Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [42]
Pollution levels vary from beach to beach and day to day. Check the Beach Report Card issued by the nonprofit organization Heal the Bay (www.healthebay.com) for details. Stay out of the water for at least three days after a major rainstorm because of dangerously high levels of bacteria and pollutants that have been flushed straight out through the storm drains.
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The Pacific waves may beckon but they’re not as innocent as they look. Get the scoop on lurking underwater dangers from www.beachcalifornia.com/beach-safety-tips.html.
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SURFING
Surf’s up! Are you down? Even if you never set foot on a board – and we heartily recommend you do – there’s no denying the influence of surfing on every aspect of California beach life, from clothing to lingo; it’s an obsession up and down the coast, particularly in San Diego County and Orange County. Note that the Surf Sites map here has a few sites not mentioned in this book, but we’ve included them on the map as they’re still good spots.
SoCal’s ‘big three’ surfing spots are Rincon Point in Santa Barbara, a legendary right point-break that peels forever; Trestles near San Clemente/San Onofre in Orange County (Click here), a premier summer spot with big but forgiving waves, a fast ride and both right and left breaks; and Surfrider Beach in Malibu, a clean right break that gets better with bigger waves. Swami’s Beach in Encinitas in San Diego’s North County, Huntington Beach in Orange County, and Zuma Beach and Lunada Bay in LA also get good marks.
The best spots to learn to surf are at beach breaks of long, shallow bays where waves are small and rolling. Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara and San Diego’s Tourmaline Surf Park are especially good for catching your first wave. Huntington Beach is Orange County’s surf mecca, with a surfing museum, surfing walk of fame and a pro-am surf series championship contest each September. There’s also a surfing competition and nifty museum on the sport in Oceanside on San Diego’s North Coast.
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For the low-down on surf sites between Santa Barbara and San Diego, check out the comprehensive website and interactive database at www.surfline.com.
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The most powerful swells arrive in late fall and winter, while May and June are generally the flattest months, although they do bring warmer water. Speaking of temperature, don’t believe all those images of hot blonds surfing in skimpy swimsuits; without a wet suit, you’ll likely freeze your butt off except during the height of summer.
Crowds can be a problem in many places, as can overly territorial surfers. Control your longboard or draw ire from agro dudes in Malibu, LA’s Palos Verdes, San Diego’s Windansea and Orange County’s Huntington Beach. Tip: befriend a local surfer for an introduction – and protection.
You’ll find surfboard rentals on just about every patch of sand where surfing is possible. Expect to pay about $20 per half-day, with wet suit rental another $10 or so. Group lessons start at around $50 per person, while the going rate for private, two-hour instruction starts at $100. If you’re ready to jump in the deep end, many surf schools offer weekend (around $150) and week-long camps ($350 and up).
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Hey dude, if you’re a kook, bone up on your surf-speak so the locals don’t go agro and give you the stinkeye. (For translation, see www.riptionary.com.)
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Safety issues to watch out for include riptides, which are powerful currents of water that pull you away from the shore Click here.
Like cyclists, surfers can benefit from good sport-specific maps. Plan a coastal adventure using maps produced by the Surf Report ( 714-496-5922; www.surfmaps.net). The maps, which detail surf breaks and provide information on seasonal weather and water temperature, are sold county by county for $8 each or in a Southern California set for $35.
Enlightened surfers may also want to check out Surfrider ( 949-492-8170; www.surfrider.org), a nonprofit organization that strives to protect the coastal environment.
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