Surfing Waves

Where in Socal can I find slower, more mellower waves for the winter? I'm trying to make the move from 2-3 foot mushy waves up to waves in the chest high range. Not exactly a beginner because I can catch the mushy stuff all day long, but not quite an intermediate since I can't really do anything larger than the mushy stuff. I normally surf at El Porto, but waves there tend to be pretty fast and pitchy (or so I've been told), so it's not an ideal place for someone trying move up in wave size. It's not a big deal in the summer when it's all mush, but as I'm discovering, when the waves get bigger and faster, it can be a struggle. I'd like to find a place where the waves can get in the chest high range, but aren't as fast, so I can used to catching waves in that size range. My friend always tells me to go down to Trestles, but he lives in San Diego, not exactly a convenient daily dawn patrol commute from LA.

Yeah, El Porto tends to barrel and close out on ground swells. It also has some nice rips. Sunset is a nice point to check out. Always good shape there. You should make it down to Trestles, San Onofre, etc. at some point too.

San Onofre in northern San Diego county is only abotu 90 miles from LA. You might try Zuma Beach in LA area, too.

I'll try and check out sunset again. I'm not a big fan of the parking there. I know that San Onofre and Trestles is about 90 miles from LA, but it's not convenient for doing the dawn patrol before work. Most of my surfing buddies are pretty lazy about heading out of LA, I need to find some friends down in San Diego.

doheney beach is a really nice spot for a learn. also check out bolsa chica down in huntington. its a longboard wave(ish)