Ulap Surf

Cloud 9 is one of Siargao’s best-known surf spots, and Ulap Surf gives beginners a private coach, a stable 9-foot soft-top board, and a personal photographer. The useful twist is the video review afterward. You do not just ride a few waves and leave guessing what went wrong.

I like the private format because your instructor can focus on your group instead of splitting attention among strangers. I also like the practical start: a short ocean-safety briefing, beach practice, then about 90 minutes in the water. The main consideration is price: at $190, this makes sense for a group that values personal coaching and photos, but it is a serious spend for a two-hour lesson.

Key points to know before you book

• Private instruction at Cloud 9: Your group gets its own surf guide and coaching throughout the water session.
• A forgiving 9-foot board: The soft-top longboard is made for stability, balance, and first attempts.
• Ana Mae Alipayo and Loloy: These professional surfers are associated with the coaching team, with Ana Mae especially praised for detailed technique and safety instruction.
• Photos and video included: A personal photographer records your session, giving you something to study and share.
• A proper beginner structure: You cover safety, ocean movement, foot placement, paddling, and the pop-up before heading out.
• No private transport: You meet at the Cloud 9 surfing area and arrange your own way there.

Starting at Cloud 9 with a private coach

Ulap Surf begins at the Cloud 9 surfing area in General Luna, at map reference R578+F36. The activity ends at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup location.

The opening routine is simple. You meet the team, sign a waiver, hear what is included, and settle payment before the lesson begins. Then your instructor takes you through the surf area and explains how the ocean moves. The briefing lasts about 10 minutes, which is short enough to keep your attention but long enough to cover the essentials.

That matters at Cloud 9. A first lesson is not only about standing on a board. You need to understand where to position yourself, how to watch a wave, and how to stay safe around the break. The instruction is aimed at beginners, but it does not treat you like someone who should simply be pushed into the water and left to figure things out.

The private setup helps here. Your instructor can adjust the explanation to your pace and correct your position as you go. If one person in your group is more confident than another, the coach can respond to both without turning the lesson into a one-size-fits-all class.

Beach practice before the first wave

Before paddling out, you warm up on the beach. This is where you learn the pop-up, foot placement, and balance on the board. It may look basic, but it is the part that saves time in the water.

A beginner often loses a wave before standing because the hands, knees, and feet move in the wrong order. Practicing first lets you repeat the motion without a wave rushing underneath you. You also get a chance to understand where your feet should land on the 9-foot board.

The soft-top longboard is a good choice for this stage. It is large and stable, and the soft surface is better suited to first attempts than a small, hard performance board. You should still expect a physical lesson. The activity calls for a moderate fitness level, and paddling, balancing, and getting back on the board take effort.

The safety guide is also included in digital form through Google Slides. That gives you a written resource alongside the live briefing. It is a useful touch for anyone who wants to remember the basic rules after the lesson.

Ninety minutes in the water at Cloud 9

The main session lasts about 90 minutes. Your instructor stays with you, coaching each wave and explaining why a particular attempt worked or failed. That real-time feedback is the main reason to choose a private lesson over a casual board rental.

You will work on the core actions: paddling, timing, popping up, placing your feet, and staying balanced. The coaching also covers surf safety and basic etiquette. One useful detail from the instruction is the focus on proper board placement and stance. Those habits help you become more independent instead of relying on someone to push the board into every wave.

The name Ana Mae Alipayo comes up often in connection with the school. She is a professional surfer and instructor, and the coaching approach associated with her includes technical pop-ups, maneuver, speed, paddling, and safety. Loloy is also part of the coaching team. Your exact instructor depends on availability, so you should not assume that Ana Mae herself will teach every booking.

The water session is still weather-dependent. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. That policy is sensible for a surf lesson, since conditions affect both safety and the quality of the session.

The photographer changes the value of the lesson

A personal photographer records photos and video while you surf. This is more useful than a simple souvenir. Surfing is hard to judge from inside your own body, especially when you are trying to remember where your feet landed or why you fell.

The footage gives you something concrete to review. You can see your stance, your timing, and the point where a wave carried you or passed beneath you. For a first lesson, even a short clip can show whether your pop-up is too slow or your feet are landing too far forward or back.

It also makes the lesson easier to share with friends and family. The photos and video are included, so you are not paying a separate photographer during the session.

There is a practical limit here. The activity is listed at about two hours, and the water portion takes about 90 minutes. You should not expect a full-day coaching program or hours of detailed film study. The value comes from having useful clips and a short review, not from receiving a professional surf film.

Reviewing the footage and planning your next step

After surfing, you look over the footage with the coaching team. This is where the lesson becomes more than a first taste of surfing. Your instructor points out what worked, what needs to change, and what you should practice next.

That feedback can be especially helpful if you plan to rent a board later in Siargao. You leave with a clearer idea of your stance and a better sense of what to watch for in a wave. The included beginners course certificate also gives you a record that you completed the introductory course.

The teaching style aims to build independence. The goal is not simply to help you stand once for a photo. You learn the fundamentals that can help you read waves, position yourself, and improve with practice. The footage review supports that aim because you can connect the verbal advice to what your body actually did.

For a complete beginner, this is likely the strongest part of the program. A quick lesson can feel confusing when every mistake happens in a blur. Seeing the attempt afterward slows things down.

What the $190 price really includes

At $190, Ulap Surf is not the budget choice for a beginner lesson. The cost covers a private activity for your group, the soft-top board, a surf guide, the safety material, the certificate, and photos and video.

The value depends heavily on group size. If two or more people share the private booking, the price is easier to justify because you are dividing the cost while keeping the private format. If you are alone, you are paying a premium for individual attention and personal media.

I would compare this with the cost of a standard group class before booking. The advantage here is not simply time in the water. It is focused instruction, a sturdy beginner board, a photographer, and a feedback session. If you care about learning the basics correctly and want images from the day, those extras may make the price fair.

If your only goal is to try standing on a board once, the cost may feel high. A simple rental or group lesson could be enough, though this experience offers more guidance and structure.

Timing, transport, and physical demands

The meeting point is at Cloud 9, and private transportation is not included. You need to arrange your own transport to the surf area and return from the same place after the lesson. The meeting point is near public transportation, which makes the location reasonably practical, but the activity does not provide a private vehicle.

The listed operating schedule shows Monday availability from 6:00 AM to 3:30 PM for the stated operating period. Confirm your selected time before you count on a particular morning or afternoon slot, since bookings are subject to availability and confirmation can take up to 48 hours.

Bring enough energy for repeated paddling and getting back on the board. The operator recommends a moderate fitness level. The lesson is for beginners, but beginner does not mean effortless. You will be working your arms, legs, and core.

Good weather is required. If conditions are poor, you can move the booking to another date or receive a full refund. To receive a full refund for a normal cancellation, cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will get the most from Ulap Surf

This lesson suits a first-time surfer who wants more than a casual board rental. It also fits someone who has tried surfing before but still struggles with the pop-up, foot placement, or balance.

It is particularly useful for:

• A couple or small group that wants private attention
• A parent booking a structured lesson for a child or teenager with moderate fitness
• A beginner who wants photos and video from the session
• A returning surfer who wants clear feedback on technique
• A visitor who prefers a professional, safety-first lesson over learning alone

The private format can also help if you feel nervous in the water. You have one instructor watching your group and giving direct instructions instead of trying to follow a general lesson from a distance.

I would be more cautious if you want a cheap introduction, dislike physical activity, or need private transportation. The price and effort are easier to accept when learning progress and recorded footage matter to you.

Should you book Ulap Surf?

Book it if you want a focused introduction to surfing at Cloud 9, especially if you are sharing the cost with your group. The sturdy longboard, personal coach, safety briefing, and video review give the lesson a useful structure from start to finish.

The strongest reason to choose Ulap Surf is the coaching detail. Ana Mae Alipayo and the team focus on fundamentals such as paddling, stance, pop-up technique, maneuver, speed, and safety. You are not simply handed a board and sent toward the waves.

Skip it if $190 feels too high for a two-hour activity or if you only want a quick, informal attempt. For the right beginner, though, this is a serious first step toward surfing, with photos and video to prove what you learned.

FAQ

Where does the Ulap Surf lesson begin and end?

The lesson begins at the Cloud 9 surfing area in General Luna, Siargao, at map reference R578+F36. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts about two hours. This includes the briefing, beach warm-up, approximately 90 minutes in the water, and a review of your photos and video afterward.

Is the lesson private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity, with a private surf instructor and personal photographer.

Is a surfboard included?

Yes. A soft-top surfboard rental is included. The beginner board is a stable 9-foot, or 3-meter, longboard.

Are photos and videos included?

Yes. A personal photographer records photos and video during the surf session, and these are included with the experience.

What happens if bad weather cancels the lesson?

If poor weather causes the activity to be canceled, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.