The Truth About SURFING Lower Trestles

[@braxtonvillagran2664]

Love your vids dude, keep it up

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! Always appreciate the positive feedback.

[@bermcannonk]

I go lowers to see sprinter van set ups and the latest Electric bike tech.

[@kimfleming4161]

Screw that..Walk

[@gerbilman1]

@@kimfleming4161 on the walk from Church to Middles, it can be like the Indy 500 sometimes. Came close to getting run over a few times.

[@kuppdaballsstrokedastaff429]

I always thought that electric bikes were invented because of Trestles

[@gerbilman1]

@@kuppdaballsstrokedastaff429 surfed Bolsa Chica and seen some normal bicyclists yelling at the electric bicyclists. Pretty soon it will be all out WAR.

[@muttonbuster]

My father has the best stories of sneaking past the marines in the 1960s to catch Lowers nearly empty. If you got caught, they'd take you to the gate at Pendleton, and you'd have to wait while they called your parents to come and pick you up (which in those days meant your father was pulling out the belt).. Once the marines came onto the beach and were yelling on a bullhorn to paddle in. He and his buddies paddled all the way down to the Point at San O' and disappeared into the crowd.

[@sneakerset]

Yeah. The MC had a mule utility vehicle for transport. The driver was a cool guy in fatigues lol

[@jordyzelaya1459]

Your dad is spot on.I was one of those kids that snuck in many times back in the day,but somehow I never got caught,did surf it completely alone quite a a bit.I tell my son the same stories...

[@jamespardue3055]

My buddy in Costa Mesa disappeared for 8 days in '73, but turned up sunburned and covered in poison oak. He hitched a ride down there, hiked in at night, and camped out in the ravine until the marines caught him. 7 days of south swell basically to himself at Lowers.

[@ferp420]

you could camp on the marine base and have safe easy accsess to lowers i cant tell you how many fights i got in to with stupid mps just out of bootcamp we used to sit outside the officers club there and fight with the drunk marines for entertainment good times i always sead they should teach hand to hand combat to there marines most couldent fight there way out of a paper bag

[@thomasrichardson-ev1wp]

Also they would take your board. Remember back in the day we surfed without leashes.

[@jamespardue3055]

I have a long and convoluted relationship with Lowers (that whole stretch of coastline actually) Glad I ended it when I did, it's completely overrun. Grateful for the 20 years of great waves, though.........thanks for posting Brad, very well produced videos.

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks! It's gotten even more crowded since Covid.

[@adambauer3424]

Some of the absolute best surfing content being put out right now. The soundtrack is so perfect.

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@imyourhuckleberry357]

Always had a good time watching you guys as I went by on my train...I am a Locomotive Engineer and went by this spot for years...Love it

[@Makai77]

Nothing but fond memories of Lowers. However, I rode my longest and best wave at Uppers in 1985. Moved to Oahu's North Shore just before winter 85-86 and have lived here ever since. Don't miss Trestles one bit.

[@releasetoreceive]

I bet!!

[@waynehearst317]

as a young So.Cal surfer i'll NEVER forget my first experience at Lowers. We intentionally waited until we had surfed HB and Newport sand breaks for a few years before we thought to be "worthy" enough to try Trestles. This was my very first reef break experience and we caught it on a day when the water was exceptionally clear. If you surf here, you get it...some days the water is just crystal clear. Its been almost 30 years since that moment, but I can still remember it like yesterday.....standing up and seeing the rocks below me. Was like surfing in an aquarium. Really amazing and unforgettable experience. :)

[@gerbilman1]

Cool video. I usually surf Middles or Church. Every time I surf lowers, I end up wanting to murder someone.

[@BradJacobson]

Good idea! I'm sure your frustration with lowers is shared by many.

[@gerbilman1]

@@BradJacobson haha, so true. Thanks for reply.

[@kai_surfs7701]

@@BradJacobson Yes to the murder part or surfing another spot haha

[@waynehearst317]

100% with you. As you get older, wiser and less aggro...you push South to Middles or North all the way to Cottons.... :)

[@gerbilman1]

@@waynehearst317 definitely. I like Middles, but even that takeoff spot can be tight sometimes, but more manageable than Lowers.

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

Groms drop in on ever one now days. When I was a kid I literally would get run over, yelled at, and chased out. I still have a scar from it

[@ferp420]

one of those scars are probably from me lol your welcome

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

@@ferp420 probably not. I’m 42.

[@ferp420]

@@ThePerpetualStudent yup sounds about right i practicly lived there from 1990 -1994 would do 3 months at a time thats all the campground would let us stay there for then we would have to wait a month to go back

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

@@ferp420 right on. Dude was Asian. Scared the hell out of me but I learned. Where you at these days??

[@ferp420]

@@ThePerpetualStudent i spent the last 20 in half moon bay harbor as close as i could get to the real waves but had to leave before i got in trouble to many winnie liberals i just wanted to strangle all of them so i left so much more peicefull out in the middle of nowere people used to sharpen there skegs back then for um less resistance i stoped when i ran my self over and cut my ankle open lol i still have that scar i dont realy surf anymore health issues but i can still ride small waves lol

[@communityprepper6153]

Surfed Lowers for the first time ever in 2000. My buddy and I parked by Carls and asked a guy walking back "how are the conditions". He said "fun, about 4-6. I could have never predicted the session I would have. 15 guys out, super consistent, glassy. I saw my friend paddle out with me and I only saw him after that paddling back out, or on a wave when I was paddling back out. Got a million waves that day and my arms turned to jelly after 5 hours and about 10 miles worth of waves. One of my best memories in surfing.....That uncrowded day, circa 2000'.

[@loismylane]

Half the time surfline will say "1-2 (hawaiian) poor to good" and then you go out and its 4 foot and glassy with nobody out

[@danielpalmer8750]

Surfed Cottons Point and Trestles. Always complied with Marines. Surfboard impounded once, but returned because I showed respect. !966 - 68. Military Beach front given to the people of California by soon to become President Richard Nixon. Fast break over rocky bottom. - By the way, excellent photography and background music

[@sneakerset]

Yeah..Nixon/Reagan. My g/f and I got into trouble with the Secret Service in San Clemente - sleeping on the beach.

[@karlbe8414]

Not located in San Diego!

[@insidethetoob]

sd county

[@karlbe8414]

@@insidethetoob or San... Clemente.

[@SanchoCanlas]

@@insidethetoob yaaaa no...it’s Orange County lol

[@insidethetoob]

@@SanchoCanlas county line is at cottons

[@ferp420]

san onofre state beach address 5200 pch san clemente ca 92672 and thats about 10 miles south of lowers definitly in orange county by a long shot i spent summers camped out down there we would be there before out before the sun came up and would surf till the cooks showed up then go eat at the rv take a nap then paddle out at churches for a few hours go back to the rv get drunk and stoned then back out to lowers after everyone leaves for a dusk session then down to old mans after dinner oh the good old days lol

[@jimcallaham1392]

good video.last time I surfed there was maybe 1990,92.got off work early,drove down there from costa mesa. From the freeway it looked bad, 1to 3 feet, blown out , but hey only 2or3 guys out nothing better to do. Hit the water and the wind quit,glassed off and a set from the southwest rolled thru ,then another and they kept coming till dark. I will always remember that day. One of the best days ever. No reason to ever go back there and be with the crowds.

[@zacspencer]

When you surf lowers a couple times a month but watch this anyway

[@thesurferdudecali]

I have never watched one of your videos halfway and then clicked off, they are always get me hooked

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@aaronvu6292]

I used to work near San Clemente high school (Titans) from 2006-2010, surfed Trestle less than 10 times, never really clicked with the place, but San Onofre was another story, loved the vibe and the people.

[@RickyRicardo03]

That was awesome Brad! Keep up the groovy vid’s! Going here for my birthday 🎂

[@RyanDinz]

15 or so years ago I spent an entire day there blazing on the beach and eating lunch between 3 sessions on a perfect day that looked like the video only a foot or 2 bigger. There was 30 or 40 guys out most of the day. Then for some odd reason all the stars aligned and legit every person besides my friend and 2 other guys were out for a half hour window. Was a complete miracle and I got every set wave that came in until it went back to 30 guys again in a heartbeat. Never forgot that insane luck

[@BradJacobson]

Sounds awesome!

[@SkipperSurfReview]

Hands down, the best high performance wave in the world. Good times! I went to CA two years ago and had a chance to surf out there twice. I was just sitting on the shoulder and enjoying the show. If you are not a pro, I wouldn't even bother going to the peak. I was able to pick up a few scraps on the inside and they were the best waves I've ever surfed in my life!

[@gutzzgutzz6795]

the secret to surfing lowers is go farther out then everyone and wait for the bomb

[@ferp420]

@@gutzzgutzz6795 then you have to compete with the longboarders who can catch a hint of a swell long before the shortboarders even notice theres a wave

[@RyanDinz]

You definitely don't have to be a pro, just good enough to not fall if you get a set wave because the entire lineup will make fun of you and you'll probably kill someone lol

[@philruitcel2696]

First time I surfed Lowers was in 1974. Everyone at that time was riding single fin pins. I had a Plastic Fantastic wide tail 6'-2". It was consistent head high with over head Sets. The left wasn't that developed that year, but the rights were incredible. Maybe 20 people in the water. Access then was a long walk from Sano or the long hike from San Clemente. Most people stopped at Church, Cottons or Uppers. Prior to Surfline if you lived on the coast and were flexible with work you could hit a building swell with little crowd. When they started having contests there it was the beginning of the end, Glad I got it when I did.

[@BradJacobson]

I've heard some cool stories like yours. Must have been amazing.

[@donh3590]

@@BradJacobson and the marines use to leave the place littered with unused rations. you could eat for free between sessions.

[@bonefishboards]

BITD Lowers was manageable. Now, pre-dawn sessions in 'B' quality swells/poor weather/poor wind gets the average Joe some waves at Lowers. And it's still quite fun. And another killer video. Well done.

[@BradJacobson]

Thanks!

[@andrewfazekas_]

Great info! But why would I surf there when there’s thousands of breaks like this in the Caribbean without crowds

[@jamesmeridith8875]

Thanks for giving San Diego the credit. I know it’s closer to San Clemente but let’s be real it’s a San Diego county spot!!

[@NevadaNihilist]

Over rated, full of kooks and SC doosh bags not worth the hike. On ANY GIVEN SWELL. Other spots in the vicinity good to go.

[@saulgoodman7858]

😂😂

[@tommyhorner5512]

agreed on a given sell head to anywhere from trials to even creek and get little worse waves with less doosh bags

[@kimfleming4161]

Amen TooThat

[@RyanDinz]

@@tommyhorner5512 I've found Creek even more annoying

[@ScottLaffin]

I remember surfing lowers twenty plus years ago and on good winter swells you would only have twenty to thirty people out, believe it or not I have also seen less than ten out at times. Man those were good days.

[@colingladstone1911]

Thank You so Much for getting the location of Lowers correct. It really drive me nuts when people say that it is in San Clemente. San Clemente and Trestles are not even in the same county.

[@TheSchmuel]

The Warren Miller of surfing

[@chriscoralAloha]

Surf trip. South Bay boys need a passport.

[@cliffbarber6058]

I remember when you could get arrested for surfing the spot.

[@vwbustube]

Not sure if you've already done it yet, but it's probably time for a full feature "Warren Miller style" movie or documentary. Just a thought (sorry if I missed one already).

[@AudiSportFan1970]

The crowds kill it for me nowadays, I’d rather take my Jeep to the Eastern Sierra and have a fire and a steak! I still love surfing though.

[@chase.mcf1]

lower tresles, so beautiful and so chaotic at the same time

[@foonatt]

I dont live by Trestles or surf it very often, but it seems like the wave has changed. The wave face mutates on NW wind days. Has it always been this sensitive to NW winds? Seems like this summer has been all NW winds and no eddy wind. From Carlsbad btw

[@Deanguilberry]

I had a friend with a truck who was a lowers addict so I surfed there a lot, for years. No barrels, long walk, crowded. Give me a hallow beach break any day. On a big day sometimes there were barrels going left.

[@AnzaValley]

I surfed lower for years in the early 70's It was great times. But that was before cords ruined surfing. There was the third rule in effect One third were riding waves One third were swimming in to get their boards One third were checking out the dings that needed repair before they could ride them again. Yes those were the g Golden years before cords ruined surfing

[@othman3192]

music is on point sir

[@snowlife23]

Feel like some one should finish me off after that music

[@lakerslazy3416]

Theese are my favorite videos of yours, please make more!

[@ollilyukmanov8361]

Love your vids, Brad, how do you know when a spot is really firing?

[@BradJacobson]

I study the surf forecast, swell directions and wind.

[@floridaspringhoppers.7354]

Conner Coffin. I use to run into him at tarpits all the time in Carpinteria.

[@adambrown3918]

Great video! I live in SD and have NEVER surfed these spots. 02:41 - too many people . Looks amazing though! Gotta be fun watching the pros do their thing. Maybe one day I"ll visit. I'll enjoy the breaches down south for now. 😉

[@bigislandsurfing9025]

This is good info. I’ll be there in September to film WSL finals so any info is good info. Illl have to lug around a tripod and back pack but that’s ok. Luckily I’ll be dropped off, so, no parking fight for me. Just would like to know best place to film

[@Mr.Bevels]

Ryder wade throwin fat spray in the intro R.I.P Ryder

[@TH-nc1gj]

May I ask what camera and gear you use ?

[@BradJacobson]

I shoot with the Canon 1DX Mark ii and the Canon 400mm 2.8 but I got this footage from Ethan McKenzie

[@tuskedbeast]

Nightmare with a nice soundtrack....

[@BangTaoBeach]

I give you credit for knowing that Trestles is in San Diego county. But it sure has the OC D-Bags in the line up.

[@sbnqy]

I can sense a bit of Bruce Brown influence in your vids. (Not a bad thing at all) nice work really enjoyed it...🤙

[@jameshswor]

Think walking to Lowers is a big deal, we used to walk in from SC State Park on the beach with long boards. My forays ended in 1966 when I was arrested on the beach and given a ticket by the jarheads. The ticket was worth a $50 fine in those days. Took me all summer to pay it off...

[@c19ANDRE]

I could watch people surf trestles all day, wave looks like it was made in a factory

[@finnnesbitt3186]

Can you do a video on 54th street newport or any newport surf spot

[@lupodisol]

Great jazz…I would like to hear Take Five by Brubeck….taking five on the nose of a board at trestles.

[@jamespatterson1847]

I saw M Sebastian get barreled on the left with a broken leg a looong time ago!

[@parabola8933]

Grow'd up surfing there 80s and the 90s. Great memories.

[@bacon9349]

Love these style of vids "the truth about surfing_________" great content keep it up

[@jerryenebak204]

You should've been there in 1969 when me and my buddy Robin had shoulder high waves all to ourselves. That was only one of the many daring trips we made to trestles. There was always the risk of camp pendleton jar heads and the time we were apprehended by Nixon's secret service. The waves were always worth the risk as you can see in this video.

[@5150abbott]

When Nixon lived there were the best times at Trestles. Uncrowded.

[@surfriderMK]

Is that Noel Salas @ 8:33?

[@loismylane]

My best word of advice is simply join the Marine Corps or work on base so that you can park right there on church. I used to have the most painful 100 yard walks back to my car after a long day of surfing the different breaks

[@jamesmartin3811]

I enjoyed that video you should definitely make more videos of different spots

[@omgsurfer]

Was that Caroline Marks at 1:28?

[@BradJacobson]

Yep

[@megawavez]

Very good waves and.... crowded

[@thegr8stm8]

Hey Brad... gr8 footage... like to see more arse... nice!

[@opm0016]

When I was in Ca for a decade I lived in LALA n surfed topanga when I wasn't doing air drops at rose ave ya dig cuz VENICE is where I'm from but I dont wanna fight with VBWLS every day for a year so I surfed rose that had a turn or 2 n that crazy air drop, anyway i ain't never been to none of ur south ca spots.

[@jordyzelaya1459]

The most over-rated surf spot in the world.A total burger 95% of the time with a huge crowd, the majority being pro quality. Find a nice hard breaking beachy nearby,and get 10 times more waves.

[@kai_surfs7701]

If you can deal with the crowd its worth it man, every time i go I end up doing double the amount of turns I might in a normal session.

[@travistarp7466]

Agree, trestles is a pretty weak wave tbh, especially for the 'world class' label it gets. Its definitely overrated, especially on weaker swells, but don't get me wrong it can get really good. Its only worth it imo to make the trek if its super consistent because of the crowd. luckily lowers is a peak, so every wave is actually two waves.

[@ferp420]

its by far the most consistant good break in sothern california even on week swells its better than most breaks south of point conseption

[@RyanDinz]

Crowd is annoying, but no way that wave is overrated. Every time I go I get at least 10 overhead 150 yard rights despite the crap I deal with to get them. I only go when it's big though, because a 3-4 overhyped Saturday on a lully day is like Hell there.

[@jarrodderr]

1 peak. 95 millionaire kids. Keep it.

[@comfortojimba4449]

I grew up surfing the area when it was surf at church and paddle to lower or upper trestles on big days cottonpoint was the best if you didn't mind the marines by land and sea Nixon was still president

[@AnzaValley]

I lived in Capo Beach A couple of doors down from Hevs clan during the 70's. Surfed trestles everyday. Got plenty of good wave it was not crowded back then. I call it Surfing BC before cords a third of the guys were swimming in, a third of the guys were looking at all the dings in their boards after swimming in, and the last third were surfing good waves. SURFLINE ruined surfing. No more sneak swells with a handful of guys out riding glassy 6-8 ft waves. The real surfers could just feel when the wave were good, and knew when to hit it. Now days with cords they are a bunch of wussies that will probably drown if their cords break. WE HAD PARADISE IN SO CAL NOW IT IS JUST HELL.

[@fboness368]

Stop naming spots!!! (Just kidding 😉😂)

[@colonelkurtz2269]

5:21 What color wetsuit would you like? YES.

[@floridaspringhoppers.7354]

Damn, I never knew trestles had a left like that.

[@Buttface818]

San Clemente 🤩

[@andrewlove3686]

I feel deeply for north county surfers. It must be a real struggle for u guys.

[@SenorMartinos]

Great vid!!!

[@jabbabbabba]

Do the truth about surfing............................LUNADA BAY

[@Vaughanflaherty]

The bay that shall not be named...

[@waynehearst317]

are you trying to get rid of Brad Jacobsen?! Everyone knows you don't surfe Lunada Bay, you don't even speak of Lunada Bay! Lol...seriously though...as a 30 year So.Cal surfer, we heard too many horror stories about PV and the bay. Guys coming back to flat tires, broken windows in their vehicles or getting smacked around in the line-up and beach. NO THANKS.

[@Vaughanflaherty]

@@waynehearst317 Lunada Bay is on my never gonna surf there list, but there's actually a couple breaks in pv that aren't localized basically at all except for the occasional cranky old guy, probably the friendliest one is PV Cove/Bluff Cove. I'd recommend trying it out sometime.

[@surf64.5overhead4]

I know trestles. Trestles my salty sea friends on a big winter swell actually is best. Try it when's it's 6-8 ft backs, doubleoverhead to u, on a north swell. It's not your mommies summer time south county picnic. AND it's not crowded.

[@Jay-fq8uz]

Yes it is it’s always crowded hahaha

[@danielpestle3491]

Brookings jetty PNW is like lowers

[@tommyspalding3468]

some of the best vids on youtube, can you make a vid, “the truth of surfing the cove

[@exterminator6661]

La Jolla cove?

[@tommyspalding3468]

@@exterminator6661 pv cove, it’s near where brads posts most of his vids about

[@travistarp7466]

@@tommyspalding3468 isn't the cove mushy

[@tommyspalding3468]

@@travistarp7466 it’s a logger spot, but super popular in the south bay

[@derekjenkins1878]

For all of you commenting “Four score and seven years ago blahblitty blah Trestles yadda yafda mermaid tittles and all you can eat lobster…” build a Time Machine or STFU. Gosh, I remember when the 405 had only 17 cars on it and we didn’t have to wear seatbelts and gas was $0.89.

[@beeline2]

looks like Doheny

[@Jay-fq8uz]

Damn who’s that at 2:20 ?

[@danaharper9708]

Lowers at 0200 on a full moon is a lot less crowded.

[@ionisius]

Are there any bad surfers in lowers?

[@pawkyyy]

joel tudor!!

[@trayeisner6495]

Do a Venice Beach video!!!!

[@DadiozX]

Nice vid

[@stevedexter-ns7qj]

Got news. Longboarders are not real welcome unless your last name is Tudor or McPhillips

[@thesurferdudecali]

Wait doesn't sandspit attract many pro surfers?

[@luisbenitez1294]

San Diego wtf

[@kwamijw3363]

I chuckled at @4:18 "everyone can enjoy lowers" and then we see a snippet of the "Truth About surfing Lowers as Joel T" 😉 I pictured he paddled out da back and picked the waved he wanted to start the day and get his silky flow on ....and all with dry hair. 😎 You know you he got juice! Great vids! Keep 'em coming!🤙🏾 @8:23 Noel Salas test driving a new surfcraft?

[@releasetoreceive]

Wait, trestles is in Orange County.... not San Diego ?

[@whatmemories3728]

Technically SD

[@mrsteveinsandiego]

Upers n lowers great surfing. Best is 6-8' ez riders

[@brendonmasters]

Messtles. Blowers. Fuppers. Didddles. Skirtches

[@ivydune4185]

How does Lakey Peterson manage to get her hair tightly pulled? That's an impossible maneuver!

[@tamasrojas9764]

Do Doheny! The beach of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[@Bobbysflicks]

Do malibu

[@sirrvickx9663]

Lowers is NOT in San Diego. SMH?

[@dylanpiersant3004]

lowers is in san clemente idk if that was a mistake or what but its in san clemente

[@MegaRedbeanAlec]

Yes, keep driving until you hit san diego

[@clintjones9848]

It's San Clemente not San Diego. :P