Northern CA Beginner/Wanderer

[surfdaddy]

Hi All!
I just started surfing again after 30 years lapse since my childhood in San Diego. I'm living in SF and learning to surf again with my middle school age daughter. I have to admit she's learning a heckuva a lot faster than this old guy! We've been enjoying Cowells Beach and Bolinas a lot, finding these two beaches the best for catching mellow waves and easy wave riding. Cowells is definitely the best but the crowds get pretty darn annoying. We love Bolinas beach and the town itself, although waves have been a bit inconsistent this past month. Gave Lindamar many tries but the crowds + closeouts = very few good rides.

We're interested in finding other mellow learning beaches and are even considering a trip back to SD for the summer. Can anyone recommend any other surf spots 1-2 hours from SF? I've read a little about other Santa Cruz spots Capitola and Pleasure Pt. Also, up north, would anyone recommend Dillon Beach? Would be great to find some other less crowded alternatives in North CA.

Looking forward to communicating with you all! If you spot a silly looking guy on a yellow and blue longboard out in the waves, say hello!

[surf patrol]

Hey Surfdaddy, welcome to Surfing Waves

[BoMan]

We're interested in finding other mellow learning beaches... would anyone recommend Dillon Beach?

Dillon Beach is not mellow right now. The waves are big (11 feet) and breaking in short periods, but if you watch the forecasts and go when its 3-4 feet and 14 seconds you will will have fun. Morning is best as winds tend to whip things up later in the day. On your first visit I recommend paying the 8 dollar fee to park near the beach but spots are available up the hill.

http://www.surfline.com/surf-forecasts/spot/dillon-beach_64347/

[RobSF]

Hey surfdaddy,

Welcome. I posted just about the same question a week ago or so ago:

https://surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=27907

I agree Pleasure Point's great. Just a little far away for the amount of time I have.

[RobSF]

Just surfed Cowells for the first time last weekend, and pleasantly surprised. For some reason, I was under the impression - from only one other visit, where the water was so flat I didn't even take my board off the car - that waves right at the beach were rarely big enough to be surfable and that the people I saw further out were better swimmers than I. I somehow thought it was really deep water there. Then Sunday at low tide I saw people walking out there in water that barely went halfway up their shins! I know the bars shift around, but I had no idea the water halfway from the beach to the first bend in the bluff was less than 20 ft deep. Carried my board down the stairs and had one of the best hours of surfing ever. Perfectly formed little 3-4 footers that you couldn't not catch. (Well . . . there were a few doing their best not to.) I still prefer Pleasure Point, but nice knowing Cowells is good for more than boogie boarding!