Drill Surf & Skate

Friendly staff, we wanted to rent a surfboard and wetsuit very last minute. They helped us quickly and the service was amazing. Local staff helped us out for the right surfspot. For 35 dollar each (2hrs) we were ready to catch some waves. Wonderful! 🏄‍♀️🌊👍 Unlikely to some other reviews the guy was interested where we came from and what other surfing experiences we had abroad. He even loaded the surfboards alone in our van. When unloading he took care of the wetsuits and boards immediatly, we had nothing to worry about! The girl gave great service at helping us with the right size for the wetsuits. Even when it was busy in the shop. Well done!

Craig and Co. really cares about you and your surf experience! I came in to Drill Surf & Skate, coming off my surf board breaking from 15 minutes into my surf sesh as I went over the falls (which in surfing means you go over the top part of the wave and you could get really hurt). I didn't get hurt but my board did! My boards fin and fin box broke right out of the Surf board. I live in the deep valley which is an hour away from Zuma, so you can see I was disappointed and bummed. On top of this it was my favorite board. But Craigs friendly and honest assistance with his teams positive energy assured me that I shouldn't buy a new board and this board can be fixed. They said it could take up to a few days to be repaired but Craig called in his guy and got it done the next day! I had my board looking new and better than ever thanks to Craig and his team. Anytime you up near Zuma and you need to go to a surf shop this is the place you should go to! Oh and board rentals are perfectly well priced here as well. I wish more people encompassed the attitude this business had around real honest customer service and not in it for just profit sakes. I will be a loyal customer for years to come!!!

Awesome experience and would recommend for both wetsuit and surf lessons. First time in Malibu and wanting to get in the Ocean! He made it not as uncomfortable to buy my first wetsuit that I was so nervous about. Then a couple days later, I was able to book a last minute first-time surf lesson (never played in ocean before). He was super sweet and patient w/ me while helping me catch my first ‘wave’. (Only thing I missed was the leash so we didn’t have to chase the board lol) Thanks again for the experience!! 🏄‍♀️🤗

Drill Surf & Skate is by far the BEST place to go for a surfing lesson!! The owner Craig is incredibly kind and thoughtful. He went out of his way to make sure we had the best experience! We were visiting and definitely came to the lesson unprepared but Craig got us set in brand new wet suits to make sure we were as warm as possible, drove us to and from the beach, brought us towels and warm water and then went so far as to give us a tour of the neighborhood and drop us off at our breakfast spot when our Uber was taking too long. Our surf instructor Isaac couldn’t have been nicer and got the three of us up on the very first wave. He took time getting to know us and by the end of the lesson it felt like we were spending the morning with a close friend. I will be coming back whenever I’m in California and I HIGHLY SUGGEST that anyone who is looking to meet amazing people, go to a beautiful beach and learn how to surf call Drill Surf & Skate. Craig and Isaac thank you so much for a beautiful morning and for treating us like family, surfing with y’all was the highlight of our California trip!!!!!

Super friendly people at the shop. The young clerk immediately greeted us. I liked the selection of glasses. They had a nice wallet my wife wouldn’t let me buy. They had a small selection of descent longboards. When I was interested in some shoes they took note and brought me a chair to sit on to give them a test. I thought it was a nice simple gesture. Nobody was fake, no sales pitches, just some nice polite nods and easy browsing. I ended up buying some shoes.

We booked surf lessons for an hour, took a break for lunch and then rented boards and wetsuits for a few more hours. Our instructor, Isaac (if I remember correctly), was great at teaching and helping us to learn to read the ocean. Craig, the owner, was a huge help meeting us at the beach access with boards since we were carless. Overall, great experience and highly recommend!

We super appreciate Craig helping us rent paddle boards last minute! My boyfriend wanted to show me Paradise Cove (his favorite place in the world) and not only were we able to SUP it, but we saw a beautiful pod of dolphins! Thank you Drill Surf and Skate!!

Staff had the front door blocked off with a table, told us due to Covid they couldn't let anyone into the store to look around. They offered to let us point out things in the store, and they would bring them out. We declined; as we were leaving, a staff member inside the store told the woman running the table to let a guy waiting behind us in, "he's a friend, let him in to come see the boards." Apparently, covid only affects strangers' money. We took our business down the road to another surf shop that was glad to have us, and we filled several bags. We won't be returning to Drill, there are plenty of surf shops in Malibu.

Friendly staff, we wanted to rent a surfboard and wetsuit very last minute. They helped us quickly and the service was amazing. Local staff helped us out for the right surfspot. For 35 dollar each (2hrs) we were ready to catch some waves. Wonderful! 🏄‍♀️🌊👍 Unlikely to some other reviews the guy was interested where we came from and what other surfing experiences we had abroad. He even loaded the surfboards alone in our van. When unloading he took care of the wetsuits and boards immediatly, we had nothing to worry about! The girl gave great service at helping us with the right size for the wetsuits. Even when it was busy in the shop. Well done!

Craig and Co. really cares about you and your surf experience! I came in to Drill Surf & Skate, coming off my surf board breaking from 15 minutes into my surf sesh as I went over the falls (which in surfing means you go over the top part of the wave and you could get really hurt). I didn't get hurt but my board did! My boards fin and fin box broke right out of the Surf board. I live in the deep valley which is an hour away from Zuma, so you can see I was disappointed and bummed. On top of this it was my favorite board. But Craigs friendly and honest assistance with his teams positive energy assured me that I shouldn't buy a new board and this board can be fixed. They said it could take up to a few days to be repaired but Craig called in his guy and got it done the next day! I had my board looking new and better than ever thanks to Craig and his team. Anytime you up near Zuma and you need to go to a surf shop this is the place you should go to! Oh and board rentals are perfectly well priced here as well. I wish more people encompassed the attitude this business had around real honest customer service and not in it for just profit sakes. I will be a loyal customer for years to come!!!

Awesome experience and would recommend for both wetsuit and surf lessons. First time in Malibu and wanting to get in the Ocean! He made it not as uncomfortable to buy my first wetsuit that I was so nervous about. Then a couple days later, I was able to book a last minute first-time surf lesson (never played in ocean before). He was super sweet and patient w/ me while helping me catch my first ‘wave’. (Only thing I missed was the leash so we didn’t have to chase the board lol) Thanks again for the experience!! 🏄‍♀️🤗

Drill Surf & Skate is by far the BEST place to go for a surfing lesson!! The owner Craig is incredibly kind and thoughtful. He went out of his way to make sure we had the best experience! We were visiting and definitely came to the lesson unprepared but Craig got us set in brand new wet suits to make sure we were as warm as possible, drove us to and from the beach, brought us towels and warm water and then went so far as to give us a tour of the neighborhood and drop us off at our breakfast spot when our Uber was taking too long. Our surf instructor Isaac couldn’t have been nicer and got the three of us up on the very first wave. He took time getting to know us and by the end of the lesson it felt like we were spending the morning with a close friend. I will be coming back whenever I’m in California and I HIGHLY SUGGEST that anyone who is looking to meet amazing people, go to a beautiful beach and learn how to surf call Drill Surf & Skate. Craig and Isaac thank you so much for a beautiful morning and for treating us like family, surfing with y’all was the highlight of our California trip!!!!!

Super friendly people at the shop. The young clerk immediately greeted us. I liked the selection of glasses. They had a nice wallet my wife wouldn’t let me buy. They had a small selection of descent longboards. When I was interested in some shoes they took note and brought me a chair to sit on to give them a test. I thought it was a nice simple gesture. Nobody was fake, no sales pitches, just some nice polite nods and easy browsing. I ended up buying some shoes.

We booked surf lessons for an hour, took a break for lunch and then rented boards and wetsuits for a few more hours. Our instructor, Isaac (if I remember correctly), was great at teaching and helping us to learn to read the ocean. Craig, the owner, was a huge help meeting us at the beach access with boards since we were carless. Overall, great experience and highly recommend!

We super appreciate Craig helping us rent paddle boards last minute! My boyfriend wanted to show me Paradise Cove (his favorite place in the world) and not only were we able to SUP it, but we saw a beautiful pod of dolphins! Thank you Drill Surf and Skate!!

Staff had the front door blocked off with a table, told us due to Covid they couldn't let anyone into the store to look around. They offered to let us point out things in the store, and they would bring them out. We declined; as we were leaving, a staff member inside the store told the woman running the table to let a guy waiting behind us in, "he's a friend, let him in to come see the boards." Apparently, covid only affects strangers' money. We took our business down the road to another surf shop that was glad to have us, and we filled several bags. We won't be returning to Drill, there are plenty of surf shops in Malibu.

Thank you for taking the time to explain all of my novice surfer questions! I appreciate all the tips and sincerity! All the workers were friendly and so helpful!

Went here yesterday to get my wetsuit because I'm planning to go surfing in the near future. I'm currently enjoying swimming in the ocean which freezes me so I got really cool and friendly advice on what wetsuit was best for me! Tried on my wetsuit today and SUPER SUPER HAPPY THAT IT KEPT ME WARM BOTH MY SUIT AND BOOTIES! Huge THANK YOU TO the guy who helped me out because I am a big chicken when it's cold I honestly hate CA beaches being freezing cold so I need the thick suits! It was challenging to get in and out of but well worth the hassle At first I was torn between a cute design or being practical and in the end I'm glad I got the wetsuit perfect for winter weather because it's always cold for me anyway! Also bought some booties and other cool stuff. I plan to come back for more stuff because I absolutely LOVE this place! They've got the cutest swim suits and accessories. It's a shopping heaven for beach lovers and I definitely found my place. I'll also take surf lessons here and super excited to do it finally! I kept trying on my own and bumped my head and that was insane. Gotta do things the right way!

Had planned out to go paddle boarding with two of my friends today. My friend had called in this shop and asked for availability on a paddle board, the person he spoke to said yes. I showed up 30 minutes after to rent the paddle board, the person who I spoke to at the shop said let me check. Comes back and said my boss says there is non available for rent and we need to know a day in advance. But it gets better, the way she looked at me when I entered the store was unbelievable, people usually look at you and smile and treat you (customers) in the best manner possible, well not the case with this shop!! It's Friday and it's a beautiful day and now I can't go paddle boarding with my friends, which I'm completely okay with, but don't tell me you have a paddle board available for rent, and I have to drive 30-40 minutes to the shop and be told there is none available without a day advance! Gas prices aren't cheap so I wasted my time and money. I support local shops, but this is a shop I will not be supporting, AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND CUSTOMERS TO ATAY AWAY!

Terrible customer service, avoid at all costs. Plenty of other great surf shops in the area. Do yourself a favor and shop literally anywhere else. Rude to customers from entrance to checkout.

Such a great spot. Starting with Duke who scheduled me for my surf lesson, the owner who was so reassuring and kind, and Isaac the best surfing coach ever. So patient and motivating. Had a blast, can't wait to do it again.

Super fair rental rates and great equipment! The British guy helping me even gave me a little surf tutorial on the sidewalk! Definitely recommend this as the best surf shop in Malibu.

totally awesome surf and skate. endless selection and variety men's sportswear too. staff was very friendly and accommodating. they were tasteful in their feedback and not overselling any products in the vast store. name brands Patagonia dickie limited edition skatepants. and of course Vans. nice local family owned retail establishment with a hitech camera on a local beach sponsored for surf fans and clients alike. they also offer surf lessons and are very educated in modern and current Malibu surf trends. malibu dreaming with a ‍‍ and some tasty waves and your in business with Drill Surf and Skate. Vincent Long Beach island NJ

Drill does such an amazing job with repairs. Best repairs of all the shops I have brought boards to in LA. They do boards always come back looking perfect, even the color matching for my mid was perfect.

After an extremely unfortunate experience trying to purchase a board at Radfish Malibu, we drove down the road to Drill & had the best experience. We were only looking to buy but they were very knowledgeable and gave great advice on where to look and what boards to check out. Incredible service and we plan to come back this weekend to rent!

Man, retro dated review from today - we came here to rent some surfing equipment. These guys know everything you need to know to send you off with some awesome rented gear. It was 2 of us just renting some equipment and this funny looking guy named Dike? I forgot but helped us get sorted on our way and with a trainer for some surf lessons! Awesome time in Malibu and glad yelp send me this way.

Careful, these guys are scam artists. They sold me - an adult - a kids board well under my weight range (I couldn't check to know any better cuz my phone had no service). Tried the board, impossible to ride. Now I'm stuck with a worthless board. Shop at your own risk!

Simply the very best. They're helpful and informative even for those of us less than expert in surfing. Craig is amazing. He will always go out of his way to provide advice even when it doesn't lead directly to a sale. I've gotten great recs on great sunscreen, had surfboard dings repaired, received great skateboard advice, bought various other items, and will buy a surfboard from them eventually. I've arrived before they're officially open, and had the team help me with a smile, and I also like their approach to keeping everyone safe during COVID-19. Drill defines Malibu. Surf shops just don't get better with the combination of expertise, approachability, patience, and cool.

Awesome shop! Brought a board to them for repair and had it back in a few days, better than ever. Great service, great people.

Only surf rental nearby. Young adult male seemed so out of it. People I was with noticed also. Didn't have any idea of surf conditions, water temperature etc. Seems like these might be useful for a surf shop to know. Owner is very nice and helpful.

Rented a wetsuit and a surf board from them on a Saturday and the equipment was just plain shit. Board was some beginner board which had no buoyancy and horrible balance. Board surface was super slippery too with no grip whatsoever! Lucky for me the water was nice and warm but while I was surfing I felt warmth in my crotch periodically, later when I took off the suit it was missing an entire layer on the inside near the crotch area so water was just flowing in and out. Was horribly taped on the inside (looked like a custom job). Do yourself a favor and rent a surf board from someone!

I've rented 2x in the past month and have been very happy with both experiences. My first time I was given a surfboard with a wornout leash and I called from the beach to report this and they came to me and replaced the leash. Small inconvenience but great customer service to resolve the issue. On my 2nd visit they were out of wetsuits in my size so they pulled one off their for sale rack to accommodate my need, again, good resolution to my issue. The service is spot on, the location is great just a short walk to Zuma beach where the surf is present, pricing is comparable to other Malibu rental shops, the equipment is in adequate+ condition, and there is usually parking available right by Drill's shop. Absolutely would recommend renting from this team. Thank you Drill!

Not impressed. We had masks on and wanted to shop. We were asked to leave. I was ready to spend money on a full deck. I'll take my biz elsewhere and will never come back.

Great experience with Drill Needed to rent 2 standup paddle boards but needed them early in the morning before store opened So they made arrangements so I could pick up the evening before and only charged me for 1/2 day rental I also needed one of the boards to be largest the make and owner went to his home and pick up that board for me We live in area and they have always been help with Skateboard parts and repairs Great shop!

Craig is the man! Great shop and board selection. Would highly recommend this shop for Malibu surfing.

Super-professional surf store with great merchandise and passionate workers. They went above and beyond. They're also honest, stand-up people in a tourist-filled area that does not have a lot of good options. (They explained that it would cost me less to rent a boogie board than to purchase it, etc.). Highly recommended if you need good supplies for Zuma!

My 16 year-old niece was coming to town and I wanted to take her surfing. So I called up Drill Surf & Skate to see what their prices were. $95 for an hour of instruction per person plus you can keep the board for an extra two hours. Malibu Surf was about $250 for two people. At first the person I talked to didn't call me back on Thursday as promised to let me know if our date would work. So I had to call again. But he got back to me asap and we arranged to meet at 9 am the following Monday with Nick Katz. Nick was a great instructor. He was outsourced by Drill but he was young, fun and energetic and concerned about our safety. I even told him that I shared one instructor with two other women in Costa Rica and we were able to ride the waves much quicker than with one person waiting on the shore while the other went out. But he said that wasn't as safe so he didn't let us do that. Fun fact: The actor Adam Scott was in the shop when we came back and Flea had just been in, too. (We had seen Flea at the beach.)

Visited Zuma Beach with the family and found this place since we wanted to rent boogie boards. This is a great surf shop with rentals. They were extremely nice and when my son's chose the wrong size boards, they were very helpful in picking out the right ones. We rented the boards for 2 hours with the expectation of coming back much later and paying extra if we did. However, we didn't want to pay for longer in case we only stayed for 2 hours. Again, super nice people with lots of cool beach clothing and surf accessories to buy too.

Great boards and the owner and his daughter are super helpful and cool! Will be back.

Went in to exchange a pair of shorts today. The kids running the counter were super unhelpful and gave us the cold shoulder right away. They have a good selection, so that counts for something? I would probably shop here more often if the customer services was better. Just a symptom of letting teenagers run your surf shop.

WOW! I am incredibly pleased with the service that Drill Surf shop provided me. One of the employees, Wyatt is a true angel and a connoisseur of long board fins. I've been shopping around for a few months looking for some new hardware and I just stopped by Drill to see their supply. Wyatt took my hand and guided me through the entire process of fitting the perfect fin to my board. I have truly never met anyone more knowledgeable on longboard fins than he is. He knew all the tinny technically specs that go into a fin and what kind of performance I would notice with my new gear. I was so over whelmed and Wyatt took the stress out of the purchasing process. What's my only regret? NOT GOING TO WYATT SOONER!! He's a true gentleman and a savant of all things surfboard related. I'm so glad I got the chance to have him help me. I will DEFINITELY be coming back to drill to purchase more gear and make sure Wyatt is there to give me the run down! What amazing services drill provided me, I am a very happy customer and you will to!!

Craig and his team are the best. We inquired about surfing lessons and they absolutely would not take us out during our requested day due to unsafe surf conditions. Craig kept in contact with us and when the conditions were safe, we booked our lesson. My son and I each had an instructor (August and Teylan). Both were excellent at giving instruction and were fun to be around. We both got up on our first try. We had a blast and cannot wait to surf again. I highly recommend Drill for lessons and any gear/clothing you want to purchase. Excellent customer service - the team clearly loves what they do.

Great guys! Good convenient location to our house and the beach. We always recommend friends visiting to rent their paddle or surf boards here. The customer service is excellent and above and beyond. The owner is in the shop most of the time and there to personally help. Pretty much you show up at Drill for gifts, a suit, surf lesson or renting a board etc your hooked up! One stop.

I just moved to Malibu and decided that I wanted to learn to surf. I'm so glad that I turned to the guys at drill. Not only are they super professional they are all very experienced. Nick has been my instructor and he has made the learning experience amazing. I was up and catching waves my very first lesson. I was also very impressed with the quality of the rental equipment. I've rented from other stores in Malibu and Drill by far has the best gear for the price.

I just traveling through the area and I decided to stop in. The shop is small but the employee's are helpful. I found a pair of killer stance socks that I just had to buy. Support your local surf/skate shop.

We had such a great time on our lesson with Josh. Josh was so friendly and patient, such a great teacher. All of the employees are helpful and friendly and the shop is beautiful. We had a blast and will be back.

Craig and his team at Drill are one of the most impressive surf/ skate apparel shops I have had the pleasure of visiting. The Very professional, kind, and educated team at Drill is what it's all about. Give these guys a visit for new gear, board rentals or just to talk surf/ skate. Thanks guys for the awesome service.

Me and four friends came upon this place a little over a month ago when we were trying to go SUP (Stand Up Paddle-boarding) and were pleasantly surprised! Although it wasn't the spot we were actually looking for, it was a great find! The prices for renting boards was lower than the original spot we were seeking and for even longer hours! The owner, Craig, didn't have enough boards in-house, so he took his truck back to his house just to grab a couple more boards for us and delivered them a few miles down the 1 to where we would set out into the ocean. He was extremely laid-back, informative, and helpful the entire time. He was patient with us while we asked several questions and gave us lots of tips for riding, where to go, and what to avoid. The shop itself was pretty dope and had a lot of different selections of shoes, hats, tanks, shirts, etc. for both girls and guys that caught our eyes. We left with a few sun hats and almost with a fresh pair of kicks. All in all, I highly recommend this spot!!

I was visiting my in-laws with my wife in Thousand Oaks and wanted to give stand up paddle boarding a go so clicked in Yelp and found the closest place. Drill is great as it is in the north end of Zuma beach Ina little complex of shops so parking is easy and it is right by the beach. I did a one and half or two hour lesson with the owner at 9am and he turned up precisely on time and got me into the water quickly and safely. Whilst you could probably "have a go" at SUP without a teacher I definitely am glad I went out with an expert as it meant I got the basic technique down and all the basic safety aspects. Hopefully I'm going to get a chance to pop back and rent a board before I head back home!

Very friendly guys who work here. We rented two surf boards late in the day and their board selection was great. Its a quick walk across from Zuma Beach. Very convenient and reasonably priced. We will be back. (Cute merchandise too).

I would LOVE to say I have had great experiences at this shop. The products are great. The guys that work there are less than friendly unless you look like a Malibu surf buddy AND I one of the items I purchased was a $28 item and I later found the suggested retail was $15!!! Just because you are in Malibu doesn't mean you should over charge like that. I won't shop here again unless it is a last resort. =(

i have worked in customer service for a few years now and let me just say the staff at drill blew me away. The young man named McKinley offered me help on everything and August seems very knowledgeable on surfing! I definitely will come back!

August is the best surf teacher you could ask for. I was able to stand up on my first try with his guidance. He was fun, patient and very knowledgeable. Their location for surf lessons is ideal, it's a private beach in Malibu with great waves for beginners. The price is great, they are very professional and their equipment is top notch! The wetsuit I rented was in great condition and kept me warm the whole time. This is the ultimate California/Malibu experience in a great location away from the crowds. The store also has a lot of great merchandise and I love their selection of invisible cut Stance socks for women.

Drill is the only good ride shop in Malibu. Since 1987 Craig has ran Drill and has become a fixture in the community. If you want to buy a Stand Up Paddle board follow the rest of the KOOKS to Clout. Drill is where the locals shop for locally shaped boards, skates, wetsuits, and unique clothing. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RIDE SHOP!!

This place is terrible. How are you supposed to buy a surf board from a store that no one surfs at??? I asked a surf related question and no one could answer... Older guy thought he could pull one over on me and b*ll s#%t me. These people don't know anything...

Not very helpful for buying boards. Told us they had a particular brand of surf boards to buy, we drove out the 45 min there only to find out they did not. Then there stuff is awfully expensive. Staff not interested in helping out customers. Waste of an hour and a half.

This surf and skate company has the most unfriendliest staff. If you're looking for a bad vibe and an awful experience this is the perfect store to come to. You will be greeted by no one. You will be stared at by the staff in a creepy way. No one will help you. The arrogance that is conveyed in this store is that if you don't look like a surfer or a skater you are a piece of garbage. The products they have are genuinely fine. We were purchasing two Pantagonia caps and we decided that the service was awful and the vibe terrible we simply walked out. We came in on October 3 at 5:20 PM. The young lady and young man that appeared to be in charge should not be left alone in the store. My 20-year-old nephew went to look at shoes and the young man followed behind him and just stared at him while he open the box. The young man said not one word to my nephew. The only thing that should be Drilled is customer service to the young people that work here. We would never come back to the store ever.

Amazing surf shop experience. Was renting two boards and two wetsuits for Zuma. Only $80 total for 4 hours. And the guys at the shop are SO nice. Boards wouldn't fit easily in my Camry, so they drove the boards to the spot on the beach we were going to AND picked them up when we were done. Rare to get customer service that good these days.

Shout out to Craig for an awesome surf shop. I've bought lots of stuff here over the past year, and everyone at the shop is awesome. Thanks guys! - Cobra

Love this place. I was looking for a summer suit that I couldn't find anywhere and really wanted to support the local shops. The owner, Craig not only helped me get the suit, but the vest and bikini to match. The vibe is really cool and the customer service is impeccable. Highly recommend to anyone.

Unique trendy selection of clothing and local Malibu gear. Helpful and knowledgable staff- with surfing experience ! Quality, clean, and wide variety of surfing rentals (surf boards and wetsuits). If you come to Malibu, definitely stop by and check out there great stuff! You will be more than satisfied! Craig the owner is a humble, cool, smart man who delivers excellent customer service - as do all his employees.

Such a great spot for surf lessons! Located right off the Pacific Highway and Zuma Beach. Five of us came for beginner surf lessons. They had us suited and boarded up immediately and we were standing on our boards riding in waves within a few tries. The instructors (we had Josh, Nick, Camille) are incredibly friendly, encouraging, helpful, and not to mention attractive. Highly recommend!

Amazing customer service!! Recently while on vacation in L.A. I bought 3 long boards from Costco and needed to get them home to the bay area. I tried the post office, UPS store, and a couple of different surf shops without any luck. At Drill and Skate they sold me the straps for only $25 AND the owner spent about an hour strapping the boards to my car! I made it all the way to the bay area with no problems. Thank you!! I'll be back to try their surf lessons next time I'm in Malibu!

Drill Surf and skate is amazing! As a retail shop they have high quality gear that is fashionable and not too expensive. The shoe selection is amazing and well-priced. As far as the services go...Craig, the owner is top notch. He is a pleasure to be around and incredibly knowledgable about his craft. We have gone with him On SUP lessons over a dozen times. It is always a favorite for our out of town guests. He can make anyone feel comfortable out on the waters, no matter what their skill level is. He is also a lot of fun to be around. I enjoyed the sport so much that I have bought a board and accessories from him. He is always fair w his prices and always steers me toward quality equipment that makes sense for my skill level. I would highly reccommend the ship for skate and surf needs.

I stopped by Drill on a whim while driving down the Pacific Coast Highway during my vacation in L.A. from Virginia: I wanted to take a surf lesson while in California. The owner (Craig or Greg???) made a lot of calls to find me a teacher, and after what I think was a about an hour, Nick (my teacher) and I were walking to the beach. Nick was an attentive, friendly, and detail-oriented instructor. After noting my struggles with balance that I reported from a previous lesson on the East Coast, Nick designed a lesson to improve my technique and stance. We spent the entire lesson (1 hour) on this, and this involved me riding the surf mainly with Nick behind me steadying the board. I only surfed the water immediately after a wave had crashed (this was great for me as a beginner wanting to focus on balance). My only feedback for improvement would be that, before the lesson ends, perhaps the trainer should be a bit more intentional a out giving advice on how to practice alone (since he was literally balancing my board for me much of the time). Nick demonstrated for me and gave me tips on practicing on my own, but it would have been even more helpful if he had watched me from the shore practicing alone. After my lesson, I had 2 hours alone with the board that was included with my fee. I spent 1 hour practicing alone and had a blast. I would have stayed the entire two hours (and maybe longer?) if I hadn't been alone on the beach. All the staff at Drill were friendly and helpful. The shop is attractively arranged, and is located conveniently across the street from Zuma Beach. A note on the beach and surfing traffic: I surfed in December, and the beach was not crowded at all. I have been told by LA friends it can get crowded and even competitive in Venice or Santa Monica (though I didn't verify this). Zuma Beach was not at all busy or stressful, and it was a lovely place to learn without the pressure of avoiding other surfers or looking foolish. In sum, I paid $95 for 1 hour of instruction + 2 hours of board/wetsuit rental. I do not know how this compares to other shops in LA. It was more expensive than my first lesson in Delaware (I got the board all day instead of 2 hours, but no wetsuit). Overall, I felt the value was fine, especially considering the effort the owner put into finding me a lesson, the effort his staff put into making sure the surf/tide was good for a lesson, and the quality of the beach/location.