The Surf Landscape of Orange County

THE SURF LANDSCAPE Orange County Surf Location Beghecbion Best Surf Wave Quality Swell Best Tide Season The Sarfers Boards Paddle Out Skill Level Watch Out For.. SEAL BEACH Crange County Water Condition Take l-405 to Seal Beach Boulevard, take that to South, Southwest Medium Highway 1, turn right, make a left onto Main Street, metered street and pier parking Conditions constantly vary here, but when the swell is closing out at Huntington, Seal Beach often will be peaky and very hollow. When the wind turns offshore and the swell is in the water, this place turns epic. Summer and Winter All levels, depending upon conditions Some localism, can get crowded on weekends Skimboard, bodyboard, longboard, shortboard Easy to moderate Stingrays and some local attitude Clean, except during rainy conditions can get very dirty BOLSA CHICAe Orange County All Easily accessible via Highway state beach parking Normally a smaller and shorter right and left beach break. Depending on Mid-tide Year-round the swell and sandbars, could be just as peaky and fun as the spots further south. Moderately clean Easy to moderate Nothing Can get crowded on weekends Any Beginner to Intermediate HUNTINGTON BEACH Orange County Take l-405 to Beach Boulevard, take that west to Highway 1. Make a right at the Hyatt Hotel and take that one mile to the Hunting- Northwest, Southwest ton Beach Pier. Low to Medium Home of the U.S. Open, Huntington Beach has always been a famous name in surfing history. Two main breaks. Right and left beach break offering several miles of peaky fast waves that sometimes close out. Mild to powerful. Year-round, with Fall being biggest Shortboard, longboard, fish, funboard Moderately difficult Can get very crowded, especially on weekends. Some localism but generally friendly. All levels, depending upon conditions Pier pilings, some local attitude near the pier. Mostly clean, but can be dirty at rivermouth SANTA ANA RIVER JETTIES (RJS) Orange County Shortboard Between Huntington Beach and Newport Beach Intermediate to Advanced The river outlet makes for constantly shifting sand- bars, which sometimes create super hollow and fast rights and lefts. All Best in Fall and Summer, available year-round Can get crowded Moderate to tough South-Southeast, South, Southwest, West, West-Northwest Pollution Dirty 54TH AND 56TH SERIEFnty South-Southeast, South, Southwest, West, West-Northwest Take l-405 to Highway 55, go south toward Newport Beach. Highway 55 will end and turn into Newport Boulevard, take that to Highway 1 and go left at Balboa Boulevard, where you will find metered parking. Gets crowded Summer and Fall Moderate Dirty Advanced to Expert Medium Shortboard Some of the best sandbars are formed off of these jet- ties, creating some of the best barrels in Southern California. 54th street is mostly a right, and 56th is an incredible left. The more northern beach breaks after 56th get really good and help spread the crowd out. Pollution, sharp rocks, some localism, falling during the takeoff at 56th street and going right into the jetty. 40TH STREET NEWPORT BEACH Orange County Northwest, Southwest, South, Southeast Follow Balboa Boulevard Advanced to Expert until you get to 40th Street Shortboard Rip-tide and undertow, sharp rocks, localism Right and left hollow and sometimes ledgy breakwa- ter jetty Summer Low and Mid Moderately tough Can get very crowded Relatively clean 36TH STREET NEWRORT BEACH Orange County Shortboard Park on Balboa, go to 36th Street and walk to the beach Southwest, South Riptide and undertow, sharp rocks Can get very crowded Low Relatively clean Moderately tough Intermediate to Expert Summer Hollow, fast and powerful left, breaks on a jetty NEWPORT,POINT (18TH STREET) Orange County Between the Newport and Balboa Piers. Park- Summer South Extremely crowded ing may be difficult. Intermediate to Expert Moderate to tough Shortboard Hollow, fast and powerful, ledgey right and left beachbreak. With the right swells this place goes off bringing the North Shore of Hawaii to Newport Beach. Only breaks on very large hurricane swells. Riptides and undertow, pollution Relatively clean THE WEDGE Summer Breaks next to the Newport Beach Jetty South Easy Heavy localism, harsh and dangerous shorepound A hollow, fast, powerful and ultra-ledgy left that breaks off a jetty, collides with a normal wave and creates a huge closeout on the shore. Epic. One of the most exciting shows Can get really crowdeded Advanced and up Shortboard, bodyboard. to watch from the beach when it gets big. Mostly bodyboard- Dirty ers CORONA DEL MAR Orange County Take Highway 1 to Manoila. Street and lot parking available. Walk just south of the Newport Harbor entrance. South Southeast, South Summer Intermediate to Advanced Mid-tide Can get crowded on weekends A hollow and fast right and left that breaks on the jetty Surf mat, shortboard, longboard Riptide/undertow Moderately clean Moderate SOURCES www.heyinviteme.com www.thesurfingsite.com/Surf-Spots-Southern-California heyinviteme