Before ocean surfing, thrill seekers were forced to sneak onto the stage at rock concerts before leaping board-first onto waves of angry humans. Learn to ride waves that can’t punch you in the head in retaliation with today's Groupon: for $50, you get a three-hour group surfing lesson from Ocean Experience Surf School (a $105 value).

Ocean Experience is San Diego’s oldest surf school, introducing countless water cowboys to the ebb and flow of nature since 1990. All equipment, including a wetsuit and board, is included, as is transportation for the short jaunt from the surf shop to either Ocean Beach or South Mission Beach, depending on which spot has the best conditions. The first 45 minutes of the three-hour lesson are spent on the sand, learning balance, technique, etiquette, and water safety. Once prospective wave whippers have mastered paddling and the pop-up technique in a controlled environment, the group heads out to sea. Spend the remaining two hours in calm water doing some paddling and a few rounds of octopus boxing before peaking atop watery walls in true surfer fashion.

Classes start at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily during the summer, and with sessions capped at five people, each nature tamer will receive the personal attention necessary to stay afloat. After the three-hour lesson, graduates will posses the knowledge necessary to survive an oceanic asteroid impact with little more than a slab of vinyl siding. Schedule your appointment with the tide at least 48 hours in advance.

Reviews

Eleven Yelpers give the Ocean Beach Surf & Skate Shop (from which Ocean Experience Surf School is based) a 3.5-star average, and over 810 Facebookers like it:

• I like the people that work here-they are very cool. – gail p., Yelp, 2/27/2010