Local Guides World
Best Surf shops in Canada
Top Rated Surf shops
Top Reviewed Surf shops
The Boardroom
Pacific Boarder
Surf Sister Surf School
Tofino Surf Company
Pacific Surf School
Swell Tofino
Long Beach Surf Shop
Reviews
My son and I had an amazing experience with LB! It was our first time ever surfing (well making the attempt, lol) and although I was super nervous to get out on the water, LB reassured us and made it a great afternoon in the waves! He also shared with us a secret menu at one of the local restaurants, we had the Dirty Harry and Barry White which were super tasty! I highly recommend Swell for lessons!!
As a large school group our experience at Swell was exceptional. They were very accommodating and were able to provide a super fun experience for our students. We would whole heartly recommend them to anyone who is looking to get a top quality surfing lesson. Special shoutout to Aaron and Robbie !
We have four kids ages 3-11 and they were all outfitted perfectly with suits and boards. We also spent too long at the beach and had to extend our rentals and it was no problem.
The staff was so knowledgeable and chill and the vibe was awesome.
They also love doughnuts, so be sure to bring them some!
The staff was so knowledgeable and chill and the vibe was awesome.
They also love doughnuts, so be sure to bring them some!
Great vibes all around and incredible staff. I rented some equipment from them and they went out of their way to help me set up and wax my new board that I brought from home. Really appreciate all the staff. Big shout out to Luana for patiently teaching me how to set up the leash and use the straps on my roof rack 🤙🏼
Good people here... Will be back next time I'm in Tofino!
Good people here... Will be back next time I'm in Tofino!
My brother and I had a great time ripping those Pacific waves, with our instructor Ali. He made sure we were comfortable, since it was a drizzly day. He is very knowledgeable and doesn’t hesitate to share and give tips and tricks. He made sure every penny you spent was worth it. Kudos Ali and Swell!!
I had THE best time! I had never surfed before, so was a little worried. But felt comfortable and safe straight away. Kitted up with everything I needed with a friendly team then we met Albie the instructor at the beach who was absolutely awesome.
I'm not a natural surfer so was happy to just keep trying and had such a fun time along the way; I did manage to stand a couple of times- falling in isn't scary and you are well looked after. What a beautiful beach too! I would highly recommend even if you've never tried before, SO much fun and amazing to be in the water in a new way in safe hands with the instructor! 😊
I'm not a natural surfer so was happy to just keep trying and had such a fun time along the way; I did manage to stand a couple of times- falling in isn't scary and you are well looked after. What a beautiful beach too! I would highly recommend even if you've never tried before, SO much fun and amazing to be in the water in a new way in safe hands with the instructor! 😊
Fantastic spot for renting surf gear! They offer a wide range of full wetsuits, gloves, hoods, shoes, and a variety of boards at excellent prices. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and even provide tips on where to find the best waves for the day. Surfs up dudes!
Had an amazing lesson with Ali and the weather was incredible. Aron at the shop was super helpful with getting us set up with our wet suits. Larger size selection would be nice. Otherwise it was an experience to forever brag and laugh about.
Hannah at Surf Sisters (Pacific Sands) was super friendly, patient and full of knowledgeable information regarding the current surf conditions and the safest places to be. We spent time boogie boarding at both Cox Bay and Mackenzie Beach. We had a ton of fun and will be sure to see you again next time we come to visit!!
Had an amazing experience for beginner lesson. Seth was a great instructor. I loved the mud map he made to show us the lay of the land/water and to explain hazards. I will definitely be recommending to friends and I plan to come back.
These guys are extremely good and knowledgeable when it comes to finding and fitting you with wetsuit gear. They make the process a pleasure and help you find the right size by explaining when to pick a garment that may be smaller than your 'usual' size for clothing or street shoe. Best surf shop service in Tofino, hands down. 🤙
Such an awesome surfing experience! I'm a complete beginner and I was scared expecting the water to be freezing cold, but the wetsuits really do keep you warm in the water. Felt like wearing a superhero suit. Our instructor Ali was super cool. He guided us, starting with an acknowledgment of tribal land, safety & mindfulness tips for the ocean, and then taught us the "banana-cobra-chicken wing" technique for surfing waves. Very fun lesson.
Then we got to get in the water and surf the next hour and half, which involved steady waves, plenty camera worthy wipe outs, low tides & high spirits. Ali was always there to give personalized tips, and by the end I successfully rode a few waves! Surfing in Tofino was definitely the highlight of my family's New Years Canada trip. I promise you'll have a blast no matter what level of surfer you are.
Thank you Ali & Swell Tofino!
Then we got to get in the water and surf the next hour and half, which involved steady waves, plenty camera worthy wipe outs, low tides & high spirits. Ali was always there to give personalized tips, and by the end I successfully rode a few waves! Surfing in Tofino was definitely the highlight of my family's New Years Canada trip. I promise you'll have a blast no matter what level of surfer you are.
Thank you Ali & Swell Tofino!
I’m a city guy, back from Toronto. My sister and I (two peas in a pod) joined the able-bodied Vince and he taught us safety tips while we formed art in the sand. My sister told Vince he would make a quality husband but he turned our attention back to the waves (they were crashing). Come for the lesson, stay for Vince’s incredible physique.
Might be the best surf shop north of California. Tofino is unusal in the PNW for the quantity/quality of gear available for purchase - but this place is special.
Staff & managers at the shop have always been great (patient & no hard sell on gear) + going above and beyond to provide support for purchase(s) made over a year ago.
Staff & managers at the shop have always been great (patient & no hard sell on gear) + going above and beyond to provide support for purchase(s) made over a year ago.
Bryan was Amazing helping me decide between snowboard boots fitting them and heat moulding them. Also Dianne helped show me the rings that go into the side! Amazing experience would recommend!
After having an initial negative customer service experience with pacific boarders online service, they contacted me and made everything right. I appreciate their dedication to keeping customers happy, and will continue to get my ski and surf gear from them.🤙
I was in at your other store The Boardroom Clearance.
5 stars for the equipment, deals, and for two helpful friendly staff.
Everything was a 5/5 except my one interaction with one of your staff named Aidan that was in last night.
I was being helped by a super friendly gentlemen, he was helping me find a pair of snowboarding boots. He told me If I put my board down (that I was buying) super gently and to stand on it, it would be fine (which I only stood on about 5/10% of my weight). Then Aiden was beside us and immediately started yelling at myself and his co worker. This was embarrassing, unprofessional, and definitely not how you treat your staff or guests. My boyfriend, friend, and myself were in complete shock at how staff could yell at guests right in the public. The right thing to do was have a nice QUIET chat with him after and just follow up/remind him on the rules. The only reason why I didn’t argue back was because I did not want to embarrass the other staff who told me to stand on the board. I understand that it might be a rule, but the staff let me do it and I didn’t even ask. Aiden, please learn to communicate in a healthy way and show kindness/respect to everyone.
Thanks! 5/5 for everything except Aidan ☺️
5 stars for the equipment, deals, and for two helpful friendly staff.
Everything was a 5/5 except my one interaction with one of your staff named Aidan that was in last night.
I was being helped by a super friendly gentlemen, he was helping me find a pair of snowboarding boots. He told me If I put my board down (that I was buying) super gently and to stand on it, it would be fine (which I only stood on about 5/10% of my weight). Then Aiden was beside us and immediately started yelling at myself and his co worker. This was embarrassing, unprofessional, and definitely not how you treat your staff or guests. My boyfriend, friend, and myself were in complete shock at how staff could yell at guests right in the public. The right thing to do was have a nice QUIET chat with him after and just follow up/remind him on the rules. The only reason why I didn’t argue back was because I did not want to embarrass the other staff who told me to stand on the board. I understand that it might be a rule, but the staff let me do it and I didn’t even ask. Aiden, please learn to communicate in a healthy way and show kindness/respect to everyone.
Thanks! 5/5 for everything except Aidan ☺️
We had surf lessons and a 3 day rental of gear from Pacific Surf recently and the service was truly outstanding. Our surf instructor Harry and he was one of the most fun, professional, caring and energetic person in hospitality that we have ever experienced. He was able to show professional attention to all age groups and levels of experience. We had a blast. The shop crew helped us out with our gear sizing perfectly and showing us how to put the surf boards on our car. A rad and smooth surfing experience. Thanks Pacific Surf!!
Great service and great staff. They back up what they sell and make sure the customers are happy
Wanted to get back into skateboarding after a very long time. Mike helped me out with getting a new board, super friendly, knowledgable and helpful. Couple days later brought a friend back to get him a new board and Mike was there again and once again was super dope.
Today we have got first skateboard for our daughter at The Boardroom. Had amazing experience being helped to choose right board and equipment. We also got tips and tricks to get started! Huge thanks!
Group surf lesson was a fun experience. Great land instruction and lots of time to try the waves. Only feedback would be more instruction while in the water and have more opportunities for photos. We were only allowed a photo at the end with the bus and had to ask, felt rushed as it was when we had to pack up. Would have been nice to have some opportunities for photos/vidoes while out surfing. Just some things to note to improve. Overall our experience was great nonetheless and good for the price we paid.
My instructor Marina was amazing!! Gave a visual lesson in the sand explaining the ocean patterns and surf safety followed by lots of time in the ocean catching waves. She was very encouraging and made sure everyone had fun. Highly recommend especially for first time surfers.
We signed up our 14 year old son for lessons via Hotel Zed during our stay in Tofino. Danny was an excellent instructor and an overall great guy. By the time the session was done, my son was progressing very quickly and had an amazing time surfing at Cox Bay Beach. Would 100% recommend Swell for surfing lessons. The staff was stellar, as well.
This is such an amazing place for lessons. Three years ago; we were eating dinner in Tofino and happened to meet the owners of Surf Sisters while dining. My kiddos were not old enough to attend that summer but my son went last year and learned so much. This year, my daughter and son did lessons. Both got up on the board. They had Rylie and she was absolutely amazing with them. They had so much fun and it was a great experience. We will for sure return next summer.
My 13 year old son did the 2 day surf camp and an additional lesson after. He loved it! His instructor Ryan was fantastic. The whole process from booking online, to picking up the equipment and getting to the lesson was seamless. I would highly recommend Pacific surf co for your surf lessons. They also have very cute clothing in their shop!
Ryan was knowledgeable, patient, flexible with our schedule due to road closures, and communicated quickly via text. He met us at the beach with our gear which was super convenient. He gave us a few important safely tips and taught us about the waves a bit and then got us in the water. Our family were each at a different level of skill and Ryan adapted his instruction to each of us. Parents and 3 teens were happy with the experience. Thanks for getting us started❣️
We were repeat customers of Surf Sister again this summer, my teenagers (15 and 17) loved their lesson so much last summer, they couldn’t wait to do it again.
This year they got Riley who was phenomenal, I have 2 very different kids (one cautious, one a tornado) and she was amazing with both. They both said they were impressed how knowledgeable she was and I felt like they were in excellent hands, safety wise.
She gave my daughter (the tornado) lots of useful tips and she spent the afternoon catching wave after wave. My son (cautious) was equally as included even though he is happy just belly boarding.
They both are already talking about next year and we all hope Riley is there to be their instructor again. Thanks for another incredible Tofino experience, Surf Sister!
This year they got Riley who was phenomenal, I have 2 very different kids (one cautious, one a tornado) and she was amazing with both. They both said they were impressed how knowledgeable she was and I felt like they were in excellent hands, safety wise.
She gave my daughter (the tornado) lots of useful tips and she spent the afternoon catching wave after wave. My son (cautious) was equally as included even though he is happy just belly boarding.
They both are already talking about next year and we all hope Riley is there to be their instructor again. Thanks for another incredible Tofino experience, Surf Sister!
We came to Tofino to get a great surf lesson, and Swell definitely delivered. As a group of beginners we were guided by amazing instructors. We had a good introduction first on the shore, to get familiar with the moves and board and then they guided us to the shallow water. Instructors were helping us with tips and we all managed to ride the waves. We had a lot of fun and we definitely recommend Swell, if you want to rent a surf or get a lesson. We are coming back for more in the summer!
Had a wonderful time with surf sisters. The lessons lasted quite long and our instructor was very friendly and knowledgeable. The water is cold but the wetsuits keep you warm. I highly recommend giving it a try it is not that difficult to begin and is a lot of fun. My only complaint is it would be nice if they also provided wetsuit gloves to keep your hands warmer
From the moment we hit Cox beach, It was a 10/10 surfing experience. I'd recommend Pacific Surf Co. to anyone looking to catch some waves. From rentals, to surf classes, they are a top-notch choice in Tofino. My partner and I took a lesson with Josh at Pacific Surf Co. He was a great guy, and super knowledge-able giving us loads of tips and advice while surfing some waves. The facilities are located at the Surfgrove and are super nice, including showers, and loads of rental gear to try on. I would recommend Pacific Surf School to any friend heading to Tofino.
Elle was an amazing instructor! She made my wife Megan and I very comfortable and she was very encouraging. We were first timers, but Elle got us both standing in no time. Thanks again!
This is an awesome surf school. The lessons were very in depth and the instructor was very uplifting and motivating towards the students. All the staff on-site at Surf Grove was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. It was my husband's first time surfing so you want to be sure you have a positive experience and this team provided that. They offer surf lessons in group, private, and rentals. Thanks again for the experience.
Greated promptly with a friendly hello. Quick to offer suggestions on where to find what I was looking for. Kind thank you for shopping there. The cool folks that work there, WORK there. I saw no one standing around being idle. Impressive nowadays 👏 👌 👍
What a fantastic surf lesson! Kris and Riley are awesome instructors with contagiously positive energy! Not only are they knowledgeable, but they truly are your personal cheerleaders and add to the experience. We cannot recommend Pacific Surf Co. enough, especially because of these two! Thank you!!
Myself and two friends took surf lessons from Pacific Surf School and had such a great experience! We all had different levels of experience (including one first timer), but we all got something valuable from the lesson and were able to improve our skills. Our instructor Seth was super helpful, knowledgeable and fun. We also rented surfboards during our trip from Pacific Surf Company and they made the process very easy.
I recently visited this store and had the pleasure of being assisted by Rodrigo.
He took the time to ask me about my goals and current level of snowboarding experience, and base on that, he helped me find the perfect snowboard to fit my needs.
Not only did he provide me with excellent product recommendations, but he also shared a wealth of knowledge and fun background intro of the snowboard brand that I chose.
Rodrigo was polite, patient and easy to communicate with. He made the entire process stress-free and enjoyable. Thank you for this good experience of shopping ~
He took the time to ask me about my goals and current level of snowboarding experience, and base on that, he helped me find the perfect snowboard to fit my needs.
Not only did he provide me with excellent product recommendations, but he also shared a wealth of knowledge and fun background intro of the snowboard brand that I chose.
Rodrigo was polite, patient and easy to communicate with. He made the entire process stress-free and enjoyable. Thank you for this good experience of shopping ~
A decent place to score all your snowboard and skate needs. Prices aren't to bad , however, some stuff is a little over priced but at the same time they have some great deals on stuff so there is a good balance in there. I was super stoked to find a pair of Red Dragon jeans that I had been looking for here. There shipping is generally pretty fast but when I ordered something for store pick up it takes 3 to 6 days for that phone call to pick it up. Something seems off about that. In store pick up to me means they have it in stock and should able to pick it up next day. Other than that I wouldn't hesitate to spend money there if they had something that caught my eye.
Great service at this place! Went to get my first pair of snowboarding boots and I didn't even know my size yet. Tyler helped me try on 4 sizes before we found the right fit and he also gave me some pointers when looking for the right boots. very happy with my purchase!
Went to this store on Boxing Day . As expected it was crowded and busy. I was looking for new snowboard pants and was clearly struggling to find the right size for my height and weight. Kasha was very helpful as she was able to find 4 different pairs that fitted me perfectly. I appreciate her hard work and help. I also want to mention that staff at the cash register were very attentive and helpful as well. Thank you team 😍
I was pretty disappointed with a neighbouring board shop so I walked into the boardroom to check it out and the customer service absolutely blew me away. Everyone there was super helpful, they have plenty of staff so the wait times for help are minimal, and the staff really know what they’re talking about. Not to mention, they price match. I highly recommend this store. I dealt with a few of the guys there and they were all great, but one stood out (I never got his name but he had long dark hair and wore a cap) for outstanding customer service. Very excited to try my new snowboard boots!
The staff that helped me was so kind and genuine and made the experience so much easier. Tried all three stores in the area and ended up coming back here. Really tried to understand what I needed and how I was as a rider.
This place offers great service and gears. Because of the Thanksgiving sale,I bought a full set. Phil was an absolute delight in helping me find the perfect gears. He is also a passionate snowboarder. I will recommend this place to any friend any day.
Best surf shop in Tofino! Excellent selection with amazing, friendly and chill staff who are easy to chat with. Surf town vibes with an incredible selection of surf gear, clothing, accessories, hats and more. I bought a 5/4 wet suit, boots and used board for a stellar deal. We also brought our puppy to the location and everyone was super welcoming and offered dog treats. Check it out!
Nice shop.
Very good customer experience with nice & easy-going staff.
They took good care of us.
I had a very good time with my kids and everyone had fun.
Thank you.
Very good customer experience with nice & easy-going staff.
They took good care of us.
I had a very good time with my kids and everyone had fun.
Thank you.
I have had 2 lessons now with Surf Sister and both were amazing! We had Lindsay and Sarah as our instructors and both were very knowledgeable and hands on. They are so personable and funny. Sarah was very good at giving tips on how to improve and they both celebrated your little victories. When in the shop the other instructors were so friendly and genuinely cared about how your lessons went. Highly recommend them for anyone wanting to learn to surf! An experience I will never forget!
Ryan was amazing! Took my four children ages 10-16, who had never surfed before, and had them riding the waves before we knew it. He took the time to work with each of them individually, and made them feel at ease in the water. He supplied everything - boards, wetsuits, instruction. I honestly couldn’t offer a stronger recommendation. If you’re in Tofino and thinking about surfing, at any time of year (who knew you could surf in the winter!), give Ryan a call!! You won’t be disappointed! My children will remember this experience forever! Thank you Ryan for an amazing afternoon!
Given all the places you can buy the exact same gear from, DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS STORE. This place has no integrity. I ordered a Dakine surf leash online and they sent me a defective leash with a missing pin (see picture). Even though I received it less than 30 days ago and have never used it, they won't honour their return policy and give me a refund or exchange. Their response: There is nothing we can do. Really? I can think of something…How about accepting a return or exchange!? Now I have to try and make a warranty claim from the manufacturer. I've never heard of a store refusing a to return an item that was defective at sale and never used. Don't risk getting ripped off like I did and shop elsewhere.
I definitely recommend this surfing experience with Ryan. It was my first time surfing even though I had already experienced the waves before. Ryan is very inspiring. He gave us the proper time to dress up with the wetsuits and the water shoes. Once on the beach, he explained to our little group the safety instructions. I felt safe with him. He was happy to answer my questions. Since I am an ocean lover, what I liked the most is the knowledge he shared with us about surfing, the ocean, and the waves. This was a great added value to the sporty experience. He helped us catching the best waves and taught us the right technique to stand on the board. I managed to stand up easily thanks to his instructions. It felt so good. At the end of the activity, he took meaningful photos of each of us. Thank you Ryan!
New to snowboarding so I needed all the gear to get me started. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at the store. Chase helped me for 2 hours making sure I got all the gear I needed to go snowboarding the next day. He’s super knowledgeable and answered all the questions I had. I wasn’t up-sold at all, he showed me all the products that suited my level of experience. Chase even helped me carry all the gear I purchased to my car a block away. I would highly recommend this store!
I was extremely fortunate to get Ryan's name for surf lessons for my two grandsons (14 & 11). From the moment I contacted him, I felt a connection and had a really good feeling. Was not at all disappointed!! Ryan was great...well prepared, on top of communications and quickly formed a connection with the boys, who by the way thought he was absolutely awesome.
Lessons with the boys went so well, my daughter decided to give it a go the next day. All three of my crew had so much fun and were so determined to 'get up' that we just hung around Cox Bay for the next few days. Ryan made that easy by supplying us with rental gear, getting straps to tie down the boards on the car and checking in routinely to see how things were going.
I would not hesitate to recommend Ryan ~ He's the BEST. Big Thanks Ryan for making this experience for the boys so enjoyable ~ Gramma's exhausted BUT we all had a blast. Boys are already asking when we can go back!!
Lessons with the boys went so well, my daughter decided to give it a go the next day. All three of my crew had so much fun and were so determined to 'get up' that we just hung around Cox Bay for the next few days. Ryan made that easy by supplying us with rental gear, getting straps to tie down the boards on the car and checking in routinely to see how things were going.
I would not hesitate to recommend Ryan ~ He's the BEST. Big Thanks Ryan for making this experience for the boys so enjoyable ~ Gramma's exhausted BUT we all had a blast. Boys are already asking when we can go back!!
We had a great time surfing with Ryan. I was thrilled to able to ride waves standing for the first time during our session! Also it was a busy weekend and surfboard rentals were limited, thanks to Ryan's guidance we were able to source equipment for the next few days.
Loved our time with Ryan! We were total newbies at surfing, but we may of come out with a new love for it.
We did the couples lesson and he was a great instructor. We learned to moves on the beach and headed straight to the water. 2 hours was no where near long enough, we just wanted to keep going.
During the lesson Ryan was able to watch your technique and give really helpful pointers. Super knowledgeable, relaxed guy that was amazing to spend the afternoon with.
100% reccomend you try surfing with Ryan, or even if you know how already going out and he can make you even better.
We did the couples lesson and he was a great instructor. We learned to moves on the beach and headed straight to the water. 2 hours was no where near long enough, we just wanted to keep going.
During the lesson Ryan was able to watch your technique and give really helpful pointers. Super knowledgeable, relaxed guy that was amazing to spend the afternoon with.
100% reccomend you try surfing with Ryan, or even if you know how already going out and he can make you even better.
I have always wanted to try surfing and I felt like there would be no better place to learn than on my birthday in Tofino. There were many choices but I chose to go with Ryan for the one on one experience, and I am so grateful and thankful that I did! Ryan was welcoming from the get go, felt like a friend from the start thanks to his awesome communication before meeting up. He was very informative before heading into the water (and patiently waited for me to gumby myself into my wet suit lol) While we were on the beach before heading in, he explained the waves, the swells, the techniques for getting up on the board everything. Then it was time to get into the surf! I have honestly never had a better time in my life, and Ryan was right there encouraging me, and was so patient with my ever stubborn self. So my advice is, listen to Ryan, he knows what he is talking about! He was even as excited as me when I would get a wave! Such a patient instructor and passionate about his craft. Do not hesitate to book with Ryan! My only regret is not having more time to go everyday with him while I was there! I will be going again, and Ryan is the only one I will be sure to be contacting!
Ryan was perfect. My wife was wanting some lessons to build confidence. He provided a private lesson, board and wetsuit. My wife had a great time and learned so much. Ryan provided a great service that would be highly recommended. Love to see someone sharing and teaching their passion. Thanks!!!
Great staff.
Thanks for the experience and stickers.
Tommy needs to get motivated and get the bus finished!
Thanks for the experience and stickers.
Tommy needs to get motivated and get the bus finished!