3 x 90 minute coached surf sessions on consecutive daysSurfboard, full 4/3 wetsuit and rash vest every sessionBeach safety briefing and warm up each dayIn water coaching with feedback throughoutMaximum 6 surfers per instructor10% off new surfboards and wetsuits during the program from our surf shop

Three days of surfing sounds simple. What makes it work is the structure underneath it. Every session has a specific focus and every day builds on what came before. Kids don’t repeat day one three times. They move forward every single morning.Each 90 minute session follows this structure:Arrive and gear up – wetsuits on, boards ready, sunscreen sortedBeach briefing and warm-up – ocean awareness and technique work before anyone gets wetSurf session – focused on that day’s skill, with coaches in the water giving real-time feedbackWrap-up – what worked, what to think about overnight, what tomorrow looks likeDay 1 – Get up and ride Ocean safety, paddling out through whitewash, pop-up technique and catching the first waves. Everything is new and the stoke is immediate.Day 2 – Start feeling it Board trim, positioning on the wave and generating speed down the line. Kids stop just reacting and start actually surfing.Day 3 – Put it all together Turning, reading the wave before it breaks and developing their own style. This is the session where parents on the beach start taking videos.

ISA qualified surf instructorsFirst aid certified and surf rescue awardedMaximum 1:6 instructor-to-surfer ratio throughoutAll sessions in supervised, waist to chest deep water at Sumner BeachPoor swimming ability is no barrier If your surfer has specific learning, behavioural or physical needs, reach out before booking. We have genuine experience working with a wide range of kids and we’ll make sure the program is right for them before they show up on day one.

Best Value Summer Activity

summer surf
program

Three days of surfing. All summer long at Sumner Beach.

3 Days

Ages 6-16

$169

Quick DETAILS

When: 9.30am - 11.00am daily. 3 days in a row
Where Sumner Beach, Christchurch
Price: $169 per surfer | $189 on public holidays
Ages: 6-16 | All levels welcome
Everything provided: Premium learner board, full 4/3 wetsuit and rash vest

SUMMER SURF Program

Summer holidays are long. This is three mornings well spent. Each 90 minute session builds directly on the one before it, so by the time day three rolls around kids are reading waves, riding waves and wondering why they didn’t start sooner. It’s the most effective way to get your child or young adult genuinely surfing over the summer break.

SUMMER SURF PROGRAM $169

Summer Surf Surfing Christchurch surf lessons Sumner New Zealand

What you get

3 x 90 minute coached surf sessions on consecutive days
Surfboard, full 4/3 wetsuit and rash vest every session
Beach safety briefing and warm up each day
In water coaching with feedback throughout
Maximum 6 surfers per instructor
10% off new surfboards and wetsuits during the program from our surf shop

How it works

Three days of surfing sounds simple. What makes it work is the structure underneath it. Every session has a specific focus and every day builds on what came before. Kids don’t repeat day one three times. They move forward every single morning.

Each 90 minute session follows this structure:

Arrive and gear up – wetsuits on, boards ready, sunscreen sorted
Beach briefing and warm-up – ocean awareness and technique work before anyone gets wet
Surf session – focused on that day’s skill, with coaches in the water giving real-time feedback
Wrap-up – what worked, what to think about overnight, what tomorrow looks like

Day 1 – Get up and ride Ocean safety, paddling out through whitewash, pop-up technique and catching the first waves. Everything is new and the stoke is immediate.

Day 2 – Start feeling it Board trim, positioning on the wave and generating speed down the line. Kids stop just reacting and start actually surfing.

Day 3 – Put it all together Turning, reading the wave before it breaks and developing their own style. This is the session where parents on the beach start taking videos.

When it runs

The Summer Surf Program runs every day through the Christmas and summer holidays at Sumner Beach.

Choose your preferred 3 day block at checkout.

26-28 Dec | 29-31 Dec | 2-4 Jan | 5-7 Jan | 8-10 Jan | 11-13 Jan | 14-16 Jan | 17-19 Jan | 20-22 Jan | 23-25 Jan | 26-28 Jan | 29-31 Jan

Blocks through January fill quickly. If you have specific dates in mind, book early. You can also stack programs back to back if your child wants to keep going deeper into the holidays.

What to bring

Swimwear to wear under the wetsuit, a towel, hat, water bottle and snacks. All equipment is provided by us howeverIf your child has their own board or wetsuit they’re welcome to bring it along and we’ll make sure it’s suitable for the conditions.

In good hands

ISA qualified surf instructors
First aid certified and surf rescue awarded
Maximum 1:6 instructor-to-surfer ratio throughout
All sessions in supervised, waist to chest deep water at Sumner Beach
Poor swimming ability is no barrier

If your surfer has specific learning, behavioural or physical needs, reach out before booking. We have genuine experience working with a wide range of kids and we’ll make sure the program is right for them before they show up on day one.

Why choose Christchurch Surf Lessons

We’ve been doing this for a long time. Here’s what makes the difference.

Instructors who actually surf. ISA qualified coaches with 10+ years of experience in the water. They know how to read conditions, read kids and get the best out of both.

Equipment built for Canterbury. Brand new premium learner boards and premium grade 4/3 wetsuits sized and suited to the conditions at Sumner. Booties available for cooler mornings.

Real fun & progression in three days. The program is designed so each day moves forward. By day three the difference is visible and the kids know it too.

A school behind you. Christchurch Surf Lessons is part of Aotearoa Surf, operating across New Zealand for 25+ years. Every session is planned, staffed and delivered to the same high standard.

What comes next. Three days is a genuine start. Afterschool programs, school holiday programs and overnight camps are all natural next steps when the summer program is done.

Your questions answered

My child has never surfed before. Will they be completely out of their depth?

Day one is designed exactly for them. We start with ocean awareness and the pop-up on the sand before anyone gets in the water. Complete beginners are who this program is built for. By the end of day one most surfers have caught their first wave and can’t stop talking about it.

Does my child need to be able to swim well?

Not at all. All sessions run in waist to chest deep water at Sumner Beach with qualified instructors alongside them the entire time. If they’re comfortable at the beach they’ll be absolutely fine. We’ve had plenty of cautious swimmers leave as confident little surfers.

What happens if the weather is bad?

Sumner gets all four seasons and some of our best sessions happen when it looks uninviting from the carpark. The only thing that stops us is if the ocean is genuinely unsafe, and we’ve been doing this long enough to know the difference. If we reschedule we’ll contact you as early as possible.

Three days doesn’t sound like much. Will they actually improve?

The consecutive structure is what makes it work. Day two picks up exactly where day one ended, day three builds on day two. No resetting the basics, just forward movement every morning. By day three the improvement is visible to everyone watching from the beach.

What’s the instructor to surfer ratio?

NZ regulations allow up to 1:8. We cap our groups at 1 for every 6 surfers. Younger surfers and anyone needing extra support always get more attention in the water.

My child is on the older end of the age range. Will they be grouped with little kids?

We group by age and ability so older kids are coached alongside their peers and pushed accordingly. The coaching focus, language and expectations are all matched to the group in front of us.

Can my surfer do more than one program back to back?

Yes and we’d encourage it. Six consecutive days of surfing is a serious leap in ability. We pick up exactly where they finished and the progression across back to back blocks is something parents consistently comment on. Book both at checkout and lock in your dates early, January fills fast.

Hear from other parents

Three days that change everything

We planned our entire Christmas break around this program and I'd do it again without hesitation. Sumner Beach is the perfect spot, the coaches clearly love what they do and our two came home exhausted and happy every single day.

★★★★★

Diane, Coen & Sara

Didn't expect to see such a jump in three days. My daughter went from wobbly on the board to trimming down the line by day three. She was absolutely beaming at pick-up every morning.

★★★★★

Emma L

My son has always been nervous around the ocean. By the end of day two he was paddling back out on his own between waves and asking if we could come back tomorrow. Three days did something for his confidence that I genuinely wasn't expecting. Can't recommend it highly enough.

★★★★★

Tony

My son is quite cautious around water so I wasn't sure how he'd go. By day two he was paddling out on his own and asking if he could stay longer. Something shifted in him across those three days that I don't think a single lesson would have achieved. Really impressive program

★★★★★

James Goldstone