California

[soops]

Hello all,
Not been about much of late but i'm here for some advice. I'm off to California for 3 weeks in November. Basically i'm starting at San Fran and working my way down to San Diego via LA.

Dont think i'll have much time for surfing but i'm hoping to have at least a couple of goes in the Pacific if i can.

Anyone got any tips on whether it'll be surfable and very pleasant. Also any tips on where to surf and maybe a friendly hostel or two would be ace.

Cheers
Soops

[jethrodog]

Santa Cruz usually is very good in november. I've seen Steamers Lane triple overhead in november. Definately try one of the breaks there. Try Pleasure Point, 34th, or Cowells for longboarding, Steamers, Indicators, or Privates with the shortboard.
Mavericks season starts in november. You might be able to stop and watch some of the nutcases paddle into 25'+ waves. Or try it yourself. But get pictures if you do.

[soops]

lol... not sure i'll be out if its that big! But i'll get some pictures of the guys that do

Thanks for that jethro. Any idea how cold the water will be? Summer suit temperature? Also whats Santa Cruz like, much night life or is it not worth sticking around there too long?

[jethrodog]

Water is cold. I wear a 4/3 and booties. Lots of people wear hoods. When the sun is shining it can actually get really nice out there.

Santa Cruz is a university town. Very liberal type town, lots of bicycle commuting, electric cars, vegetarianism, organic foods, drug friendly. Cool downtown core, good restaurants, some night life, lots of partying. Worth checking out for at least a couple days, or longer.

Lots of resentment of non-locals with some surf spots. Be careful at Steamers, I saw a fight there in the water once, and another time I saw kids throwing rocks at non-locals. At Pleasure Point there can be over 150 surfers, minimum, on a day where the waves are good. But don't let this deter you. Good surf, hit it on a weekday and there will be way less people. Even with lots, it is still fun. Make friends with a local and head to Steamers with them. I surfed there once on a monday am, only 6 of us out and the waves were bombing. Definately try to get out there, my favorite place to surf, anywhere. And, you can see the statue of the boy with the surfboard, that graces the top of this forum, for yourself.

[jethrodog]

If you do go to Santa Cruz, check out Freeline Surf shop. Peter Mel's dad owns it, so you can often meet Peter there, talk to him about Mavericks, ask him about being so famous. They rent some really good boards there too.

[soops]

Excellent! Reckon i'll spand a good few days in Santa Monica then. Sounds like my kind of place. Thanks for all your advice jethro