Most wave pools take children, but the minimum age varies more than you might expect: from 4 with a parent at The Wave near Bristol to 12 at The Surf Lounge at PopStroke in Texas. Many standing waves also set a minimum weight, because a light child cannot hold a board against the current. These are the rules and kids' prices each park publishes.
From age 4 or 5, with a parent in the water
- The Wave, Bristol: Little Rippers lessons for ages 4 to 12 with an adult, from £44. Regular beginner lessons take any beginner aged 6 and over.
- YourWave, New Zealand: Young Beginners sessions for ages 5 to 10, with an adult in the water; children under 10 always need an adult with them.
From age 6 or 7
- irie surf, Freiburg: kids' courses recommended from age 6, with a minimum weight of 30 kg, from €54.
- Wellenwerk, Berlin: the beginner session takes anyone from age 6 and 30 kg; Kids Surf & Splash sessions are €49.90.
- citywave Tokyo, Japan: a kids' course for swimmers from age 6, at ¥7,546.
- SRF Park TLV, Tel Aviv: beginner group lessons for children aged 7 to 16 are ₪195.
From age 8
This is the most common minimum:
- Alaïa Bay, Switzerland: kids' sessions for ages 8 to 12 from CHF 129.
- Honna Surf Hub, Madrid: kids' sessions for ages 8 to 15, with two instructors.
- L&T Hasewelle, Osnabrück: €39 for children aged 8 to 14; the adult price applies from 15.
- RIF010, Rotterdam: children must be at least 8 and hold a swimming certificate; kids' lessons from €50.
- Wakeparadise, Milan: children can join from 8, in the Beginner session with an instructor in the water.
- TRIFECTA, Singapore: riders must be at least 8, 120 cm tall and 30 kg, and children under 15 need a parent or guardian at the safety briefing.
- Citywave Vienna, Austria: beginner sessions take adults and children from 8, with wetsuits free for kids.
- Citywave Hadera, Israel: sessions for ages 8 and up.
From age 10 to 12
- The LineUp at Wai Kai, Hawaii: surf sessions are for ages 10 and up.
- Jochen Schweizer Arena, Munich: kids' and family sessions from age 10, from €49.90 for 30 minutes.
- The Surf Lounge at PopStroke, Texas: lessons require surfers to be 12 or older and at least 75 lb.
Other kids' programmes
- Urbansurf, Zürich: kids up to 16 have their own sessions at CHF 49 if they weigh at least 35 kg.
- RheinRiff, Düsseldorf: kids' Level 1 sessions from €34.99 and a Wave Kids camp at €399.
- Surf Abu Dhabi: the Kids Go Surfing programme is AED 4,000 for eight weeks.
- Lost Shore, Edinburgh: lessons for under-12s pause from 1 December to 28 February.
Good to Know
Swimming matters: RIF010 asks for a swimming certificate and citywave Tokyo's kids' course is for swimmers, and standing waves such as Citywave Vienna make helmets compulsory for children. Age rules change, and several parks set height or weight limits on top of age, so check the booking page before promising a child a session. Our beginner's guide covers what to expect on a first visit, and the level guide explains which session to book.
