Find Surf Schools, Rentals & Shapers Near Your Favorite Breaks
We've added local surf schools, board rentals, and shapers to forecast pages across New Zealand. Support local, surf more.
Hey crew!
Quick one today, but I think you're gonna like this.
We just added something new to Swellify that I've been wanting to do for ages: local surf businesses right on the forecast pages. 🏄♂️
What's New?
When you're checking the forecast for your favorite spot, you'll now see listings for nearby:
- Surf Schools (learn to surf or dial in your skills)
- Board Rentals (whether you're traveling or don't own one. yet!)
- Board Shapers (support local craftspeople making incredible boards)
All within a 90-minute drive of the break you're looking at.
Why'd We Do This?
Maybe you're visiting a new spot and don't have your trusty board. Maybe you're keen to finally learn but don't know where to start. Maybe you want to support a local shaper instead of buying off the rack at a big box store.
Whatever it is, I wanted to make it dead simple to connect with the rad local businesses that make New Zealand's surf culture what it is.
Swellify's mission has always been to help you surf more. And sometimes that means more than just knowing when the waves are good.
Important: We're Not Making Money From This
Let me be crystal clear about something: Swellify is not currently compensated by any of these businesses.
We're not taking commissions. We're not running ads. This is about connecting surfers with great local Kiwi businesses that can help you get in the water.
I genuinely just want to make it easier for you to find what you need, when you need it. That's it.
How It Works
It's super simple. When you're on a forecast page, scroll down to the bottom and you'll see listings for nearby businesses (if there are any within a 90 minute's drive). Each listing includes:
- 📝 Name of the establishment
- ⭐ Rating
- 📊 Number of reviews
- 🚘 How far away it is from the break by car
From there you can click or tap on the rating to see their Google page, or click on the listing to get straight to the website if you want to reach out directly to book a lesson, rent a board, or chat with a shaper about a custom stick.
Help Us Make This Better
This is just the first version, and I'm sure there are amazing businesses we've missed. If you know a surf school, rental shop, or board shaper that should be listed, please let me know! Flick me a message at tobias@swellify.app.
That's all for today! Hope this helps you get more surf and support some brilliant local businesses while you're at it.
Now get out there! 🤙
Tobias is the Founder of Swellify, a surf forecasting app built in Wellington that helps surfers like you catch more waves with way less hassle. After "accidentally" moving to New Zealand in 2019 and falling in love with Aotearoa, he's spent years obsessively studying every beach, point break, and island to make sure Swellify's 420+ spots are dialed in. Got any feedback or a killer session to share? Flick him an email at tobias@swellify.app.