Hey everyone,
I just moved here from SoCal and I am looking to find good places to surf in the area. I was hoping those of you in the know could suggest some good places to surf in the area, maybe with some insight on favorable tide wondows, winds, etc. I ride fish and longboards and would consider myself an intermediate surfer.
Also, I really don't have anyone to surf with at the moment, as I just moved here. I could really use a(some) surf buddy(buddies). I'm in Oakland and I have a car.
I just moved here from SoCal and I am looking to find good places to surf in the area. I was hoping those of you in the know could suggest some good places to surf in the area, maybe with some insight on favorable tide wondows, winds, etc. I ride fish and longboards and would consider myself an intermediate surfer.
Also, I really don't have anyone to surf with at the moment, as I just moved here. I could really use a(some) surf buddy(buddies). I'm in Oakland and I have a car.
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Los Angeles
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Mon, December 18, 2006 - 12:00 PMReally? No one wants to share any knowledge? Wow. -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Mon, December 18, 2006 - 10:20 PMIf you are wanting to surf off SF Ocean Beach, go visit the folks at Mollusk surf shop on Irving/46th; they are a friendly bunch.
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Tue, December 19, 2006 - 10:11 AMOK...Ok...I know what it's like to walk into a room with new kids and feel snubbed ;-) I've been up here at the Sonoma coast now for 2 years. I'm from SoCal like you. I was the one who told you to get ear plugs for the cold and wind (in LA, I wore them for the pollution).
If you happen to get up here for a day or two to see wine country or the redwoods perhaps....take a drive out to Bodega Bay and check out Salmon Creek (can be as gnarly as Ocean Beach but with bigger fiercer sharks) and in winter, like now, Doran Beach (you'll see that as you enter into BB on your left). The latter is my fave break because it's fast, hollow and shallow (less room for Mr. White to get up from underneath and as a bodyboarder, I really appreciate that feature). It only breaks from late fall to early spring and try to go mid to higher tide. Surf shops up here are Northern Light in Bodega (the town 5 miles from BB heading west from Sebastopol) and Bodega Bay Surf Shack in BB proper. -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 9:15 AMI'm up in Mendo, and frequent Big River as much as possible (though I'm in SF more often and hit Ocean Beach and some breaks in Half Moon Bay). If you're ever up in this area, please let me know. I'd be glad to take you out.
-B -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 10:17 AMIf you come to Santa Cruz, be aware that some breaks have a handful of aggressive locals (not me) who will sometimes physically assault you if you surf those breaks and don't know anyone there, especially if you burn people. Not always, but I've seen it happen often.
These include Steamer Lane, The Hook, and First Peak of Pleasure Point.
Most of the other breaks are mellow and have a friendly vibe, it's just a few where people have entitlement issues. I don't surf those breaks very often because I like the mellow, friendly, family vibe that you find at most of the other beaks.
I took this photo in Santa Cruz this year:
norcalsurf.tribe.net/photos/...98387e1b
Have fun! -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 2:32 PMYeah, I surfed The Hook last week and was definitely aware of the local vibe in the water. I tried to err on the side of caution and generosity, as I had come alone and did not want to ruffle any feathers.
I'm used to a little localism, coming from crowded SoCal, but I was surprised at how aggressive the lineup was there. I was expecting Santa Cruz surfers to be more friendly and mellow, though there were some really helpful people I met. I just wish more people were in touch with the soulful aspect of surfing and not so caught up in personal glory.
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 2:43 PMI've had bad experiences at those breaks too. It's really stupid, you know.
Duke said it best, "There's plenty of waves for everybody."
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 27, 2006 - 7:38 PMThe Hook is pretty regularly filled with assholess, though there are times where there aren't that many (if any at all) -- usually in the morning is the best time to avoid the asses. The same applies to most of pleasure point...the running joke / common wisdom is that the asses are too hung over to get out early. I've even had issues the times I decide to surf 38th when 1st peak has been too crowded.
Now, to add a positive aspect to all of this, I've also had some great sessions at both the Lane and 1st Peak with people cheering one another on, with localism not an issue. It just depends on the crowd that is out there.
-j
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 2:19 PMI don't find myself in Mendo all that often, but I may have to take you up on that the next time I do.
I've been meaning to explore spots around Pacifica and Half Moon Bay...any suggestions? -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 2:45 PMStay away from Linda Mar after a storm. Nasty sewage spills just about everytime.
There are some nice spots near Half Moon Bay.
And don't forget Bolinas...especially on a South Swell.
Too sick to sit up and add any more to this. Perhaps later. -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 3:07 PM"I was expecting Santa Cruz surfers to be more friendly and mellow"
Oh I've been told that SC has a reputation for the most aggro surfers on the planet. Don't know if that's true but it sure is aggro, which I agree is monumentally stupid. It's only at certain breaks though.
It's part of a bigger attitude problem with many SC locals. They don't like anybody. They also don't want any growth or change, and their resistance to inevitable change leads to change they really hate, as opposed to if they directed the growth in ways they wanted.
Don't get me started about that!
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Wed, December 20, 2006 - 8:23 PMNothing new. SC was the same way back in the late 70's when i started surfing. -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Thu, December 21, 2006 - 7:15 AMStay away from Sharks in Santa Cruz after a storm too... I went in there after a storm and my eyes we burning and I felt like I had the stomach flu for a while. Uck.... Up here the waves are finicky and don't come often enough but the water qualitiy is still pretty nice. After my Calirfornia adventure I decided to join the Surfrider Foundation to do some environmental work on keeping my local water as clean as I can... -
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Re: Favorite local breaks and surf buddies
Thu, December 21, 2006 - 9:34 AMYeah the whole area is contaminated after rain, especially when it hasn't rained in a while.
There was a time when detectable levels of hepatitis were found at the mouth of the Capitola River. Ewwwwww!
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