Surfing in San Diego is a big deal. The warm Pacific waters off the coast of San Diego have provided many an opportunity to hang 10 – from seasoned old surf hounds to newbies just getting their feet wet. San Diego has some challenging waves and some more mild parts, so it’s easy to progress as a surfer as you continue to get better.
Surfing is also terrific exercise and an ideal way to bond with nature and catch some rays simultaneously. But, more than that, surfing is a lifestyle – one that perfectly encapsulates just about every aspect of SoCal living. If you’re coming to San Diego for vacation and have never tried surfing, you should give it a whirl. It could be the ride of a lifetime. We have beachfront vacation rental homes and villas for rent that are steps from the ocean and beautiful condos only minutes from the beach.
You should know a few things about surfing in San Diego before you hit the waves. This includes everything from where to surf around the city and what to wear to more informative tidbits like some of the local surf legends and the best secret spots along the coast to catch the primo waves. We’ll also highlight a few neighborhoods around the city ideal for a surf-and-play getaway and the best vacation rental condos and private homes. Here’s everything you need to know about surfing in San Diego.
San Diego Surfing History
Surfing in San Diego began when surfers from Hawaii made their way here in the early 1900s. In the early years, Hawaiian surfing legends like George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku mesmerized crowds with mastery of the waves. By the 1930s, surfers like Woody Brown began to revolutionize the sport by changing the design of the surfboards to improve their handling and performance. When the surf craze hit in the 1960s, San Diego was already well-established as an international hub for surfing. The creation of the Windansea Surf Club brought high-profile attention to local competitions that continue today.
Today, riding waves is more than just a sport – it’s a way of life. As more young people take it up and older surfers stay with it, surfing has matured into a sport for all ages. And what was once a sport dominated by adult men has evolved into a sport that men and women, girls and boys, young and old, teens and tweens can all participate in.
San Diego Surfing Legends
The legends of San Diego surfing are designers who craft the surfboards and the surfers who ride them. Designers like Rusty Preisendorfer, Donald Takayama, Don Hansen, Skip Frye, and Gordon & Smith all made their mark in San Diego with board designs that pushed the envelope with their creativity and innovation. San Diego is where engineer Bob Simmons pioneered the lightweight fiberglass surfboard that has remained the standard.
Of course, great surfboards lead to excellent surfers. San Diego natives that have made their names synonymous with the sport include legends like world champion long boarders Joel Tudor and Jen Smith and World Tour icons Taylor Knox and Rob Machado. While those individuals have established themselves on the pro circuit, many surfers ride for the love of the sport. Head to any beach from the Mexico-U.S. border to Oceanside, and you’re sure to see surfers conquering waves. It’s not uncommon for local riders to dazzle large crowds with their awe-inspiring moves.
San Diego Surfing Tips and Tricks
Surfing is one of those things that looks elegant and graceful – once you know how to do it. Until then, it can sometimes look like a car wreck. Surfing has a bit of a learning curve. But if you have good balance and are determined enough, you should get the hang of it before too long. It may be helpful if you’ve ever ridden a skateboard, been snow skiing or snowboarding, or water skiing or boogie boarding. Once you master the basics, you’ll discover that surfing is tremendous fun.
If your swimming skills aren’t the best, consider starting with a bodyboard or boogie board. Go to a sand-bottom beach with a lifeguard on duty and wade out into the surf. Push off and ride the broken waves, or whitewater, to the shore. This will give you a good feel for the sport. When you’re feeling more comfortable, consider a lesson with a trained professional, or attend a beginners’ surf camp. Surfboards and wetsuits are provided there, and instructors will help you into the water. You’ll be up and riding in no time!
Where to Surf in San Diego
San Diego has more than 70 miles of open coastline, and there are lots of fabulous surfing spots. Point Loma and La Jolla are rocky points with various reef breaks on north, west, or south swells. There are areas of reef between Del Mar and Encinitas, artificial jetties at the Oceanside and Mission Bay harbor entrances, and a river-mouth set up at Trestles in north San Diego.
From Del Mar north to Trestles, North County has primarily south, southwest-facing beach breaks backed by bluffs. North County is the place to go for rip-able, high-performance surf when a south swell is running – and especially when it coincides with an offshore Santa Ana wind.
Sunset Cliffs and La Jolla’s rocky shorelines offer dozens of left and right breaks that work on different swells’ directions, sizes, and tidal conditions. The submarine canyon off the westerly-facing Scripps and Black’s Beach area offers consistent waves during the winter. The jetties at Ocean Beach and South Mission have fast walls appropriate for the young and agile, while the long, slow waves of Tourmaline are popular with older riders on longer boards.
San Diego’s South Bay region from Coronado to Imperial Beach is a single, unbroken crescent of low-lying sand beaches. There are beautiful days of glass-smooth water and peeling tubes to be had. (Especially in the summer months on the northern end of Coronado.) The coast points almost directly south.
Vacation Rentals Near Surfing in San Diego
San Diego Coast Rentals can help with your lodging, especially if you’d like to surf and be near the ocean. We have beachfront properties and oceanside residences to walk to the water in a few minutes or a few steps. Don’t fight crowds, resort fees, and inflated pricing at uninspiring hotels. Try a vacation rental through us, and you’ll notice a considerable difference in the quality of your vacation. Browse our vacation rentals available for your next trip, or give us a call at (858) 531-3247, and we can recommend accommodations based on your stay dates, personal preferences, and budget.
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