Ulap Surf

Cloud 9 is Siargao’s famous surf spot, but this lesson is built for first-timers, not just seasoned wave riders. Ulap Surf pairs you with a private instructor, a stable 9-foot soft-top board, and a photographer who captures your attempts in the water.

I like the one-group format, which lets the coach focus on your stance, paddling, and timing instead of giving a generic beach lesson. I also like the video review afterward. Seeing your own pop-up can reveal small problems that are hard to feel while you are trying not to fall.

The main drawback is the $190 price, especially for a solo booker, and private transportation is not included. You meet at Cloud 9 and should be ready for a physically active session in the ocean.

Key points to know before booking

• Private coaching: Only your group takes part, so the instructor can give direct feedback on every wave.
• A stable 9-foot board: The soft-top longboard gives beginners a forgiving platform for learning balance and standing.
• About 90 minutes in the water: The lesson includes a short safety briefing and beach warm-up before the main surf session.
• Ana Mae Alipayo and the Ulap team: Ana Mae is praised for detailed instruction, while Ana Mae and Loloy are known for teaching proper fundamentals and surf etiquette.
• Photos, video, and feedback: A personal photographer records your session, then the coach uses the footage to explain what worked and what to change.
• Cloud 9 meeting point: You arrange your own way to the Cloud 9 Surfing Area in General Luna, with no private transport supplied.

Learning to surf at Cloud 9

Ulap Surf keeps the lesson focused on the parts that matter most when you are new to surfing: safety, board position, paddling, standing, and reading a wave. That may sound basic, but good fundamentals save you from developing habits that become hard to fix later.

Cloud 9 gives the session a memorable setting. Siargao has become one of the Philippines’ best-known surf destinations, and this activity places you at its main surfing area. The name may suggest a serious break reserved for experts, but this lesson is designed for beginners using a soft-top longboard.

That distinction matters. You are not being handed a short performance board and sent into the water to figure things out alone. The 9-foot board is wide and steady, giving you a better chance of finding your balance while you learn how your feet should sit on the deck.

The private format is another strong point. You and your companions receive instruction for your own group rather than sharing the coach with a larger class. If you are nervous, the instructor can slow the pace. If you catch on quickly, the lesson can move ahead instead of waiting for a whole class.

The 10-minute safety and ocean briefing

The session begins at the Cloud 9 Surfing Area. You meet the Ulap team, sign the waiver, hear what is included, and settle any payment before instruction starts.

The briefing takes about 10 minutes. You learn how the surf area works, how the ocean moves, and what to do to stay safe. For a beginner, this is not filler. It gives you a basic picture of currents, wave movement, and how to behave around other people in the water.

Ulap’s approach also includes surf etiquette. That is important at a popular break, where knowing when to paddle, where to position yourself, and how to avoid getting in someone else’s way is part of becoming an independent surfer.

Ana Mae Alipayo is the most frequently named instructor associated with Ulap Surf. Her teaching is described as detailed and practical, covering paddling, the technical pop-up, speed, maneuvering, and safety. Ana Mae and Loloy are also praised for guiding beginners step by step rather than simply pushing them toward a wave.

The exact instructor for your booking should be confirmed with Ulap Surf. The supplied details identify the Ulap team and mention Ana Mae and Loloy, but they do not promise that one particular coach will lead every session.

Beach practice before you paddle out

Before entering the water, you warm up on the beach. This is where you practice the pop-up, place your feet correctly, and work on balance.

The pop-up is the key movement in beginner surfing. You start lying on the board, push up in one quick motion, and bring your feet underneath you. The coach helps you understand where your hands and feet should go, rather than letting you rely on guesswork.

This practice is useful because the ocean is a poor classroom for learning your first movement. On the sand, you can repeat the motion without a wave moving the board under you. You can also ask questions and get corrections before fatigue and nerves enter the picture.

The board position receives special attention, too. One piece of feedback associated with Ulap is proper placement on the board. That small detail affects balance, paddling, and whether the nose lifts or dips at the wrong time.

You should expect a moderate physical workout. You will paddle, push up, balance, and repeatedly get back on the board. The operator advises a moderate level of fitness, so this is not a passive sightseeing activity. It is also not presented as an advanced athletic session. The instruction is aimed at beginners who can manage ordinary physical activity in the water.

Ninety minutes of coached surfing

The main water session lasts about 90 minutes. Your instructor stays close and coaches you through the waves, explaining not only what to do but why a particular attempt worked or failed.

That close attention is the main reason to consider this experience instead of a cheaper group lesson. A coach can watch the details that beginners often miss: where you look during the pop-up, how you distribute your weight, and whether you are standing too early or too late.

You should not judge the lesson only by the number of waves you stand on. The useful result is a clearer sense of timing and board control. Some people may ride several waves. Others may spend more time learning to paddle, position the board, or stand consistently. Ocean conditions affect that outcome, and the activity itself requires good weather.

The private setting helps here. If you need another explanation, you can ask immediately. If your group includes people with different levels of confidence, the coach can give each person more direct attention than a large class normally allows.

The session also teaches independence. Feedback connected with Ulap places special value on helping beginners become capable surfers rather than giving them one lucky ride for a photo. Proper stance, surf etiquette, and wave awareness are treated as part of the lesson.

There is still a practical limit. This is roughly a two-hour experience, not a multi-day surf course. You can learn the basics and make visible progress, but you should not expect to master surfing in one morning. If you want to improve speed, turns, or wave selection, you will need more practice and possibly more lessons.

Photos, video, and the post-surf review

A personal photographer records photos and video during the session. That adds real value for a beginner because it gives you more than a memory of standing on a board. You can see your position, timing, and balance from the outside.

The footage is reviewed after surfing. The coach points out what worked and what needs to change. This turns the images into part of the lesson rather than an unrelated souvenir.

Video feedback is especially helpful for small technical problems. You may feel that you are standing upright, only to see that your feet are too close together. You may think you are paddling into a wave at the right time, then notice that you are still too far back on the board.

This is one of Ulap’s strongest features for anyone who wants to continue surfing after Siargao. The lesson gives you a visual record of your first attempts and a short list of things to work on next.

You should keep expectations sensible. The supplied information does not specify how many edited images or video clips you receive, nor how they are delivered. Confirm those details with Ulap Surf if the media package is important to your booking.

What the $190 price really buys

At $190, this is priced as a private coaching experience, not a basic board rental or large beginner class. The value depends heavily on the size of your group.

For one person, the price is a serious splurge. You are paying for a private instructor, a soft-top board, a safety lesson, beach practice, around 90 minutes of coaching, a photographer, a video review, and the supplied beginner materials. That is a substantial package, but it will not suit every budget.

For a small group sharing the private booking, the cost may feel more reasonable. You receive personal attention without paying separately for each wave, and the photo and video coverage adds something that many ordinary lessons do not include.

The included items are:

• Soft-top surfboard rental
• Surf guide
• Beginner course certificate
• Beginner safety guide provided through Google Slides
• Photos and video

Private transportation is not included. You need to reach the Cloud 9 Surfing Area at the meeting point in General Luna. The activity ends back at that same meeting point.

The operator lists the experience from 6:00 AM to 3:30 PM on Mondays during the stated operating period, which runs through January 14, 2027. Since surf conditions and booking availability can affect the schedule, confirm your exact start time after booking.

Who will get the most from this lesson

This is a good choice if you are trying surfing for the first time and want more than a quick push into a wave. The private format gives you room to ask questions, repeat movements, and receive specific corrections.

It also suits a parent booking for a child or teenager, provided the participant can handle the physical demands of the activity. One piece of feedback describes a daughter having a particularly memorable time, and the private coaching can be useful for a young beginner who needs extra reassurance.

You will also get value from this lesson if you have tried surfing before but still struggle with the basics. The instruction covers more than standing up. It includes paddling, stance, speed, maneuvering, safety, and etiquette.

The experience may be less suitable if you are mainly looking for a low-cost introduction or a relaxed beach activity. The session asks you to work, and the $190 price is difficult to justify if you do not care about private coaching or recorded footage.

It is also not the best fit for someone seeking advanced Cloud 9 surfing. The board and teaching plan are aimed at beginners, and the stated course focuses on fundamentals rather than high-level performance.

Practical details for a smooth morning

Wear what you normally use for an active water session and arrive ready to move. The operator provides the surfboard, guide, safety material, certificate, photos, and video, but private transport is up to you.

You receive booking confirmation within 48 hours, subject to availability. Since the activity depends on good weather, poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted, and all cut-off times use local time in Siargao.

The meeting point is the Cloud 9 Surfing Area, listed at R578+F36 Siargao Island, General Luna, Surigao del Norte. It is near public transportation, but the product does not include private pickup.

Should you book Ulap Surf?

Book it if you want a proper private introduction to surfing rather than a simple board rental. The combination of a stable longboard, close instruction, safety training, and footage review gives you a clear path from nervous beginner to someone who understands the basics.

I especially like the focus on fundamentals and the use of video after the session. Ana Mae Alipayo and the Ulap team are associated with detailed coaching that covers stance, paddling, pop-up technique, etiquette, and safety. That is the sort of foundation that can help you keep improving after your time at Cloud 9.

Think twice if $190 is beyond your budget, if you are booking alone and want the cheapest lesson available, or if you expect advanced surfing. For a small group that values personal coaching and wants photos and video to take home, Ulap Surf offers a focused and useful way to meet Siargao’s waves.

FAQ

How long does the Ulap Surf lesson last?

The activity lasts approximately two hours. This includes a 10-minute ocean and safety briefing, beach practice, about 90 minutes in the water, and a post-surf review of your footage.

Is the surfing lesson private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group takes part.

Is the lesson suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. The experience is designed as a beginner course and includes instruction on safety, paddling, the pop-up, foot placement, and balance. A stable 9-foot soft-top board is provided.

Where does the activity start and finish?

You meet at the Cloud 9 Surfing Area in General Luna, Siargao. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Are transportation and equipment included?

Soft-top surfboard rental is included. Private transportation is not included, so you must arrange your own way to the meeting point.

Will I receive photos and video?

Yes. A personal photographer takes photos and video during the lesson, and the footage is reviewed with you afterward. The supplied details do not specify the exact number of files or delivery method.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Because the activity requires good weather, Ulap Surf may cancel it in poor conditions. You will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.