Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top Surf Spots for Pros
California comes fully loaded with easily accessible world-class surf spots, the lion's share
of which are in SoCal. If you're already a wave-sliding expert, check out:
Huntington Beach
in Orange County may have the West Coast's most consistent waves,
with miles of breaks centered on the pier.
Trestles
The OC's premier summer spot, with big but forgiving waves, a fast ride and both
right and left breaks.
Windansea Beach
This San Diego spot has a powerful reef break, while nearby
Big Rock
churns out gnarly tubes.
Surfrider Beach
A clean right break in Malibu that just gets better with bigger waves.
peels forever.
Steamer Lane
Glassy point-breaks and rocky reef-breaks below an old lighthouse that
houses a small surfing museum in Santa Cruz.
Mavericks
World-famous for big-wave surfing at Half Moon Bay. Waves top 50ft when the
most powerful winter swells arrive (see
www.mavericksinvitational.com
to learn all about
the annual surf competition).
Best Surf Breaks for Beginners
The best spots to learn to surf are at the beach breaks of long, shallow bays where waves
are small and rolling. Along California's coast, popular places for beginners, and where
many surf schools also offer lessons, include the following:
San Diego
Mission Beach
,
Pacific Beach
,
La Jolla
,
Oceanside
Orange County
Seal Beach
,
Huntington Beach
,
Newport Beach
,
Laguna Beach
Los Angeles
Santa Monica,
Malibu
Santa Barbara County
Leadbetter Beach
,
Carpinteria
Central Coast
Santa Cruz
,
Cayucos