Help Centre

Everything you need to know

Complete guide for surfers, schools and instructors. Can't find your answer? We reply within 24 hours.

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Email

Send us an email and we'll reply within 24 hours.

support@surfbooking.eu
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In-App Support

Open a ticket in the app under Profile → Help & Support. We reply inside the app with real-time chat.

Response Time

We typically reply within 2–4 hours during business hours (Mon–Sat, 9h–19h Portugal time).

What is SurfBooking? +

SurfBooking is the first platform dedicated to booking surf lessons. Browse beaches and certified schools across Portugal (and soon all of Europe), check real-time ocean conditions, book in seconds, and show up ready to surf — with equipment pre-allocated for you.

The app is 100% free for surfers. You only pay for the lesson itself.

How do I create an account? +

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play. Register with your email, name and phone number. We'll send you a verification code to confirm your account.

For the best experience, also add your height, weight and surf level in your profile — this allows schools to pre-allocate the right wetsuit and board for you automatically.

How do I find surf lessons near me? +

The app has three ways to discover lessons:

  • Discover tab — Browse by zone (Porto, Ericeira, Algarve…), then pick a beach and see all available schools and time slots
  • Map view — See all beaches on a map, sorted by distance from your location. Tap a marker to see schools and lessons
  • Search — Search by beach name, school name or zone directly

Each beach shows real-time ocean conditions (wave height, water temperature, wind, tide) so you can pick the best day.

What are surf levels and which one am I? +

Lessons are grouped by level so you're always with people at a similar stage:

  • Beginner — First time or very few sessions. You'll learn ocean safety, how to paddle and stand up on the board
  • Intermediate — You can stand up consistently. Working on turning, reading waves and positioning
  • Advanced — You ride waves comfortably. Refining technique, learning manoeuvres or surfing bigger waves

If you're unsure, choose Beginner — the instructor will assess you on the beach and adjust accordingly.

Do I need to bring equipment? +

No. When you register your height and weight, SurfBooking automatically calculates the right wetsuit size and board type for your level. The school sees a prep list with exactly what to prepare for each student.

Just show up at the beach — your equipment will be ready. If a lesson includes gear, it's shown on the booking screen.

Can I save favourite beaches and follow schools? +

Yes. Tap the heart icon on any beach to save it as a favourite. You can also follow schools to stay updated with their latest lessons and schedules.

All your favourites and followed schools appear in your profile for quick access.

How do I book a lesson? +

Find a lesson you like, tap it, and choose a time slot. Pay securely with card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or MB Way. You'll receive a confirmation email instantly with all details.

Your booking appears immediately in "My Lessons" with your QR check-in code.

Can I book for a group or bring friends? +

Yes. When booking, increase the number of participants. Add the name of each person in your group. Everyone gets a spot in the same time slot and you pay in a single checkout.

Group bookings work for both individual lessons and lesson packs.

What are Lesson Packs (bundles)? +

Lesson Packs are bundles of multiple lessons sold at a discounted price. For example, a school might offer a "5-Lesson Pack" with a 15% discount.

When you buy a pack, you choose which dates and times you want for each lesson. After purchase, you can use your remaining lessons to book any available slot at that school.

How do I cancel a booking? +

Go to "My Lessons", select the lesson and tap "Cancel Booking". Refunds are automatic based on how much notice you give:

  • 96+ hours (4+ days) before — 100% refund
  • 48–96 hours before — 75% refund
  • 24–48 hours before — 50% refund
  • Less than 24 hours — No refund (schools need to prepare)

Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 5–10 business days.

What if the school cancels my lesson? +

If a school cancels (bad weather, instructor unavailable, etc.), you receive a 100% automatic refund and a notification. The school may also offer to reschedule — you can accept the new date or decline for a full refund.

How does check-in work? +

On the day of your lesson:

  • Open the app and go to "My Lessons"
  • Show your QR code to the instructor, who scans it in 2 seconds
  • If the camera isn't available, use the 6-digit backup code

After check-in, the school confirms your attendance and your equipment allocation is finalised.

What is an Express Lesson? +

Express Lessons are instant surf experiences — no app or pre-registration required. The school creates a QR code or link that anyone can use:

  • Scan the QR at the beach (or tap the link on social media)
  • Fill in your name, email and phone
  • Pay securely with card
  • You're booked and checked in — ready to surf

Perfect for walk-up students, tourists, or anyone who decides to surf on the spot.

Can I join a waiting list for a full lesson? +

Yes. If a lesson is fully booked, tap "Join Waiting List". If a spot opens up (someone cancels), you'll be notified automatically by email and push notification.

Can I book lessons for minors? +

Yes. When a school requires a digital waiver, the signing screen includes a "Student is under 18" toggle. If activated, you must provide the legal guardian's name and signature — both are mandatory.

The guardian's signature is captured digitally in the app alongside the student's. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the beach during the lesson.

What ocean data does the app show? +

Each beach page shows real-time and forecast data:

  • Wave height — Current swell in metres with a 7-day forecast chart
  • Water temperature — Updated daily
  • Wind speed & direction — Real-time with forecast
  • Tide times — Low and high tide with state indicator
  • UV index — Sun protection recommendations
  • Air temperature — Current and forecast

Data is sourced from marine weather services and updated continuously.

What are Surf Alerts? +

You can set up alerts for any beach to be notified when wave conditions match your preferences. Tap the bell icon on a beach page to configure:

  • Minimum wave height — Get notified when waves reach your preferred size

Alerts are sent as push notifications so you never miss good conditions at your favourite spots.

Does the app show webcams? +

Some beaches have live webcam feeds available. When a webcam is available, you'll see a camera icon on the beach page. Tap it to watch the live stream and check conditions before heading out.

How do I register my school? +

Download the app, create an account and select "I'm a surf school" during registration. Fill in your school details:

  • School name, description, logo
  • Contact info and location
  • Federation licence number
  • Insurance policy (if applicable)

Our team manually reviews every application and approves within 24–48 hours. You'll receive an email when your school is live.

How much does the platform cost for schools? +

No monthly fees. No setup costs. No hidden charges.

We charge a small commission only per confirmed booking. You only pay when you get paid. It's zero-risk — if you have no bookings, you pay nothing.

How do I create and manage lessons? +

In the School Dashboard, tap "Create Lesson". Use the step-by-step wizard to set:

  • Date, time and duration
  • Lesson type (group or private)
  • Surf level (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
  • Number of spots available
  • Price
  • Assigned instructor
  • Beach location

You can also create lessons in bulk — set a repeating schedule and create multiple slots at once.

How do Lesson Packs (bundles) work for schools? +

Create Lesson Packs with a discount to encourage multi-lesson bookings. In the School Dashboard, go to "Bundles" and set:

  • Pack name and description
  • Number of lessons included (2–50)
  • Total price (with built-in discount percentage)
  • Surf level and lesson type
  • Optional progress levels with custom icons

When a student purchases a pack, they select dates upfront. They can also use remaining lessons to book new slots later.

How do I manage my team of instructors? +

Go to School Dashboard → Team:

  • Invite instructors — Generate a secure invite code and share it with your instructor. They create an account and enter the code to join
  • Set permissions — Control what each instructor can do (create lessons, view bookings, check-in students)
  • Assign to lessons — Assign specific instructors to each lesson slot
  • Quick reassignment — If an instructor can't make it, reassign the lesson to another team member in one tap
How do I create an Express Lesson (walk-up QR)? +

Tap the Express ⚡ button in your School Dashboard. Set the time slot, capacity, and price. A unique QR code and link are generated.

Share the QR on the beach, on social media, or print it. Students scan it, fill in their details, pay, and they're booked — no app download needed. Perfect for walk-up students and spontaneous bookings.

How does automatic equipment allocation work? +

When students register their height and weight, the system automatically calculates the right wetsuit size and board type. Before each lesson, you see a preparation list showing:

  • Each student's name
  • Wetsuit size (XS to XXL)
  • Board recommendation based on level
  • Any additional equipment (boots, leash)

You can manage your equipment stock in Dashboard → Equipment and the system only allocates from what you actually have available.

What analytics does my school dashboard show? +

Your dashboard includes comprehensive analytics:

  • Revenue — Total earnings, revenue by month, average per lesson
  • Bookings — Total bookings, occupancy rate, cancellation rate
  • Reviews — Average rating, recent reviews, instructor ratings
  • Students — Number of unique students, repeat customers
  • Lessons — Total lessons given, upcoming schedule overview
Can I offer lessons at multiple beaches? +

Yes. Associate your school with multiple beaches and create lessons at any of them. Each lesson slot has its own beach location, so students always know exactly where to show up.

How do I get the SurfBooking Partner badge? +

Request the badge in your School Dashboard → Profile. Our team reviews your school based on:

  • Valid federation licence
  • Insurance documentation
  • Profile completeness
  • Student reviews and rating

Partner schools get a verified badge displayed on their profile, higher visibility in search results, and additional trust signals for students.

How do I join a school as an instructor? +

Ask your school owner for an invite code. Create an account in the app and enter the code to join the school's team. Your school owner sets your permissions.

What can I see as an instructor? +

Depending on your permissions, you can:

  • View today's lessons — See your assigned slots, student list and equipment prep
  • Check in students — Scan QR codes or enter 6-digit codes
  • See ocean conditions — Real-time marine forecast for your beach
  • Receive reassignment notifications — Get notified when a lesson is assigned to you
How do I check in a student? +

Open your lesson, tap "Scan QR" and point your camera at the student's QR code. Check-in takes about 2 seconds. If the camera isn't available, the student can show you their 6-digit code and you enter it manually.

What payment methods are accepted? +

We accept:

  • Credit & Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • MB Way (Portugal)

All payments are processed securely by Stripe — the same payment provider used by companies like Amazon, Google and Shopify. SurfBooking never stores your card details.

When and how do schools receive payments? +

Payments are processed automatically via Stripe Connect and transferred directly to your registered bank account. No manual steps, no invoicing, no chasing payments.

To set up payouts, connect your Stripe account in School Dashboard → Payments. You'll complete a simple verification process once, and after that everything is automatic.

My payment failed. What should I do? +

Check that your card has sufficient funds and the details are correct. Try an alternative payment method (MB Way, Apple Pay). If the problem persists, contact us — we'll help resolve it.

How do refunds work? +

Refunds are automatic and depend on the cancellation timing (see "How do I cancel a booking?" above). Refunded amounts appear in your bank account within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank.

If a school cancels your lesson, you always receive a 100% refund.

I didn't receive my confirmation email +

Check your spam/junk folder first. If it's not there, open the app — the booking appears in "My Lessons" if the payment was processed. If you still can't find it, contact us with the booking details.

How do I edit my profile? +

Go to Profile → Edit Profile. You can update your name, email, phone, avatar, height, weight, surf level, boot size and tax ID (NIF). Keeping your height and weight updated ensures accurate equipment allocation.

How do I change the app language? +

The app supports Portuguese and English. Go to Profile → Language to switch. The entire interface, notifications and emails will be in your chosen language.

How do I delete my account? +

Go to Profile → Settings → Delete Account. All your personal data is permanently erased within 30 days. Active bookings with payment are cancelled with a full refund.

If you're a school owner, your school listing, lessons and team are also removed.

Is my data safe? +

Yes. We take security seriously:

  • HTTPS encryption on all connections
  • bcrypt password hashing — even we can't read your password
  • Stripe payment processing — card details never touch our servers
  • Single-session enforcement — only one active session per account
  • GDPR compliant — your data rights are fully respected

See our Privacy Policy for full details.

How do I report a problem or give feedback? +

In the app, go to Profile → Help & Support to open a ticket. You can also send suggestions through Profile → Feedback. We read every single message and use feedback to improve the app.