Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
skimpy bikinis; without a wetsuit, you'll likely freeze your butt off except at the height of
summer, especially in NorCal.
Crowds can be a problem at many surf spots, as can overly territorial surfers. Befriend a
local surfer for an introduction before hitting Cali's most famous waves, such as notori-
ously agro Windansea Beach and Malibu's Surfrider Beach.
Sharks do inhabit California waters but attacks are rare. Most take place in the so-called
'Red Triangle' between Monterey on the Central Coast, Tomales Bay north of San Fran-
cisco and the offshore Farallon Islands.
BODYBOARDING & BODYSURFING
If you don't have the time or inclination to master the Hawaiian-born art of surfing, there
are other ways to catch your dream wave at the beach in Southern California. Bodysurf-
ing and bodyboarding (aka boogie boarding) can extend your ride on the waves, some-
times as much as 100ft or more. Both sports benefit from the use of flippers to increase
your speed and control. If you're not sure how to get started, just watch others or strike
up a conversation in the water and ask for pointers. It's really pretty easy, and you'll be
howling with glee once you catch that first wave.
Rentals & Lessons
You'll find board rentals on just about every patch of sand where surfing is possible. Ex-
pect to pay about $20 per half day for a board, with wetsuit rental costing another $10 or
so.
Two-hour group lessons for beginners start around $100 per person, while private, two-
hour instruction easily costs over $125. If you're ready to jump in the deep end, many surf
schools offer more expensive weekend surf clinics and week-long 'surfari' camps.
Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is easier than learning to surf, and it's skyrocketing in
popularity. You'll find similarly priced board-and-paddle rentals and lessons popping up
all along the coast, from San Diego to north of San Francisco Bay.
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:
