tomcat360
Waves Surfed
Ocean beach is a great little surf town with a variety of surf breaks. South of the pier is a consistent reef that breaks mainly left (or the suicide right will take you right into the rocks) The more experienced surfer can shoot through the pier connecting on to the beach breach break. North of the pier is all beach break with plenty of lefts and rights. On a big day be sure to use the rip currents by the pier. Further up is a break called Avalanch - a consistent left off the rock pile with scattered lefts and rights to be had. The crowd here can take some getting used to. Dont paddle out and annoy the locals. Further north of Avalanch is Dog Beach and the rivermouth/jetty. Dog beach is a great place for beginers and whitewater newbies, it stays shallow a tad longer making ths an ideal place to get to grips with surfing. The Jetty on the other hand is a critical right that produces hollow tubes on the right swell. This is not the place to go unless you are confident in your abilities. Ocean Beach is pretty consistent year round although summer doesnt pick up much other than a horde of bathers and tourists. If you catch OB on the right swell you will be in for a good time. Try to avoid low-negative tides as this often causes hollow closeouts. OB will hold up to around 8ft anything beyond that and its touch and go. Also paddle outs can be tricky as the size increases as there are no channels other than a rip next to the pier.
Garbage beach located on sunsett cliffs is a premium surfing spot. There are numerous breaks dotted up and down the cliffs some are very very sketchy. Garbage beach has the easiest access by using the stairs or locals will know of a rope route that accesses the sandy part of the beach. This is the place to come when its big. With plenty of channels to paddle out in. Although its an easy paddle out that requires minimal duckdiving if any its a long long paddle out. Garbage is broken up into two primary breaks, north and south. North garbage produces long rights with a fast left. South garbage produces long lefts and good rights. When theres a swell this is place to surf. Garbage can handle just about any size and often will stay clean longer due to the kelp beds beyond. If you are lucky enough to surf Garbage on a big swell you can get some insanly long rides. The waves here a pretty powerfull so always use caution. Although its a reef break you are unluckly to injure yourself as generally you paddle pretty far out. Just avoid it on low-negative tides. Before you paddle out spend a little time checking for the channels as theres no sense in making something harder than it needs to be. The only downside to Garbage is that on a swell you can guarantee it will be packed - insanly crowded. It does not have a large takeoff zone so the crowds will be very concentrated. On a crowded day you have to surf with some force otherwise the locals will eat you alive and you wont catch a thing. Be careful of sneaker sets as these can really test your metal. Use caution, respect the locals, and you will have a good time.
Blacks is one of san diego's jewels. With deep underwater canyons that create more power to the wave. Blacks can handle just about any size with numerable lefts and righs to be had. The surf here can be world class. Crowds are few and far between that is unless its firing then expect a mob full of experienced surfed. Blacks is a fast high performance, hollow and powerful wave that does not suit a beginner - beginners are better off at scrips pier. Be careful of sneaker sets as these can even humble the pros. Blacks can really turn on fast just don't expect an easy time. Wipeouts are harsh as you can get held down a loooong time. All that said its a must to surf in San Diego and a shortboarders paradise when its on. The only downside is that its a nudest beach - the downside being that its mainly old men so don't expect to see any mermaids. Despite its seclusion blacks does have frequent lifeguard patrols. Just do yourself a favour respect blacks you will regret it if you don't.
a super hollow and fast break when it's on. especially in front of Imperial beach blvd. and Descanso. Sweet lefts off north side of pier
Consitent waves, always fun for people of all skill levels winter is the best season to ride, free parking and low crowds until summer. The wave is a bit more chill than first street. Sometimes a little better, generally the same or worse. Doesn't hold swell too well near the jetty but it does produce waves when it's microscopic.