California is one of the best places to surf in the world. It has consistent, high-quality waves. A large number of the population in California have either attempted to surf or surf regularly.
Why is the sport so popular? Keep reading for more reasons why you should try surfing and where the best places to learn how to surf in California are located.
Why Surf?
There are approximately 20 million people who surf around the world. It’s one of the most popular water sports and people on almost every coast enjoy surfing if they have the proper waves.
Whether the air or water is warm or not, you’ll find people surfing, even if they need to wear a wet suit to stay warm.
Surfing is an adrenaline-seeking sport and people love the feeling of relying on nature to provide a wave suitable for surfing.
Surfing is a one-person sport, so you don’t have to wait for friends or join a team to enjoy the activity, which is another excellent quality of surfing.
Each wave is different, which makes for a fun adventure, constantly hoping and searching for the best waves possible.
No ride is the same either, so the sport never gets boring.
Why Surf in California?
In 2018, surfing was named the official sport of California, and September 20th became California Surfing Day.
California has a prominent surf culture, with many coastal residents enjoying the sport regularly. The warmish waters in Southern California make it appealing to surf because for some parts of the year, you won’t need to wear a wetsuit.
The waves are also pretty consistent, which is always a plus.
What Makes a Good Beginner Surfing Spot
A good beginner surfing spot has waist-high waves, about 1 to 3 feet high. It’s also an area on the coast that isn’t rocky, the winds aren’t too high, and the water is calm.
Beginner spots also don’t have strong riptides. All of these conditions lead to a great beginner surfing location. Another criterion is if the beach has lifeguards.
This will give you some peace of mind and is a safer way to surf, especially when you’re new to the sport.
Guide for Beginner Surfers
Beginner surfers should take a lesson their first time rather than renting a board and going out there hoping for the best.
An instructor can teach you how to paddle out safely, ride the wave, and give instructions if you’re struggling to get up on the board.
Also, the bigger the board, the easier it is to learn how to surf. You should use a soft top longboard when starting out so it won’t hurt you and will help you balance.
Also, you will want to wear a wet suit or rash guard to avoid rashes from getting up and down. They can also help you regulate your body temperature.
Most importantly, be patient. Some people figure it out right away, and for others, it takes time. So don’t get frustrated if you don’t get up immediately.
Instead, enjoy the process, and best of all, have fun!
The Best Places to Learn to Surf in California
Keep reading for a list of the best places to learn how to surf in California, broken out by southern and northern California. With many miles of coastlines, there are many great beaches to choose between
Southern California
More people surf in Southern California than in Northern California. Not only is the air and water warmer, but it’s less rocky and has overall better surfing conditions.
1. San Diego, California
San Diego is often sunny and 75. It’s a well-known place throughout the U.S. and worldwide for its warm, year-round, consistent weather.
San Diego also has a prominent and inclusive surf culture and laid-back vibe, making it a great place to learn to surf.
When learning to surf in San Diego, there are a ton of beaches to choose from, so you don’t necessarily have to be on top of other people trying to get the wave.
Also, there isn’t much pressure in a lesson because residents love to live in and enjoy the moment.
People are very chill in San Diego and Californian in general. So you can expect patience and understanding when learning to surf here.
As for the waves, San Diego is one of the top surfing communities in the United States.
Along the 70 miles of coast in the city, there are a variety of conditions and waves to suit your beginner needs.
Beaches great for beginners include Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, and Pacific Beach, where there aren’t huge swells.
These beaches are also very public, with boardwalks, houses, and businesses on the water, so they’re safe places to test out the sport.
2. Malibu, California
Malibu is roughly a 45-minute drive out of Los Angeles. It’s a beautiful coastal location serving some of the best surfing conditions in California.
Malibu has great surfing conditioners for all levels of riders. In addition, many surf schools and private surf lessons are offered in Malibu for those looking to try the iconic sport.
Surfrider Beach is a great spot for beginners with calm and easy waves.
It’s also a popular spot for its role in films on the beach and the wooden pier.
Zuma Beach is also an excellent spot to learn how to surf.
It’s a quieter destination which is good for lessons because it’s not overcrowded, so it’s the ultimate place to learn.
3. Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is known as Surf City, USA, and is a great place to surf in Orange County. In addition, the U.S. Open of Surfing and several other competitions are held here each year, making it a very credible surfing location in California.
Bolsa Chica State Beach is a great beginner spot because of the gentle, smaller waves.
It also has year-round waves, so you can learn at any point throughout the year.
In addition, it’s not very crowded so you don’t have to worry about fighting for waves or colliding with other beginners.
The gentle beach break is perfect for beginners and the laid-back vibes relieve all the pressure.
4. Ventura, California
Ventura is another great beginner spot. It has sandy beach bottom breaks and long, rolling waves that are great for novice surfers.
Mondos is the best beach in Ventura for practicing the sport. The waves aren’t too big or small, and there is no current. It is widely known as one of the best beginner spots in the state.
The 3 to 5-foot waves are super consistent thanks to the sand break.
The mellow waves also make for a mellow vibe, so there is no pressure anywhere in Venture.
Northern California
While southern California may get all the surfing praise and hype, northern California does have its share of great surfing locations for beginners; you may just have to look a little harder and endure the colder water.
5. Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is located in northern California and is another excellent place to learn to surf and one of the best beginner spots.
This city was the first place people ever surfed in the contiguous United States. Three princes from Hawaii visited California in 1885 and surfed while visiting.
From there, people started trying it for themselves, and the sport quickly picked up speed.
Santa Cruz is the home and birthplace of surfing in the state of California, so it makes for a great place to practice walking on the water.
When visiting Santa Cruz, also be sure to stop at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, where you’ll learn more about the history and progress of surfing.
Cowell’s beach is the best beginner spot because it’s located in a protected cove, so you can expect calm water, which makes it much easier to learn the sport.
It’s known for its long, slow waves.
It does get crowded at times because so many beginners come to this beach, but everyone here is very patient with beginners trying to learn.
6. Bolinas, California
The Patch at Bolinas Beach is the ultimate spot for beginners. It’s located near San Francisco, so it’s in a great location.
You’ll need a wet suit here, so make sure you’re prepared.
The waves become gentle rollers before reaching shore and take a long time to curl and break, which gives beginners lots of time to catch the wave.
Because of the slow, long waves, beginners also have more time to stand up and ride the wave, which is great for practicing.
There are some large rocks near the shore, so be careful and always learn about hazards before riding in a new place.
The beaches in Bolinas are protected from winds, making the swells smaller, so it’s one of the best beaches for beginners and one of the safest beaches for surfing.
Enjoy long, consistent, smooth waves that will make you feel like a pro by the end of the day.
7. Pacifica, California
In Pacifica, Linda Mar State Beach is an excellent spot for beginners.
Not only does it have great waves, but it’s also very picturesque and protected from the wind. The south end of the beach has very gentle breaks, which are ideal for novice riders.
However, you will need wet shoes because of the sharp rocks on the ocean floor. You will most likely need a wet suit here, but it will also help you protect against rashes, so it’s worth wearing.
You can expect waves under 5 feet, so they’ll be much easier to ride. This beach can also be busy at times because it’s well known for being one of the best beginner beaches, so be prepared for crowds.
Conclusions
California is a great place to learn to surf. There are thousands of miles of coastline and consistent, high-quality waves.
It’s one of the top surfing hubs in the world and a wonderful place to learn the sport. If you’ve ever been eager to try riding on water, you’ve come to the right place.
Your first time getting up on the board and riding a wave will leave you feeling exhilarated, and you’ll soon fall in love with the sport.
Good luck with your surfing journey, and hang ten!
Do you know of a different place to learn to surf in California that is not mentioned on this list? Say so in the comments below.
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