop blew it out of the water. Toni did such a great job making me feel comfortable and talking through my fears of getting back in the water. The prices are also extremely competitive, arguably best prices around. My instructor Jack was awesome and worked hard to make sure I would succeed, and cheered me on the entire time. I bought a photo package as well to remember how much fun it was. The vibe of this shop truly can’t be replicated. I’m definitely a loyal customer, and I will be back next time I’m in SD. Go to PB Surf Shop for any of your surfing needs!read more
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