The Truth About Surfing Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, nicknamed "Surf City", is one of the most well-know surf spots in the world.
I turned to Brett Simpson, Teddy Navarro and Brian Bott to get some insight on the surf at the Huntington Beach Pier. I cover both the action in the water as well as the action on the sand.
Thanks for watching. I'm Brad Jacobson and I'll see you on the sand.
Music: Brian Claxton

[@ericsurf6]

Well done putting this together! My son turned me onto this video. Subscribed! Keep up the great work.

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!!

[@powerofthetime]

Surf fans - subscribe to my channel kzbin.info Playlists. music. Surf. building. truth

[@buzzbabyjesus]

In the '70's, my buddies and me would jump off the pier after our boards at 2:30 am to avoid the crowds. The light on the pier made it possible to surf at night.

[@Nothing-qq4hd]

Was the donutery already there? I miss HB that's my town. Slater slums...oh well

[@buzzbabyjesus]

@@Nothing-qq4hd Definitely no Donuttery when I was there. I left HB in 1986.

[@Nothing-qq4hd]

@@buzzbabyjesus i bet it was the best back then

[@buzzbabyjesus]

@@Nothing-qq4hd It was better before downtown was demolished and turned into a shopping mall. The Golden Bear was a great place to see real music. Easy to sneak into as well.

[@therockerfoo2339]

@@Nothing-qq4hd slater slumming here los Solteros. Donuttery rocks!

[@jackiefitzpatrick2906]

Oh God...the memories ! Used to surf the south side of the pier , in the 1970s and 1980s . Night surfing with the pier lights was a blast too. Several famous surfers had local surf shops , but they were never open on good surf days. So many surfers who surfed the pier will have memories that will last a lifetime , of riding long clean waves , at the pier. I miss it but love to watch surfers riding where I used to surf .

[@DJJoshMcClintock]

Night surfing there on the right swell was super fun!!!

[@philmiller4961]

IN SUMMER RED TIDES *(AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER), WE WOULD SURF EMPTY FULL MOON PHOSPHERESCENT WAVES AT, SANTA ANA RIVER JETTIES, SOMETIMES. ONCE, WE INTERUPTED A COUPLE MAKING LOVE AT MIDNIGHT, UNDER A FULL MOON, HIDDEN BY THE ROCK JETTY. IT IS TECHICALLY ILLEGAL OF COURSE, PAST BEACH CURFEW WAVES.

[@countrycreekclips4749]

Me too

[@KurbzGarage]

I used to surf there at night after watching a surf movie at the old surf theatre

[@MoustacheCloud]

How do you even see? Just from the pier lights?

[@walterpeters2344]

@@MoustacheCloud yeah, full moon helps also.. but Seal Beach has a better night surf setup (if it's breaking)

[@powerofthetime]

Surf fans - subscribe to my channel kzbin.info Playlists. music. Surf. building. truth

[@FightScienceAa82]

Haha same here. Actually we used to go to the after hrs parties in the old theater also. The good old days.

[@CounterFleche]

The pier lights help a fair amount. The hardest part is seeing waves coming and especially watching for sets. In daylight, we first see waves by the change in water color caused by the shadow /depth difference. At night, that is much harder to see and you don't really see the waves until they are much closer. The light from the oil drilling platforms helps--when it goes out you, know a wave is close. The light from the city can also help you see while riding, but for me the hardest part was always seeing the waves coming in time.

[@TheCaseyCagle]

Couldn’t have said it better as a local. Also thank you for diverting people away from the better spots here in HB 🤐 keep up the great work!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@hgfs6479]

like sea p ---- yeah lets keep that a secret

[@tommyhofer1176]

The only other somewhat good spots are goldenwest, Huntington state beach, and 17th. None as good as the pier

[@flynhayn3466]

All you haoles smh...

[@corduroycal]

@@hgfs6479 shhhhhh that spot ain’t real

[@ImCallingBull]

Huntington is where I learned to surf. My aunt was one of the first professional female surfers and grew up in Huntington, so she taught me at a fairly young age. There was rarely a day where you couldn't at least show up and find a shoulder to hop on. Whether it be the pier, the cliffs, 17th, Golden West, or the fairly new jetties. One of the most consistent places on the planet IMO.

[@BradJacobson]

Great story! Thanks for watching

[@philmiller4961]

THE THING ABOUT HB, IS, ALMOST ANY DAY OF THE YEAR, YOU MIGHT GET AN AWESOME SNEAKER SWELL, IT CAN BREAK WELL ON ANY SWELL DIRECTION. OF COURSE FALL, TO MID-WINTER, YOU HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO RIDE A RARE, PERFECT SWELL OUTA-NO-WHERE. A RARE, DAY OF DAYS.

[@spiritabundance222]

Thanks 🙏 for painting HBizzle in a positive and fun light. I grew up surfing at the pier with Brett and Teddy, haven’t been back to the pier in years. Nice to see things haven’t changed much 😉

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for watching!

[@seansimpson9231]

don't here many drop the hbizzle sauce down..lol..yeww.

[@in_10z]

I live far far away from HB (Gulf coast yep), but it was the very first time I surfed a California wave in my life. Story time: I was in town for some work related stuff and met these dudes out at a bar on my first night arrival. Ended up hanging out at the after party with them and they were so generous as to tell me the best spot to rent a good board and even pointers on the current and such. So the next morning super early excited with excellent swell, I snag the board and a suit, paddled out on the North side with the dawn patrol and had an absolute epic day. This was circa 1999-2000 and although I got a few funny looks on my first few runs, I remember being so relieved that the crowd was cool with me. It was a busy day out. On top of having great waves that mid summer day, it's a memory that I cherish. Hats off to the HB NS dawn crew from early 2000's.

[@kcreagan9799]

Great story!!! Huntington is great but so is Newport Beach a few miles south of Huntington and usually, less crowds!

[@rubyvids8857]

Such a well put together clip Brad. Love this!! Haha and couldn't be more accurate. Keep up the good work and i'll def keep up the support!! 🤙🏼

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

[@saterdee3288]

I love this series so much

[@BradJacobson]

I really appreciate the kind words

[@vanessa_couto]

Ayyyeee my home break!!! Yewww 🤙🏽

[@BradJacobson]

Fun spot!

[@smothersu3932]

Great to watch an accurate video of my hometown, good work. You earned a subscriber

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks. Really appreciate it!

[@mauifilms4632]

Thanks for the entertaining commentary it really makes the videos fun to watch. Warren Miller would be proud!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! I’m a big fan of his (and Bruce Brown)

[@rodneybean5458]

Who remembers Wimpy's on P.C.H.

[@805centralcoastcalifornia4]

Awesome Vlog so Happy I came across this today. Huntington Beach is one of my favorite places in the world.

[@BradJacobson]

Stoked you found my page.

[@rebeccabrear4456]

Born and raised in Huntington Beach 🏄 My brother used to make surfboards for Jack's Surf Shop back in the late 50s and into the 60s..

[@BradJacobson]

That's awesome. I bet it looked a little different back then :).

[@rebeccabrear4456]

Yes, it sure did.. My brother, who turns 86 (16 yrs older than me) in May, lives on Maui, and still surfs to this day, he loves it. I was a bodysurfer growing up, and caught myself in a strong current near the Huntington beach pier and ended up wrapped around a piling, got myself all scraped up, that was not much fun, lol..

[@Lotus-Son]

These are the closest thing to Bruce Brown's old school surf movies/narration (like um..... The Endless Summer) Keep it going! No one does this anymore :( I love the positivity and fun vibe

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for the HUGE compliment. As you can tell, I’m a big fan of Bruce Brown

[@joshuabluhm3871]

I love your videos.. thank you for this one!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for the kind words

[@spencerakin2965]

That’s me at 3:36 getting dropped in on haha

[@roynunez9173]

lol

[@joeblow1942]

Zoorama!

[@SeanOzz]

my old stomping grounds. thanks for making this video. I miss it sometimes. New sub . ( now I snowboard in the colorado mountains.)

[@RickyRicardo03]

Love this spot, a good place to go to on a given day. But I’ve NEVER been out on days like you filmed!

[@MelhadoDanny]

Good fun waves and memories. Love some HB pier!!

[@sammcdonald5237]

And too damn crowded

[@longrider42]

Learned how to Surf at Huntington back in the summer of 84. Rode a 8 foot long board and had a great time. I was what was called a soul surfer. Surfed with the wave. Good times.

[@kentberg6278]

I love the narration, gives me endless summer vibes! I'd like to see how you would explain the scene that is newport beach

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! I’m working on a Newport video.

[@static-remission27]

Newport beach? Why white girls dig black guys yeeeeets,

[@bend5648]

@@BradJacobson school yards

[@marlonmartins9232]

Great video. Congratulations. I Love Califórnia and the surfing.

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks

[@oWo-dz3vl]

Don’t forget how choppy it almost always is

[@bobisrighturwrong]

Lived a short ways from there in 1980-81. The waves were different in winter then with a double break on the south side. Not nearly as crowded either but there were still a lot of people. Had to have your eyes open all the time. Still got my favorite infinity board.

[@dylanwalter5916]

Awesome work!!

[@jfrealestate201]

I was there on the beach southside of the watching Felipe Toledo won the US. Open!! My buddy is Brazilian so he was going nuts. Almost got my first barrel here at age 13, got it a year later at san clemente pier. Great Summary!🙌

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks

[@rodbillings54]

Surfed here and everywhere in both HB and Newport. If there was a longshore current, it was going on everywhere and not just at the pier. On those days, we would typically head out to the jetties along River street in Newport to cut some off that down.

[@jeffdalton6061]

I pretty much surf NS every weekend and this video was very accurate. I would add that the guy in the speedo is a local that is there on a regular basis. Yeah, he looks a little odd, but he's a cool guy and well respected in the water.

[@Misserbi]

Some tips: Go to the north side and extend your reach as far as Bolsa Chica. There are less people out there. Go early in the morning while there is no wind and the waves are glassy. Go with a friend just in case something goes wrong and to enjoy yourself. Always wear a full suit. Even during the summer time the water is in the 50's. And if you have no upper body strength and like to play with smaller waves wait closer to the beach. The outside breaks sometimes have freak sets and if you get tired it can get scary. Last, park your car down a few streets to save on parking costs. That one saved me lots of money. Can't think of any other tips? Oh, respect the residents as they will treat you well if you observe the law. That one was a hard one.

[@gregrichardson8627]

The water isn’t in the 50’s in the summer. Even in the winter the lowest it ever really gets is 55-54,

[@tommyhofer1176]

@@gregrichardson8627 yeah I was like what? Water got to 78 one year. Even right now in December its around 57. 50s on a summer day would be very unusually cold.

[@tommyhofer1176]

Ah yes the northside - bolsa chica area gets good in the winter and good spot to get away from the hundreds of kooks at the pier

[@Misserbi]

50's are the lowest in the morning time. Southern California is like a desert. It gets cold at night even in the summer time.

[@BigPoppieSeed]

Nice video. I will make sure to skip this place. It was nice to see Brevard County Florida represented so well at this crazy place.

[@ralphiewigs2208]

The Golden Bear was right across the street. I saw Dick Dale and the New Riders of the Purple Sage there. The Surf Theater was a block or two north. It was definitely a surf ghetto and a bit of it still remains.

[@s.e.c.3222]

Being a pacific Northwest surfer I went to Huntington this last summer and I have no idea how you So Cal folks surf stacked on top of each other like that. My home break has some crowded areas but after surfing So Cal I will never complain again about how crowded it gets at Shorty's or Seaside. I tend to be more of a surf outside the crowd kind of guy. Respect to the guys that can cut around other people like they do.

[@tr7b410]

That rip at Seaside,s surfer Beach, can be pretty gnarly. Pulling you south bound near the rocks on the beach & you have to break free at the last moment to get to that shifty peak. The long paddle, cold water & sharks makes it doubly sketchy. As a so-cal surfer for 40 years I have much respect for you northern territories surfer,s.

[@MrBreakthompson]

Amazing; such a Bruce Brown vibe. Keep making these please!!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for the kind words. More are on their way.

[@BangTaoBeach]

I grew up surfing HB Pier in the late 60's and after graduating from high school I moved down to Cardiff by the Sea. Actually, my friends and I would spend most weekends camping at the San Elijo campgrounds surfing Cardiff. Less crowds back then and it never got blown out like HB does. I remember that strong current during the summer south swells. A lot of guys, myself included would tie ropes to rails of the pier with empty clorox bottles attached to the rope and hold onto the bottles in order to not be in front of the apartments in a few minutes. And those damn fishermen on the pier casting out to the northside! I got caught by a hook in my left forearm! HB in summer was a hot spot for beautiful girls. I haven't surfed there in over 30 years.

[@bradfromthevalley]

one of my favorite beaches worth the drive from the valley though sometime telling me i gotta ride that boogie board on the north side...finding free a parking spot somewhere in town is part of the journey.

[@tucctucc6214]

Great video!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@twotwentietwo]

Born and raised in HB, im sponger so i stay away from the crowded areas. i like going in front of the hilton

[@southwestxnorthwest]

Early in my surfing, I experienced the current on the northside, and it was roaring!

[@ethanwagner17]

Spot on.

[@californiasun162]

Every day I’m at the beach watching surfer and walking the dog . Huntington Beach is the best place to live been here for 22 years decided to buy a Dodge Roadtrek Live in full time life is real good and awesome surfer

[@beckpedersen2602]

I live further north on the coast, and with surfing becoming such a popular activity, in our town of around 23k, the crowd has gotten so bad, over 90 people on a mushy 2/5 wave.

[@BradJacobson]

Seems like it’s getting crowded everywhere.

[@Thurston.Howell.the.3rd]

4:28 Rambro sighting!! Being photographed by the great Jeff Lewis

[@winstonlopez6117]

Been going there since I was a kid good waves strong current.

[@theultimatecrayon2843]

Great video! Next up... the cliffs! 🤙🏽🌅🌊

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@andrewbx25]

cliffs sd?

[@TrevorsFishing]

Cable cars 🚡

[@tommyhofer1176]

@@andrewbx25 no I think he means the cliffs on goldenwest st. Just a different part of HB

[@midbraintrading6010]

Great video

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@jeremezuanich1444]

Finally some footage, of course I am getting shoved off a right I thought we were splitting...but hey its Huntington pier crowds! Lol😋🤙

[@weatherwatchTX]

You have a great “radio voice” !

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

better than a radio face 😀

[@seancorsnitz693]

Even beach breaks north and south of the pier can form their own pier bowl like peaks on the right swell/swells

[@CounterFleche]

The current there is no joke. It makes me want to get a bus pass to avoid fighting it or walking back when done.

[@ejectoraircoasters222]

Awesome video! I know you live in South bay but could you do one of these for Malibu? I think it would be very funny

[@BradJacobson]

Yep, that's on my list of upcoming videos.

[@Californiansurfer]

1980 I worked for Santa Fe energy collecting data on oil derricks which was fun. All the homes you see in Huntington Beach were built on top of plugged oil derricks today. Please visit Huntington Beach surf museum.

[@cliffbarber6058]

North of the Cliffs up to the Estuary , theres a stretch thats pretty much uncrowded. Mr. Jacobson you've got a good thing going with your "The Truth About Surfing........ Videos.

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! I really appreciate the kind words

[@MoustacheCloud]

I feel like the waves aren't as consistent there, but you're right, it's uncrowded.

[@MrClenz]

When is the up tempo jazz music ever a good idea?

[@belairbummin]

I just moved to San pedro to be near this place for a while

[@josephplatania5593]

Good stuff. Too bad I'm stuck in upstate ny. Rip on bros

[@warplanner8852]

I'm my youth - 70s - during a big swell, you'd paddle out on the North side dead on next to the pier in the "channel". Once you got out past the break and stopped, you'd be _guaranteed_ to be up between 19th Street and Golden West in 5 minutes tops. And anyone else remember the iconic Blues Brothers mural painted on the seawall?

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

haha why you gotta do us bodyboarders like that?? 😄

[@brendandrury2177]

When did Ruby's close approx. ?

[@joedirt8625]

Nice work... Keep Posting... H.B Current On a Straight South Is a Work out.

[@garychavez8794]

When Jan's started at George's that was the best time In hb.

[@midi1529]

Yup. I was 2am to 4am crew, southside, 18, GW. 36 years combing the coast. River jetties was a 40-50 tube day in about oct 89. Then left fucued up calif and cops for a better education in another state. Im a FNP now.... probably never surf in crappy calif again... such a fuc'd up place

[@steveserrels8791]

I surfed and lived in HB in the 70s 80s and so on we also jumped off the Pier behind the bathrooms at night used to night surf when the waves were good I lived in Newport and like it better there the waves are way better there. The people the come to HB pier area trash it spray paint the walls and throw trash out there windows and treat HB like a dump HB just isn’t the same anymore paddle out and turn around and look towards Coast Hwy and what do you see hotels hotels and shops Well that’s it if you Agee chime in

[@sandraquintana182]

Are they higher than normal for HB?

[@frankbeans5921]

Does that wacko with the surfboard still walk across the road every time the light turns green?

[@owensullins4467]

Yes haha I was just there yesterday. I had no idea that he always does that lmao

[@mikeg8127]

who ever dislikes your videos is a straight hater great content man!

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@callum4181]

is it worth surfing anywhere else at Huntington? other than the pier (looking to avoid crowds)

[@BradJacobson]

Sure. There’s waves all throughout that area. Just be careful of the south winds.

[@ajc3185]

Kind of a Warren Miller vibe. Nice

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for the nice compliment. I’m a huge Warren Miller fan

[@mandatethis8024]

south side, pre 1983..... never the same since

[@wakeupthebear]

It's all about the right on the right at night for Me. Big summer swells and no one out. Well that was 30 years ago. It must be packed at night now.

[@sharkbellykelly7956]

That’s muh beach 🏖

[@renzoreba]

Me on a Huntington pier wave, north side

[@LJ_S1K]

Looks like this video series is heading south, but in a good way lol What's next? I'm excited to see what beaches you do in South Orange County, Salt Creek, Doheny, T-Street, Trestles, San-O?

[@BradJacobson]

All of those are great suggestions!

[@paulsandor3522]

Well done. I live here and never surf the pier for all the reasons listed (crowds, pros etc.) You can add great whites as well (I'm not joking!) So, as you can see, there are are plenty of reasons to surf somewhere else. If this sounds like a local dissuading others from joining the lineup, you're probably right. And it probably won't work. 😄🤙

[@joshrandal6982]

Great surf. If you want to continue to have a good day after you exit the water, NEVER go East of PCH until you leave the city limits.

[@cameraman2149]

Hb is not a Venice beach people wise. Far from it. So much cleaner and kept up

[@BradJacobson]

Very true

[@fingerman6646]

Of oc...hb is still crusty

[@G_Money72]

How does one miss Local Legend Mickey Rat!

[@william9533]

Oh yes

[@jeffz1220]

Shreddy Navarro!!

[@chazza47]

I surfed there in the 90's, i lived just up from Taco Bell on Pecan, if i couldn't go out at like 5am i wouldn't bother

[@aidanyager568]

As a local this is accurate

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks for watching

[@michaelsuzio4364]

I boogie boarded huntington beach when I was 12.... perfect for me 5 foot waves big enough to get a slight scare at 12 yrs old but not OMG I'm going to die that wave is 12 feet

[@YukariAkiyama]

12 years old boogie boarding a 5 foot wave? Jesus you are a chad. I have second doubts about when the waves near me are 7 ft+.

[@calhun4481]

@4:26 that's what surfing all about.

[@fiction1249]

Bro I live here damn

[@mrsteveinsandiego]

Never surfed huntington. Malibu was farthest north i hit the beach. Surfed dana pt pre- harbor. I've lived in north San diego county since 1963. Good waves down here, too, at old man's and trestles on camp pendleton, Tamarack in carlsbad, and cardiff reef in, er, you know, cardiff. Swami's fine if not crowded; pretty much same take-off area for everyone. Dont believe i surfed anything more'n 8-10', if that.

[@Nothing-qq4hd]

Kooks go to us open locals famously stay away and hate loosing their zone

[@frankbeans5921]

Yeh brah 🤙

[@Californiansurfer]

Op pro 40 th anniversary. H. B surf museum Nov 2022

[@jeffsadon552]

I was on the pier and saw someone catch a great white shark

[@sterlingdasilvarapperprodu7020]

Every time I go to Huntington Beach the waves are so shitty. I end up going across the street to longboards and getting drunk. That wave sucks! It’s like surfing Sandy’s here.

[@mauricegourmet]

That’s perfect crowd control

[@douglasmiyagawa]

Everytime I've surfed there, people were toxic and parking sucked. Also, seems like the dudes near the pier want attention and get mad at fisherman. They've got the whole coastline to surf and they choose to go next to fisherman, getting hooked.

[@chrismaggio7879]

"No way that's Matt Johnson!"

[@RYDENBMX]

Where are you from? Huntington isn't the venice of orange county.

[@CShivery]

"Fuckin' locals!" -Oliver Tree "I got caught in a rip curl." -Oliver Tree I grew up bodyboarding HB, and had some heavy days and thousands of fun days. Such an awesome time.

[@bogeyt15games55]

Malibu next

[@stevencole7331]

I remember being there when it was the OP surf event and they had a riot at that time I was there. It started with the bikini contest and got the testosterone flowing . I remember at one point a helicopter came in and the crowd was throwing beer bottles at it .

[@BradJacobson]

That was a crazy day!

[@TK-OK]

“ u spongers got any fins I can borrow “

[@thedailyprotest2518]

Do T Street!

[@MoustacheCloud]

Brett Simpson almost took my head off when I was paddling back out and I got in his line. I tried to judge which way to go the best I could, but I went the wrong way and he purposely did a hack right next to my ear. His board got away and speared me in the back. I understand the frustration, but that was an asshole move and pretty unnecessary.

[@huntergiron2388]

Some think that surfing makes them important

[@seansimpson9231]

I have a feeling you paddle towards his line and not opposite direction towards wave face already breaking and he just did a snap where the section is. Dang his board hit you though..fack.. did he say sorry?. oh yeah don't surf there by the way. lol.

[@seansimpson9231]

@@huntergiron2388 it does lol. 😋

[@MoustacheCloud]

@@seansimpson9231 Yes, I did. Only because he took off on a very mushy, slow wave. So, at first, it looked like I should paddle in front of him because the wave is so slow and if I try to go behind him, we will collide. But, because he is a pro surfer, he started pumping and got lots of speed from a very slow wave and he quickly caught up with me.

[@MoustacheCloud]

@@seansimpson9231 and no, he didn't apologize. He mocked me right to my face. I don't know if he realized his board hit me. And yeah, I only surf there when my friends talk me into it. So rarely.