Summer in SoCal Means Surfing and Watching Surfers
During the summer, the beach is always a favorite destination. In fact, under Southern California’s sunny, blue skies and warm climate, the beach is enjoyed all year long; particularly by surfers. Yes, even in the winter months, thanks to wetsuits. Surfing is an individual sport that many feel connects the mind, body, and soul. The awesome power of waves and one’s union with them through surfing just naturally draws people into the ocean.
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| Surfing in SoCal means Girl Power, our waves aren't just for guys |
Surfing has long been synonymous with Southern California. Malibu, Huntington, Newport, San Clemente, and San Onofre are among the top spots for waves. Surfers come from miles around to surf these beaches. Not only are they great for surfing, they’re picturesque, too. If you’re watching your surfer from the sand, you’ll quickly relax in the beauty and serenity of your surroundings.
Great surfing waves are plentiful along Southern California’s coast. One of the biggest reasons is the lengthy strip of our western facing beaches. It’s ideal for good swells. Other conditions that help make surfing so good here are water temperature, low winds, and temperate weather. Conditions change several times each day, so before you leave your hotel, log on to surfline.com and check current wave conditions just be entering the name of the spot you want to go out. Surfline.com is the information source for all things surfing.
Some of the local top spots from north to south include Zuma Beach and Topanga (be careful,
it’s a rocky beach) in Malibu; south side of the Santa Monica Pier; Golden West Street and the Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington; Blackies (24th Street) and 54th Street in Newport; Salt Creek in Dana Point; Trafalgar Street in San Clemente; and Upper and Lower Trestles at San Onofre, Take a look at the accompanying map we’ve put together that highlights these and other good surf spots.
There may be a lot of good surfers in the water, but there’s plenty of room for everybody, including beginners. If you’re here on vacation and have never surfed, there’s no time like the present! And don’t let your age stop you either. You’ll see plenty of middle aged baby boomers out there. All you need is some instruction, from which there is plenty to choose.
Instructors will provide you with a wetsuit and board, and pretty soon, you’ll be “popping up” and “ripping” (surf lingo for standing up on the board and cutting back and forth across the waves)! You’ll start out on the sand with detailed instruction about your board, how to lie on it, how to paddle out into the waves, how to pop up, how to ride a wave, and most importantly, how to come off the board in the water so you don’t risk injury. Then after your instructor thinks you have an adequate understanding, you’ll head out to the surf. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Surf instruction is plentiful along Southern California’s beaches. Whether you want private or group lessons, or are looking for a weeklong surf camp, or even an overnight camp where you sleep in a tent on a bluff overlooking the beach, there are lots of choices. We’ve compiled a few names and websites in both Orange County and Los Angeles for your reference. For price and sign-up information, please visit the individual websites. For a complete listing of surf schools along the SoCal coast, visit surfline.com/surfology/schools.
Newport Beach
Newport Surf School
Matt Binswanger, owner/instructor; international and national surf champion
949.760.1430
newportsurfschool.com
Group or private lessons that emphasize safety and technical expertise
Huntington Beach
Corky Carroll’s Surf School
Corky Carroll, owner/instructor; international and national surf champion
714.969.3959
corkycarroll.com
Group or private lessons, weekly and daily surf camps
Great Surfing Spots Along the SoCal Coast
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| From Santa Monica to San Diego, SoCal offers some of the finest surf spots in the world. |
San Onofre
Endless Summer Surf Camp
949.498.7862
endlesssummersurfcamp.com
Day camp, overnight camp (includes lodging, meals), group or private lessons
Santa Monica
Islands Surf Camp
Das Jesson, owner 310.866.1941
Jeff Gerlach, senior staff instructor 310.739.1948
isurfcamp.com
Kids camp and teen camp (safety instruction includes first-aid and CPR)
Malibu
Malibu Makos Surf Club
310.317.1229
malibumakos.com
Private lessons, camps for all ages
Watch the Pros Compete
Surf contests are held year round in Southern California. Watching them is awe-inspiring and a lot of fun. The pros make it look so easy! While you’re here, head to the beach and check these out:
July 20 – 29, Huntington Beach
Honda US Open of Surfing
Huntington Beach Pier
surfersvillage.com
July 22 – 23, Malibu
Call to the Wall Longboard Surfing Contest
Malibu Surfrider Beach, 23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
The Malibu Boardriders Club, a non-profit organization helping children with cancer,
presents the "Call to the Wall" Surf Festival. Over 300 surfers will compete in this club
vs. club competition. There will also be a paddleboard race and tent displays. malibuboardriders.com
September 1, Laguna Beach
Hurly Rip My Shred Stick Tour
hurley.com
September 3, Manhattan Beach
Hurly Rip My Shred Stick Tour
hurley.com
September 5, Huntington Beach
Hurly Rip My Shred Stick Tour
Huntington Beach Pier
hurley.com
September 18 – 23, Newport Beach
California 2007 Trifecta Surf Series
NB Pro
56th Street, Newport Beach
catrifecta.com
Check Out the Local Surf Shops
Even if you decide not to venture into the water, you can at least look the part. Pick up some board shorts, Rainbows (the classic flip flop for surfers), or even a tee shirt while you’re in town. You’ll be glad you did when you get home, and your purchase will remind you of your great SoCal vacation!
Huntington Beach
Huntington Surf and Sport
300 Pacific Coast Highway
714.841.4000
Newport Beach
Jack’s Surfboards
2727 Balboa Blvd.
949.673.2300
Laguna Beach
Laguna Surf and Sport
1088 So. Coast Highway
949.497.7000
San Cemente
Killer Dana
100 Del Mar Rd
949.492.2305
Malibu
Becker Surf & Sport
23755 Malibu Road, #400
(Webb Way & Pacific Coast Hwy.)
310.456.7155
beckersurf.com
Santa Monica
ZJ Boarding House
2619 Main Street
(Ocean Park Blvd. & Main St.)
888.799.5646
mainstreetsm.com/ZJBoardingHouse
Islands Surf Shop
2934 Wilshire Blvd.
(between Bundy Drive and 26th St.)
310.315.7244
Surfing – A Rich History
Although no one knows for sure exactly where and when stand-up surfing began, there is no doubt that over the centuries the ancient sport of "he'e nalu" (wave-sliding) was perfected by the Kings and Queens, along with the men and women, of the Sandwich Isles. The Islands’ geographical position brought the great waves of the Pacific in all shapes and sizes.
He'enalu is a Hawaiian term adopted by ancient poets to describe their spectacular sport of surfing. This popular form of recreation is rich in what Hawaiians call kaona, or hidden meaning. The first half, "he'e," can mean for instance, "to change from a solid to a liquid form,” or “to run as a liquid.” The second part, "nalu" can refer to the surfing motion of a wave or the foaming of a wave, hence he'enalu, wave-sliding.
At certain times of the year, the sport is an irresistible temptation to the surfer, invoking a state of what Hawaiians refer to as Hopupu (hoe-poo-poo), the state of being “stoked,” surf lingo for totally happy. Surf history tells us that November was a month of rough seas and high surf that lured men to the sea coast. If expert surfers going upland to farm happened to look back and see rollers combing the beach, they left their work, hurried home, picked up their board and went to the beach. All thought of work was gone, only that of surfing was left. The wife may go hungry, the children, the whole family, but the head of the house did not care. He is all for sport, that is his food. All day there is nothing but surfing. Many go out surfing as early as four a.m. - men, women, and children. This custom remains popular today. Just ask any employer or contractor who has surfers for employees.
Surfing in the Modern Day
Today, surfing is a sport that is practiced by people of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities. The surf culture is as diverse as those riding the waves. Some surf for recreation and others make surfing their life and their occupation. Some surfers have come to embrace the recent commercialism of surfing, while others reject it. There have been countless surf films, and today we can find surf museums, web sites, magazines, and even television stations. Surfing has become main stream and is now a multi-million dollar industry. Despite the differences, one major factor connects most surfers: a passion for the ocean and the power of waves.
Surfing to the Future
Since the birth of surfing, the sport has been taken to levels never thought possible. Due to science and the pursuit of the perfect wave, humans have created technologies to make surfing more accessible and enjoyable. From board shape and size, to custom wetsuits, to tow-in surfing, the sport has evolved into an engineered scientific art form.
Surfing is still evolving. With every new generation, there is a new champion, a new invention, and fresh ideas pushing the limits of the sport of surfing.
Don’t forget - for the latest information about wave conditions, events, gear and more, check out surfline.com. Now go catch a wave.
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