Hi,
My family and I are driving down to SO CAL from Canada and are looking for a family friendly surf spot.
Something I can ride on a longboard/ funboard shape, nothing to wild just fun.
Looking for warm safe water with a Left break.
thanks guys.
Josh
How far south and how warm are we talking?
If you are in the 4/3 wetsuit, stop off in south Santa
Barbara/Ventura and surf Mondos. Mostly beginners
and learners and really mellow. In the OC area, (3/2 zone)
anywhere in the Bolsa Chica area (esp. tower 24-26) area is all
family based/not agro. Many more suggestions, lots of lefts
in the summer!
*double post
We don’t have a real destination in mind, we’re just going to drive south and look for spots to ride.
We’re willing to drive to San Diego if required.
Josh
Seal beach pier
San o - first lifegaurd tower ( mecca )
Oceanside harbor jetty , the north end by the playground
Brookhurst st. In huntington beach by the rivermouth.
We have stingrays in summer , shuffle the feet .
Jalama Bay, just north of Santa Barbara.
Prairie Creek redwood State Park, on the boeder with Oregon. It’s a relatively short hike through Fern Canyon down to the water.
In San Diego, Tourmaline surfing park at foot of Tourmaline St. Parking, restrooms, showers very convenient. Beach is very good for family outing. Surf is crowded but tolerable, too crowded if there is a swell on weekends. Crowd manners are ok to good with the occasional youngsters and over serious riders spoiling things in a recognized and obvious family/ beginner setting. Short walking on the nice stretch of beach allows some variety of beach break peaks and crowd conditions. Morning and usually pre noon wind conditions are best, afternoons bad, evening session is sometimes ok for wind. Summer swell strength in San Diego isn't so good. The summer south swells hit best from Oceanside north into Orange County.
Thanks for the heads up guys. I think the fam is kind of set on hitting San Diego for the warmer water.
Any thoughts on water temps in early July for that area. Are we still going to be stuck with full wetsuits?
Any beaches we should avoid due to sharks? I know there is no such thing as a totally safe beach, but some beaches have histories. Got little guys in the water so I want to be carefull.
Josh
Here’s the sea surface temperatures in July, 2010 and 2009 at the San Elijo mooring (offshore from Cardiff Reef). Every year is different, but it gives some idea of the range of sea surface (1m depth) temperatures during this month.
FWIW, San Diego sea temps typically run a few degrees cooler then OC & LA, mostly due to deep water close to shore.
Also, as happened this past week, just a day or two of strong NW winds can take the water from 66° down to 58° overnight, everywhere in SOCAL, so you'll want that wettie just in case....
San Diego is no sharkier then anyplace else and what are probably the sharkiest spots in SD, you will not likely surf. (Pt Loma & Sloughs)
While you are down this way, make sure you set aside time for the Surfing Heritage Foundation (San Clemente) http://www.surfingheritage.org/ and the California Surf Museum (Oceanside) http://www.surfmuseum.org/
San Onofre is the spot for you. Family Friendly, Warmer then SD, Cleaner then Doheny.
Send a PM if you want; I been here 4 ever.
If you're planning on staying right in San Diego and you're driving the heavy camping rig think about bringing bikes. The San Diego central beach area has great bike riding. San Onofre State Park is a great call, a fun outlying place with a taste of Baja Balifornia. Water temps early July can be chilly low to mid 60s or ok hier 60s or icy hi 50s to low 60s. Our water temps are all over the chart with no quarantees. Last summer many folks never got out of their winter suits, the two previous summers were all time warmer water. Even if its running hier 60s, overnight it can drop to hi 50s low 60s. Early July is a little early to expect warmer water temps, late July thru August is usually best for water temp. but we never know. Sharks aren't an issue to think about much, that problem gets going from Santa Barbara north. PM me also if you'd like, this is home and there are no secret spots left :)
Thanks for all the information guys.
What type of wetsuit do you wear. Any suggestions on a place I can pick one up cheap?
Josh
Some surfshops rent wetsuits, or you should be able to find one on craig's list pretty easy.
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/spo/
The water is in the low 60's today but as I mentioned before; it can change overnight.
I won't get out of a full suit until it's at least 66° but I'm old, skinny and like to be warm.
factory outlet store near Trestles/San O. don’t buy a used wetsuit unless you have to; most are in bad shape and have been, well, repeatedly peed it…gross.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rip-curl-outlet-store-san-clemente
I should have mentioned the Surf Outlet, my niece works there.
This time of year you should be able to get a really decent full suit for around $100.
San Onofre, is that just north of San Diego? Looks sharky, quick google showed a lot of hits.
thanks guys.
Josh
Someone stated it once, I’ll state it again.
The best region in the U.S. for summer swells is strictly from Oceanside( upper limit of N. San Diego County) to Huntington Beach (N. Orange County).
This region gets all kinds of summer swells and pulses that the rest of So. California does not see, forget about the rest of the West Coast.
Warmest water in So. Cal during summer is all of San Diego county and lower half of Orange County. (San Diego through the Trestles area).
Any opinions on Malibu as a longboard, family friendly area to ride?
[quote="$1"]
Any opinions on Malibu as a longboard, family friendly area to ride?
[/quote]
Longboards for sure, Family friendly? Not really.
If you are looking for a surf spot without sharks, try Tempe.
