Surf California

Today is a semi-sad day for surfers. If you want to surf California you may have to pay a hefty price if you fly out here. Airlines aren’t doing too great recently. Maybe it’s fuel, the economy, or maybe they just want all of your money. Probably a combination of the three.

But now airlines are charging up to $300 to take a surfboard on the plane. Especially on cheaper domestice flights, this will be a damp cloth on anybody’s good times. In some cases, taking the board on the plane may cost more than the actual ticket!

There are a few alternatives, but how useful they are depends on your situation. Some surfers are considering shipping their boards out to where they’re flying, though this can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars, as well as all the hassle of making sure it gets there.

The extra cash these new regulations bring in might persuade some to go for that extra-long trip by the car out to California- though with gas prices as they are, this is also a delicate balance. Especially when you take into account all the Doritos you’re likely to buy on the journey.

Some surfers are just going without boards and renting them. While this is a good option for beginners, for experienced surfers this is just plain wrong. In some locations surf boards can get expensive to rent, and if you’re going out for a few weeks by the beach the price may make you feel a little dizzy.

I would normally understand if airlines had no other option, but some surfers have accused airlines of targeting surfers. Maybe they don’t like the hygiene of the average surfer. More likely they just want to squeeze some more money out of them.

Surfers point out that most airlines don’t require money for golf bags. Dedicated surfers can bring around four surfboards on a trip which can result in a crazy $2,000 for a whole trip.  This seems like a desperate move by a industry in trouble.  Scaring away customers with new charges isn’t the initiative airlines need to succeed.  But they’re doing it anyway.

In one word: bummer. I hope for your sake you already live in California. This won’t affect beginner surfers too much, but those golden oldies who want to trip out to Costa Rica or where ever will feel the bite.

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If you want to learn how to surf California is a great place to get started. While experienced surfers may prefer more remote locations, California has the biggest surfing culture around with plenty of people to get you on your feet- and on to your surfboard.

Today we’re going to sunny Santa Cruz. There are a few beaches here that are excellent for beginners. And after you dry off you can go visit the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum nearby for inspiration. I don’t really like museums. I usually just walk through them, so let’s get on to the surfing stuff.

Cowell’s beach is nearly everything you could want in a beginner’s beach. It’s got really soft, mellow waves. It’s got a nice sandy bottom. It’s really easy to get to, and the area is pretty safe.

The only issue is all the people. On weekends there are loads. Fortunately for beginners this doesn’t matter too much- you’re going to be falling off your board most of the time. For advanced surfers though this beach will get annoying- too many people and not enough action. Unless you like the challenge of working your way through a maze of people.

In the summer this is a haven for novice surfers. It has long, gradual waves and a friendly atmosphere. At some beaches you’ll get douchebags. Cowell’s beach though is a family place, full of beginners who probably suck at surfing just as much as you. There’s something very bonding about learning with people who are as bad as you, so you may find yourself making surfing buddies down at Cowell’s.

It’s near impossible not to meet people here- even on weekdays it can be crowded. Cowell’s is a great place to get on your feet before you explore where to surf California for real. Santa Cruz is a nice, fun town, so head down during the week if you can and hit the waves. If you can handle the crowds, you won’t regret it.

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First off Surf California would like to announce the most suprising thing about this- a surfer has actually invented something! If you know as many hardcord surfers as I do, you’ll know that this is a real achievement. When you’ve got sun, sand and good times, it’s pretty difficult to take the time to invent something completely new. We leave that to people who live in the cold around Boston.

Mark Chestnut had been a dedicated surfer for more than 25 years.

He had surfed around the world, everywhere you can think of in between the Atlantic and Pacific. This guy knew his stuff.

Despite all his experience, he found himself seconds from death when he was out by sunny Baja California. He pushed his board down to go under an approaching wave. Everything was normal. He waited on is board underwater to emerge. He was calm, he had done this a thousand times before. He was sitting on his board and then he began to feel a little anxious.

He should have come up by now.

““I reasoned that my surfboard and my wet suit float, and would pop me up above water. While I continued to hold my breath and sit on my surfboard underwater I realized that I was not rising and was running out of air in my lungs,” he recalled.

He finally surfaced, but he was in shock at how close to death he had been. Another few seconds and he would be gone.

This near-death experience inspired him to begin working on an emergency breathing device. His surfing friends encouraged him as they too had had many close calls with the ocean.

After a lot of trial and error he finally made the A.I.R. which stands for Always In Reach. This device is lightweight and is designed to be worn on your upper arm. It can also be used by firefighters, kayakers and snorkelers to catch a few extra vital breaths. You can check it out on his we got air website. It sells for $40 which is pretty reasonable for the few breaths of air that could one day save your life.

If anyone has already tried this product or has any near-death experiences, feel free to share in the comment box.  Surfing is awesome, but there’s no reason to die doing it, so stay safe people!

Technorati Tags: safety, surf california

Yesterday on Surf California was pretty dramatic- naked people, government officials, car chases and a nuclear power plant. I probably don’t have to sell Old Man’s to you after all that. In fact Old Man’s is one of the most famous beaches around, so you may be reading this article and nodding your head about things you already know. Or you may be nodding your head because you need sleep, so have a look at the clock and take a nap if that’s the case.

Old Man’s is perfect for beginners. Its gentle waves make it a favourite with longboarders from around the world. This means it also has an older crowd dating back to the days of Dewey Weber and Dale Velzy (is it just me, or do surfers have really cool stripper names?) when massive redwood boards were where the party was at.

Here’s a YouTube video with some reggae music:

Old Man’s is the perfect balance of not being too much like a surfing version of Disney World, and having enough facilities to make it convienient. There are plenty of bathrooms and showers, the beach is well-patrolled by lifeguards and there’s always something going on in the notorious parking lot.

If you’re too mellow to party, there are places to have a picnic, so again my advice is to bring sandwiches. If you also like the feel of danger, check this out- there is a real nuclear power plant nearby. However much I love Hawaii, there’s no comparison to surfing within minutes of a potential nuclear disaster. Joking aside, Old Man’s is safe, clean, fun and totally beginner-friendly. This is why I’m giving it my cheesy two thumbs up. Or maybe two surfboards up. Whatever. Go to Old Man’s to learn how to surf and you’ll have a good time.

Technorati Tags: beginner, old man's, san onofre, surf california

To surf California naked is something you just have to try once. Let’s face it. I like naked people. You do too. But today I read some sad news about our right to naked people being threatened by the authorities. Fortunately this ties in with Old Man’s at San Onofre which I’ll review in the next post for Surf California’s Top 5 Beginner Surfing Spots, so I can hit two birds with one stone.

America is a big place. California is also a big place, and there are a lot of beaches where you can go if you don’t like naked people. Old Man’s is one of the last places where the lifestyle that made California the envy of the world can be practised. Beer, singing round the campfire, surfing and watching the sun go down- the Beach Boys’ lifestyle is often portrayed in films, but to actually find a safe, clean place to experience it is hard today.

Officials who are cracking down on this ‘clothing-optional’ part of the California coastline report that Old Man’s is no longer a remote beach as San Diego sprawls further outwards. Complaints from park visitors are supposed to have spurred this recent push to ban nudity at Old Man’s.

The problem is that the laws and regulations are murky at best. You can check out a more detailed look of the legal stuff in this Los Angeles Times article.

The majority of the naturalists are friendly and embody the California laissez-faire attitude to life. Some argue that driving these people away will ruin the atmosphere of Old Man’s and leave the ‘few bad apples’ behind.

I think Old Man’s needs these nudies to keep it the safe and clean place it is. The parking lot at Old Man’s is a notorious gay pickup spot, but that doesn’t matter as long as the family-oriented cohort of nudies get to stay.

One seasoned nudist said “The vibe is very mellow down here. People mind their own business.”

“I don’t understand why this is a problem. Who cares?”

I agree with her. Let the nudies stay. They’re part of the California scenery and I’d like them to stay that way. What do you think?

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To surf california, you need to learn how to surf. So let’s get on that. For someone who’s never been out in the waves, the first couple of times can seem pretty stressful. What do I wear, what kind of board do I get, where should I go, etc.?

First, have no worries. We’ll cover what you want to look out for, and then I’ll give you an overview of the glorious La Jolla Shores.

The whole point of being fresh blood is that you make mistakes. If you don’t make any mistakes, you won’t learn anything, so we want an environment where you’re free to have brutal wipe-outs all day long.

Don’t go to the most crowded beach. Surfing is about you and the ocean, not you, the ocean and 300 other annoyed people. Finding a place to surf is always a balance between finding the right environment and finding a place with not too many people.

Start doing your homework. Reading this site is a good start, but make sure to browse around for more information. If there’s a surf shop in your area, visit it and find out where to go. Tell them you know nothing about surfing- there’s no point pretending to be a veteran Beach Boy when you’re not.

You’re going to want a gentle wave to start with. Gentle and calm are the words to look out for. As a beginner, you’re going to fall off your surfboard a lot, so you don’t want to spend 10 minutes trying to get back on your board.

You also want sand. Lots of sand. Gentle, nice, warm-between-your-toes sand. If you hear about rocks in an area, just don’t go there.

You can check out this video I found on YouTube:

It’s nothing glamourous. That’s the point. When you’re starting out, you’re going to be falling off A LOT. You have to learn to walk before you can run, so practising in a smooth location is ideal.

The video is of La Jolla Shores. It’s a beach that stretches about a mile, and has Kellogg Park just behind it where you can lay back on some grass if you’ve had enough sand.

When they say that San Diego is beautiful, this is the kind of thing they have in mind. In the summer this place will be crowded, but from now onwards you should have a great time, even if the water starts to get a little colder.

La Jolla Shores is a great place to learn how to surf. Remember to bring sandwiches as well. Surf California thinks sandwiches are essential here.

Technorati Tags: beginner, la jolla shores, san diego, surf california

Surf California: We were born to surf. California was born to be surfed.

What does surfing make you think of? The sun glimmering on the water as it splashes on your face? Being one with the universe? Saying ‘dude’ a lot? Whatever surfing means to you, it can be difficult to find the right spots in California to surf. There are tourists, rocks, sharks, surf nazis and probably a sea monster or two to look out for where to surf.

To surf California you need the latest information on where the waves, babes and good times lurk. That way you can avoid the hassle of crowded, dirty beaches where you have to manoeuvre your board around old people in chairs and pooping, crying kids. Not cool at all.

Here at Surf California I’m going to lay out all things surf-worthy in the state of Cali for your convenience.

Why? Because I love you, that’s why.

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