Surf Lessons & Gear Free of Charge for All
High 5 Surf is a community-supported surf business offering year-round surf lessons, coaching, guided surf experiences, and gear rentals on Lake Michigan in Milwaukee and Chicago. Our sessions are now available free of charge for all through our community-supported model — no experience or equipment needed. Our services also extend to many cities across the Great Lakes region.
If you'd like to support what we're doing, contributions are welcome but never expected 🤙
How it works
High 5 Surf: Your Surf Experience
We minimize the complexity of learning to surf
Your Surf Journey Starts Online
Before hitting the waves, you'll receive a 2.75-hour e-lesson covering surf safety, winter surf safety, forecasting, etiquette, wetsuit changing hacks, positioning, paddling, pop-ups, stance, shuffling, cross stepping, dismounting, wipeouts, wave selection, board management, wave negotiation/navigation, and more.
Premium Gear & Comfort
On the day of your session, we provide all the equipment — hooded wetsuits, boots, mittens, board, leash, helmet, and life jacket (if you'd like them) — plus individual heated changing tents for comfort.
Note: Each session lasts 2 hours, including changing time.
Surf Lesson Models
Two Ways to Learn
At High 5 Surf, everyone receives our 2.75-hour e-lesson before hitting the water. This ensures you understand surf safety, positioning, wave selection, paddling, pop-ups, and more — so you arrive prepared and confident. From there, you can choose one of two lesson models:
Video Coaching Surf Model
This is our modern, video-supported surf experience.
You'll put your new skills into action independently in the water — no instructor will be in the water with you. Your Surf Guide stays on shore in regular clothes, filming your rides, wipeouts, takeoffs, paddle-ins, and wave selection, while providing the heated changing tent and equipment.
After your session, you'll receive personalized video coaching based on your footage, plus all your video clips to keep and share.
Ideal for people who like learning visually and want to see their surfing to improve faster.
In-Water Surf Guide Model
Prefer having someone in the water with you? This model includes a Surf Guide in the lake during your session.
Your in-water Surf Guide helps you get your board through the waves and pushes you into some waves. They provide hands-on assistance while you practice what you learned in the e-lesson.
This model comes with zero video clips and does not include post-session video coaching.
Both lesson models are available free of charge through our community-supported model. You can choose whichever experience feels right for you — both are fully supported ways to learn.
Surf Lesson Pricing
Free of Charge for All
All surf lessons and gear are available free of charge through our community-supported model. If you'd like to contribute, you can choose a pay-what-you-want amount — but it's always optional and never expected.
For reference, here's what lessons used to cost:
One-on-One
Group of 2
per person
Group of 3
per person
Group of 4
per person
All sessions include:
- 2.75-hour e-lesson before hitting the water
- All surf gear — hooded wetsuit, boots, mittens, board, and leash (helmet and life jacket if desired)
Contributions help us continue offering surfing free of charge for everyone in the community.
Transportation
Free of Charge
We provide transportation help if wanted or needed. Travel is now available free of charge through our community-supported model. If you'd like to contribute to help cover travel costs, you're welcome to choose a pay-what-you-want amount — but it is always optional and never expected.
For reference, here's how travel used to be calculated:
Meet us at the beach in the Milwaukee area
No trip fee→ Free or pay-what-you-want
Meet us at the beach in the Chicago area
$100 flat trip fee→ Free or pay-what-you-want
Meet us at the beach anywhere else outside Milwaukee and Chicago
85% of the IRS mileage reimbursement rate (based on round-trip distance from Milwaukee)→ Free or pay-what-you-want
Door-to-door transportation service (any location)
85% of IRS mileage reimbursement rate round trip from Milwaukee→ Free or pay-what-you-want
Contributions help us continue providing surf experiences across the Great Lakes region.
Gear Rentals
Free of Charge for All
All surf gear rentals are now available free of charge through our community-supported model. If you'd like to contribute, you can choose a pay-what-you-want amount — but it's always optional and never expected.
For reference, here's how rentals used to be priced:
Wetsuit Rental
Hooded wetsuit, boots & mittens included
Surfboard Rental
Soft top or hard top board, leash included
Full Gear Package
Everything you need — wetsuit, boots, mittens, board & leash
All rentals include high-quality cold-water gear designed for Great Lakes conditions:
- Hooded wetsuits (5/4mm or 6/5/4mm) — Youth through 3XL
- Neoprene boots (sizes 6–16) & mittens (XS to 2XL)
- Premium soft top surfboards (10' and 8') or 5'11" hard top board
- Leashes included with all boards
Contributions help us continue providing gear access to everyone in the community.
Shop
Check out our merch
In the news
High 5 Surf in the media
"Show Me Milwaukee" Spotlight
High 5 Surf at Bradford Beach
