Top 5 Best Beaches in California to Learn to Surf

VisitSouthernCalifornia.Net
This first video Blog-Cast talks about the 5 best beaches to learn to surf in Southern California which was also delivered on our Blog for the website. Enjoy and leave us your thoughts in the comments section or visit the website and learn more!

[@ryanlong820]

My list: 1. Bolsa Chica, Orange County 2. Old Man's Tourmaline, San Diego 3. Doheny, Orange County 4. Old Man's @ San Onofre 5. La Jolla Shores, San Diego County

[@Chimp_6]

Dude, Doheny State Beach in south Orange County.

[@watti7643]

Thanks for being so random and showing probably the most random spots out there we at the real spots appreciate you!

[@jamesgokux]

can u tell me a good spot ... im a pro wakeboarder ...but i never surfed before .

[@ejectoraircoasters222]

@@jamesgokux just any good spot? Ok for the best of the best in the world, JBay, Skeleton Bay, Snapper Rocks, Uluwatu, Padang padang, and tons of spots along the north shore in Hawaii. This video focuses on SoCal. LA's best spots imo are Topanga, Malibu (all points) El Porto Jetty, and County Line. In Laguna you've got Trestles, salt creek, Dohney, and San Onofre. And In San Diego there is Blacks, Windansea, Cardiff Reef, Swami's, and Imperial Pier. Ventura and Santa Barbra have C st / Ventura Point, Silver Strand, Emma Wood, and Rincon

[@gelato3547]

You should maybe title the video "Top 5 Best Beaches in SOUTHERN California to Learn to Surf"

[@BrianNickens]

Pacific Beach, San Onofre, Doheney, Bolsa Chica, Seal Beach Jetty

[@nasafan2008]

Does Zuma or any other beaches in the LA/Ventura County area allow you to shoot drone footage of surfers without a permit?

[@clarkewi]

Doheny is where I learned in 1963

[@pwengineering9070]

Zuma can have some thumping waves, especially at lifeguard tower 1 or as we call it, Drainpipes. It's real name is Westward beach. I have probably gotten my longest, thickest barrels at Zuma in my life. You should replace Zuma with County Line.

[@ontaca]

sunset beach ,Malibu Ca , is it rocky floor ?

[@eleonorasavova4841]

What months are good for beginners to learn to surf in California?

[@YukariAkiyama]

PB! 😎👍 Also, the part about the locals punks is very true. I’ve gotten the stink eye from people, even tho i literally live here.

[@jefesalsero]

The only time I got into an actual physical fight in the water while surfing was at PB on a warm summer day in 1991. I was a 23 year-old SDSU student who had been living on Loring Street (just east of Mission Blvd) for about a year by that time - I lived within walking distance of the beach (the area north of the pier and not far from Tourmaline). Like many other surfers who were out north of the pier in fairly crappy 3-foot conditions on that mid-August day, I was trunking it (no wetsuit needed - water and air temp were warm enough). The Lefts were holding up better than the Rights, so as a regular-foot I was on my backhand and riding a shortboard (most were on shortboards). I was catching a few mediocre waves here and there, and then I was blatantly burned - a goofy-footer dropped in on me , cut me off, and the wave sectioned. I ignored it and paddled back to the line up, clearly feeling annoyed. On my very next wave, the dude does same thing - he blatantly burns me. This time I lost control of my emotions and did something very stupid that, to this day, I regret (although it was a very good lesson in what Not to do!). Instead of paddling down the beach and distancing myself from the guy, I rode some white water into the shallows and followed him. I was enraged - out of my mind! He was about ready to mount his board and paddle back out when I got close to him. I didn't even notice that the guy was much larger than me (taller and heavier and very fit). I just shoved my board aside, yelled something like "You mother-fucker, you burned me again!" and charged him in about waist-deep water. Stupid move! I threw a right hand and he immediately grabbed me, we struggled, I was quickly over-powered (despite my own good strength, rage, and pumping adrenaline), and within a couple seconds I was being held underwater in a head-lock. In an instant I recognized my mistake and now it became a fight for survival. I really felt like this guy was going to kill me and that I would lose consciousness any second. In a desperate attempt to break free, I bit hard into one of his hands - I know that I bit hard enough to draw blood. This had become my fight for survival, so anything goes at that point. I was underwater, so I wasn't even able to say "I surrender". Lol. So, my bite had an effect, he eased up, and I was able to get to the surface and stand up. We were standing there locked in a struggle in waist-deep water and I just wanted the fight to be over - I was defeated. I immediately said something like, "Okay! Okay! I'm done" and I stopped resisting. The big guy released me without saying anything, hopped back on his board, and paddled back out. I grabbed my board and paddled in - feeling defeated and recognizing that I had made big mistake. Lesson to myself from that point forward: 1. Avoid fighting - it's not worth it (especially over crappy PB waves), 2. Don't start a fight, 3. Never fight in water, 4. Only fight if you're attacked and can't get away. And, I learned to have better emotional self-regulation.

[@gumbysurf1]

A far superior beach to learn then any of these mentioned is Mondo’s in Ventura County. Much more forgiving waves, easier to catch, and a very mellow crowd.

[@daveallen2455]

The best beaches to learn how to surf, are down south. Newport to San Diego.

[@IMEMINE.]

Eggselent

[@ldfreitas9437]

Thanks for not mentioning those up north of Point Concepcion, and there aren't too many of them anyway.

[@jacoblewis9079]

im a sunset local

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

Del Mar.

[@stevenmccart5455]

Trestles , Black's, Doheney , Seal Beach. All good places to learn.

[@visitsoutherncalifornia930]

Blacks? I disagree with you on that. For beginners Blacks location alone is intimidating, not to mention it is much heavier surf even when it is small

[@stevenmccart5455]

@@visitsoutherncalifornia930 I agree the hike down the cliffs can be a bit harrowing and , it's been quite awhile since I was learning to surf. But back then Black's was still a clothing optional beach which kept a lot of surfers from going. We used to dive down and be practically the only ones in the water. Mind you I never surfed there on a particularly big day (it was usually 4'tops) so the whole no crowd thing was the main reason I liked it...also a pretty big drawback for some people might be a sunburned bumm.

[@prestonnosek3893]

Seal beach jetties is better than seal beach

[@jeffhartwig5283]

thanks for not naming my beach or it's surrounding area. Mahalo

[@Nick-bo1uv]

Mondo

[@rjhoover4474]

Sorry bro but Zuma and Sunset are poor choices. I have taught surfing from La Jolla to Santa Barbara and Zuma and Sunset would be 2 places I would avoid for the first lesson. Sunset has rocks in the shoreline and Zuma is too powerful. Santa Monica and Hermosa much bettah.

[@barclaysauers255]

When did Coronado become an island? Never!

[@ClearSolstice]

Zuma beach isn't a great place to learn to surf these days tbh.

[@shanks0307]

The one thing im scared of is stepping on something im not supposed to💀 also getting dragged into the ocean

[@sorenroed6013]

Beginner wanting a safe place to surf? Try Luanda bay in Palos Verdes, trust me, a real secret spot with super beginner freindly locals!!! 😉😉😉😉

[@visitsoutherncalifornia930]

Haha

[@madeinusa5395]

Why are these places located at the beach?

[@brandoncarrillo951]

There’s a few in the desert😯 but I don’t kiss and tell🤫

[@Armando.Sepulveda]

What about Huntington Beach?

[@ejectoraircoasters222]

A lot of guys there are actually good as surfing so it's hard to get waves

[@ec1628]

Go a little further north to Bolsa. The northern portion of Bolsa. North of the lifeguard headquarters. Not as big as HB and the crowd is made up of mostly beginners and old guys.

[@thelamenator53]

replace Zuma with Doheny

[@ryanlong820]

I wouldn't advise someone to learn at Zuma.