You're in California.  Talking like a surfer is sort of the state pass-time, even for people who work in businesses where everyone acts like they're in the Sicilian mafia.  If you have to put up with stoned out guys in board shorts saying "rad" and cut-throat stock brokers in Armani saying "dude", you might as well get some of the sweet with the bitter and try to really surf.

To say something that should be obvious, remember that you do have to know how to swim before you can take surfing lessons.

Surfing has a reputation for being its own separate world, a community distinct from mainstream life that is mysterious and frequently hostile to outsiders.  In the world at large, this sort of reputation often develops as a lame excuse to cover for a handful of people who validate their pathetic little lives by being self-important condescending jerks.  However, as with any activity, if you're planning to surf, watch the long-timers and take your cues from them.

Adventure Out

Description:  Conducts surfing classes for adults, teens, and children, including those with no experience.  Classes are usually held on weekends, but the dates and times vary.  Women-only classes are occasionally offered.  The classes are usually held at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, and at Cowell's Beach and Capitola Beach in Santa Cruz, all of which are within a one-hour drive of ARC/Moffett Field.

Web Site:  http://www.adventureout.com/learnhowtosurf.html

Location:  offices in Santa Cruz, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  Indeterminate; exact maps and directions are provided during registration.  Pacifica is 40 minutes to 1 hour away, while Santa Cruz is 51 minutes away.

Public Transit:

Hours:  Business hours are 10 AM to 5 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.  Surf I classes usually run three hours a day for two days, usually on a Saturday and Sunday.  The most common times on the current schedule are 9 AM to noon, 10 AM to 1 PM, and 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.  The calendar can be found at http://www.adventureout.com/calendar.html.  There are a lot of things besides surf classes on the calendar, so be prepared to dig a little.

Cost:  $170 for a two-day introductor class, $95 for a one-day class.  Most of the Surf I classes on the schedule are two days.

Bolinas Surf Lessons

Description:  Offers individual and group lessons in the city of Bolinas, located north of San Francisco.  If there are lesson times on the web site, they are well hidden; it appears that lessons are scheduled directly with the surfing instructors.

Web Site:  http://www.surfbolinas.com/

Location:  Remarkably enough, Bolinas Surf Lessons has its offices in Bolinas, CA.

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  Check in for lessons is at the 2 Mile Surf Shop (http://www.2milesurf.com/) at 22 Brighton Avenue, Bolinas.  That's a drive of 1 hour and 29 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Public Transit:

Hours:  Business hours aren't listed.  Summer business hours for 2 Mile Surf Shop are Monday through Friday 10 AM to 5:30 PM, 8 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday; winter business hours are Monday and Friday 11 AM to 5 PM, 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday.  Surf lessons appear to be scheduled directly with the surfing instructors, so that's up to you and them.

Cost:  The pricing options are complicated.  Private lessons lasting 90 minutes cost $100.  Group lessons lasting 90 minutes range from $45 to $65 depending on the size of the group.  There are several different packages that allow you to buy several lessons and once, and/or to combine group lessons with private lessons.  For details, see http://www.surfbolinas.com/lesson_rates.html.

Open Ocean Surfing

Description:  Offers surfing lessons in Half Moon Bay, near Half Moon Bay State Park.  Lessons are 90 minutes to 2 hours long, and are offered year round Monday through Friday.  The web site lists both "lessons" and "classes", but both links go to the same page.

Web Site:  http://www.openoceansurfing.com/

Location:  offices in Half Moon Bay, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  Indeterminate; exact maps and directions are provided during registration.  The city of Half Moon Bay is 39 minutes to 50 minutes from ARC/Moffett Field.

Public Transit:

Hours:  Lessons are offered Monday through Friday, sunrise to sundown, year round.  No mention is made of weekend lessons.

Cost:  Surfing lessons are $90 for a private lesson (1 person), $65 each for a semi-private lesson (2 people), and $50 each for group lessons (3 or more people).  There are unspecified discounts for groups of 6 or more, and for buying several lessons at a time.

Surf City USA

Description:  This isn't a surfing school, but it's worth listing to avoid confusion.  Flyers for Surf City can be found in the Mega Bites Cafe, and in many other locations in the area.  Despite the name, the flyers aren't really about surfing.  They're promos for a town called Huntington Beach that claims to be Surf City, USA.  There may be surfing lessons offered there, but neither the flyers or the web site is of much use in finding them.

Web Site:  http://www.surfcityusa.com

Location:  Huntington Beach, CA

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  Huntington Beach is 6 hours and 13 minutes to 7 hours and 40 minutes from ARC/Moffett Field.

Public Transit:

Hours:  Not applicable; Huntington Beach is a town.

Cost:  Not applicable.