When I asked my husband which of California’s beaches were his favorite to surf, he answered me with “uh-huh.” I didn’t think he was understanding me, so I asked again. He then, took me over to the atlas and said, “This is my favorite beach.” Very quickly he swiped his finger from Frisco to Baja; it was one favorite beach.
My husband was a long board surfer. He said back when he surfed all the time “If you knew your stuff, and was willing to catch waves at all costs, you caught your waves with a big board. Now, everything is so scientific.”
Surfing, for me, was always a spectator sport. I never did learn to swim, therefore I never learned to surf. My husband and I both did our growing up in the 60’s when everybody, who was cool listened to the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, watched Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello with the Beach Party gang and wouldn’t wear a shirt unless it had Hang Ten on the front. I did all of these things, but I had to settle for being the groupie, and follow my husband from beach to beach. I didn’t mind; he was a fine figure at 5’11” and 185 lbs. on a board 11’6″.
Between my husband and his nephew, we were able to put together a list of beaches that were pretty decent places to surf, but they both reminded me; when they are driving along and the waves are great, they are in the water. That is why their boards are almost always with them.
Both men unanimously said “K38” when I asked about best places to surf in California. K38 is in Baja, but still a great place to surf.
The Drainpipes
The Drainpipes at Point Dume in Malibu, has some really great waves. But there is just “way too many people that are there for the beach and not the waves.”
Venice Beach
Venice Beach is close to Hollywood and Santa Monica. This is the place to see and be seen. Way to many people on the beach for no better than the waves are. Though my husband did say, back in the 60’s it was a pretty decent place to put the board in.
Santa Cruz by San Jose
There are some good surf spots around this area with some pretty decent waves. In fact, if you can catch the waves just right, you can have a really long ride, because the waves break all the way down the peninsula.
Oceanside
Every year there is an annual Long-Board Surf Day. There is all the old-time surfers, with their sons and now their grand-sons. It is really a great time surfing and reminiscing
Oceanside at the South Jetty
When the surfing is good here, it is really good. Surfing at the pier can be kind of fun.
Upper and Lower Trestles near Camp Pendleton
Back in the 60’s this was one of my husband’s favorite places to go. Because of the sand deposits, the waves break differently on the Upper and Lower Trestles. We don’t go here much anymore. It is way too crowded.
Riviera
Just south of San Clemente and is a good place to surf. In the summertime it can get a little crowded.
Doheny Point
According to my husband, Doheny is the place to surf if you are a long-boarder.
The Wedge
Just south of Newport Beach. There is mostly body surfing and boogey boarding done here.
Newport River Jetty
This place can be a lot of fun if the sandbars are working just right; especially after we have had a lot of rain. Then, the fun is on.
Surf City? My husband says it is a concept, but I do know that almost any beach from San Francisco down to K38 can be a Surf City.
