I agree with Mark B's review that the instructor (probably also RenTen) spent too much time talking about issues not related to surfing. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the beach because he kept stopping along the way to chat about all sorts of topics. Anyway, when we finally got to the beach where he did show us how to paddle & get up on the board. After we got into the water he did spend time with each of us by helping us catch some waves. There were (4) of us in our group and after 2-3 times of surfing with the instructor, I went on my own a few times. Surfing takes a lot of energy so be prepared for that, and I was very tired after several runs. Overall I'm glad I experienced surfing but I could have done without all the delays in getting to the ocean and getting back to the office. The person in the office was very nice. I also strongly recommend having your pictures taken by their professional photographer as they came out great. Definitely worth the extra $25 for that service.