Cutter & Craft: Exclusive Dana Point Surf & Design Masterclass

Since 1997, we’ve been the heartbeat of the “California Glide.” The Cutter & Craft experience is designed for the curious seeker who wants to bypass the generic and dive straight into the soul of the sport. We’re skipping the repetitive sand drills to give you the “feeling” of the water first. By starting at the apex—the bottom turn—where style, speed, and board design intersect, you’ll learn to dance with the wave before you ever struggle with it. This is a journey into the heart of wave riding, rooted in a quarter-century of Dana Point legacy. It’s for those who appreciate the nuance of the craft as much as the thrill of the ride.

Curriculum:

Session 1: The Soul of the Trim We head straight to the outside together. Assisted by our experts, you’ll be placed directly into the “sweet spot” of a peeling wave. The sole focus? The bottom turn. Feel how your weight shifts and the board’s rail bites into the water. Experience the glide and the torque before you even worry about the paddle.

Session 2: The Heart of the Shop Meet us at our historic PCH location. Amidst the iconic smell of fresh wax and sea salt at Girl in the Curl, we’ll deconstruct your ride. You’ll learn how fin templates and rail shapes translate into the speed and “cut” you felt in the water, bridging the gap between the shaper’s bay and your feet.

Session 3: The Power & The Pop Now that you’ve felt the reward, we build the engine. We refine your paddle technique, wave reading, and explosive entry through the lens of the high-level turns you’ve already practiced. By understanding the “why” of the turn, the fundamentals of the pop-up finally have a clear, exciting purpose.

Session 4: The Legacy Ride Choose your craft from our premium “Legacy Fleet.” Your host shadows your session, offering real-time cues as you execute a full “Cutter & Craft” flow from start to finish. We’ll wrap up with a digital video review back at the shop, cementing your new style into the Dana Point surfing tradition.

The Investment

The Foundation

Our differentiating factor is simple: we start with the “why.” While others teach you to survive a wave, we teach you to participate in it. By beginning with the most nuanced maneuver—the turn—the basics become intuitive rather than chore-like. At Girl in the Curl, we’ve spent decades perfecting this “style-first” approach. We believe that if you feel the “stoke” of a perfect line early on, you’ll have the fire to master the mechanics that follow. You are learning from a team that has defined Dana Point surfing since 1997. We don’t just provide lessons; we offer an apprenticeship into the California lifestyle, rooted in the expertise of a shop that has seen every swell for a quarter-century. We don’t just build students; we cultivate lifelong surfers.

Meet Your Host

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You’ll be hosted by the professional staff at Girl in the Curl, a crew hand-selected by founder “Auntie Mary” Seth. Our hosts are seasoned longboarders and local fixtures who live and breathe the Dana Point swell. They aren’t just instructors; they are mentors who prioritize grace, safety, and community. With backgrounds ranging from competitive surfing to board design, they bring a wealth of stories and technical wisdom to every session. This is more than a coaching staff—it’s a family dedicated to ensuring you find your unique flow and “Stay Stoked” for years to come.

Come Prepared With

• Bring a high-quality swimsuit or base layer, reef-safe sunscreen, and a polarized pair of sunglasses for our shop-based design sessions. Most importantly, bring an open heart and a “Stay Stoked” attitude. We’ll handle the technical details; you bring the curiosity.

Provided For You

• We provide boutique, high-performance surfboards tailored to your frame, premium wetsuits, and high-definition video of your waves. You’ll also receive a custom “Cutter & Craft” welcome bag featuring exclusive Girl in the Curl apparel and local essentials to keep the vibe alive.

About The Setting

Our home is the historic Girl in the Curl shop on Pacific Coast Highway and the legendary Doheny State Beach. Doheny is world-renowned for its long, welcoming “peelers,” making it the world’s best laboratory for mastering style and turns. Parking is easy at our shop (34116 E Pacific Coast Hwy) or within the State Park. Your host will coordinate the perfect “break” location based on the morning’s tide.

Regions

• California
• Dana Point

Location

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