Surf instructor sues to break California’s beach teaching ban

San Diego, California; August 27, 2025: A surf instructor filed a federal lawsuit today challenging a California law that gatekeeps teaching privileges on public beaches. Helina Beck argues the state cannot force entrepreneurs to surrender their First Amendment rights as a condition for using state beaches.

“The government cannot grant exclusive privileges to favored surf instructors while prohibiting others from teaching on public beaches,” said Caleb Trotter, an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, which represents Beck. “California must provide clear criteria and fair processes for individuals and businesses who seek to teach on public beaches.”

Beck founded Wavehuggers LLC in 2013. Now it’s a thriving business that employs 12 instructors year-round and has taught more than 6,000 individuals how to surf. Her surf lessons involve educational and therapeutic instruction, not merely commercial services.

But California’s Department of Parks and Recreation threatens to shut down Wavehuggers’ ability to teach on public beaches. Despite the San Diego County beaches being large and perfect for instruction, the state has granted contracts to only two surf schools in the past 17 years. Today, just one school holds a contract.

Since 2021, Beck has repeatedly sought a permit. She has been denied each time, without explanation. The regulations provide no criteria for obtaining contracts, no guidelines on how to evaluate applicants, no appeals process, and no timeline for decisions.

Beck argues the state’s actions violate the First Amendment by restricting her ability to communicate through instruction and demonstration. The regulations also violate equal protection by creating arbitrary distinctions that allow instructors to teach large groups for free but require state contracts to teach for payment.

The case is Wavehuggers LLC and Helina Beck v. Armando Quintero.