Getting out to surf

Nina Jardim, left, Judith Tejeda and Alex Oropesa get a beginning surfing lesson from Mike Newton, a surfing teacher at GoSurfLA.com at Venice Beach.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 18, 2015 10:15 AM PT

Rainar Vahtrik, left, from Estonia, takes a beginning surfing lesson with others from Peter Paris.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Katharina Petsch, left, heads out to the ocean with others taking a beginning surfing class at Venice Beach.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Nikki Moran, a beginning surfer from England, gets guidance from Peter Paris, a teacher for GoSurfLA.com, at Venice Beach.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Beginning surfer Gerrit Stich, 31, left, from Palo Alto, catches a wave, while receiving encouragement from Flavian Prince Pilgrim, a surfing teacher for GoSurfLA.com.

(Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)