Advice on visiting South California

[longboarder]

Hi guys,
Myself and the misses will be visiting California where we honeymooned many moons ago! Unfortunately wasn't surfing then. Would love some advice. We are flying into Santa Anna in mid September and plan to stay in San Diego, Huntington/Newport area and maybe Malibu. Nothing booked so are flexible. I'm a longboarder looking for mellow waves.

Should I rent a board for the duration (about 10 days) or rent in the different areas?

If I rent for the duration will a board be safe from theft if left on the roof racks?

Being an Irish surfer will I need a wetsuit?

Mid week will it be quiet or crowded ( I know thats a very general question)? and is it worth going all the way up to Malibu?

Any advice on suitable locations or any other info you think relevant would be greatly received.

I would class myself as intermediate and comfortable in head high conditions.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[jaffa1949]

Hi Long boarder, no answers from the Californians ( shame on them).
But since they haven't said it, "welcome to the Zoo", I'd call Malibu and Huntington that, but since I have nothing but hearsay experience, maybe the guys there can put you straight. There are some heavy attitudes out there, but there are also mellow breaks which is what I don't know
I wouldn't leave my board on the racks in Australia let alone CA.
Have a read of the spots on this site there may be some clues there.

What has being Irish got to do with needing a wetsuit , OH right sorry Irish the Maddigan in me came out
Water temps 12 to 17 c so wetsuit needed, see what the locals are wearing colder as you go further north.

WHERE IS THE CALIFORNIAN HOSPITALITY

[Liquid Peace]

1st off not a big fan of the L.A. area.

North County-San Diego has the best surf. Take your board into your room every night, renting for the duration from one place would save you some dollars, rent in advance if possible. Renting locally each time will give you some insight in to the best breaks for that region.

D-Street in Encinitas was my break when I lived there but there are so many nice breaks there, I could not begin to list them all. My favorite break was Oceanside Jetty by the RV/Campground.

You may want to bring a Wetsuit Jacket or Vest but you will not need a full Wetsuit.

As far as places that should be surfed, the reefs in Ocean Beach, Encinitas-D-Street, Oceanside-Jetty, Cardiff, and Scripts in La Jolla. But you should search out the breaks that you like. Even IB has a nice fast wave with smaller crowds.

Weekends can get crowded with a good swell. Really, not much attitude in San Diego with the exception of well known local breaks with one take-off or peak, do yourself a favor and skip those spots. Plenty of breaks and cool surfers in SD, have fun & share the joy and you will have absolutely no problems!

[Katsura]

One word, San Onofres Or is that 2 words?
Huntington is, as far from the true soul of surfing these days as it can be. It's just a marketing ploy. Travel out from that area, Northen SD or south across the boarder to Baja, that's where the surfing culture still lives.
Check out Encinitas, Oceanside, Cardiff etc I think You will enjoy it.

Another 'secret' spot is Point Loma if the conditionas are right, but it's a long walk to get to and from it and a long paddle out... In any case, DO visit Point Loma national park, it's so lovely. When you are int eh area, also go to Julian inladn for some Apple pie.

BTW, say hello to the giants 'tits' with flashing red lights when you drive on the I5 - you will know what I mean when you go past Also, take a break from driving and have fun play with the super fat ground squrriels and bunnies on a 'Vista Point' just south of Camp Pandleton.

When are you going? The summer school holidays are finally over and the holiday crowds will be gone soon. It really is a zoo in the summer... fall/ winter waves are better anyway hahah.

Arr I miss San Diego

[longboarder]

Thanks a million guys,
Good lot there to plan around.
Jaffa the wetsuit question was because its only on the very odd day here in high summer that some of us dispence with a wetsuit! So am looking forward to surfing more without one.

Katsura we will be there from Sept 14.

Thanks again all.

[jaffa1949]

You are going to feel so liberated without the rubber

[Katsura]

Good timing, the summer crowds are mostly gone and some autumn could be on the way.

[longboarder]

[quote="Katsura"]One word, San Onofres Or is that 2 words?

Actually it should be four words - to paraphrase the well known song "San Onofres, San Onofres so good they named it twice - I love it"

Just back home and will long remember the surfing at San O'. It was by far my favorite spot, although having surfed it once I didnt go anywhere else after!

I started in San Diego, Scripts at La Jolla and on to Encinitas. The surf was small (magic seaweed was listing 1 & 1/2 foot at 16sec all week. So without much swell the waves would jack up at the last minute out of nowhere. So I found these spots frustrating. The short boarders were getting very short rides.

Next came Malibu where I was interested to see but didnt think I'd get to surf it because of crowds and attitude. But I couldnt resist. Had a really nice dawn session. Not too crowded and the vibe was great. Surf was waist high with the very odd one slightly bigger so I suppose the serious lot were not out.

But with these same conditions San O' was producing shoulder to head high! Easy to get out and again a great vibe. Never really got windy either.

In relation to some of my queries - in case anyone has the same :

Board hire was patchy. Some spots only catered for beginners with soft boards. I would definately recommend hiring for the duration if you plan to surf regularly. I rented for the second half of the trip from Bruce Jones in Sunset Beach ( http://www.brucejones.com ) he had a great selection of rental boards.

For Irish/UK visitors I would recommend bringing a short summer wetsuit. The water wasnt cold but it wasnt warm and some days the breeze was quite stiff.

So thanks guys for all the recommendations - pity I couldnt try them all, but all in all surfwise I had a great trip.

[Katsura]

Stoked!
Lovely trip by the sound of it! Please post pics if you'd like to share.

[surf patrol]

nice one longboarder, sounds like a good surf trip. I'd be interested in some pics also.

[longboarder]

Hi Guys,
Sorry - no pics. Was surfing on my own.

[Liquid Peace]

Longboarder,

Sorry to read you did not get much swell while you were there in CA.

I guess I was used to the water temps, I know I trunked it July through September.

And I am shocked board rental was sketchy/patchy.

I know its a drag when you don't get proper waves but it sounds like you made the most of it.

[surf doc]

Man, I totally missed your post earlier sorry. Trunks are not terribly comfortably here, even in the summer unless you happen to have a balmy day. Glad you had a good trip!