Page 416 - California Diving and Surfing

MAIN BEACH: Summer waves are up before you paddle out and you’ll Unofficial Skimboarding Contest”.
usually small & break right on the not only have a better time, but your THOUSAND STEPS: Another La-
beach. They are usually unsurfed ex- skegs will thank you for it. Heavily guna shorepound that is good for a
cept by bodysurfing & bodyboarding localized so mind your own business few daring bodyboarders, but mostly
visitors, who congregate here from and don’t do anything foolish. Pay for the skim boarders. In fact, some
everywhere in the world. When the close attention to the line-up and you claim this is the best skimming beach
surf picks up, the beach break closes could score some gems. Best Season: of all.
out, & these visitors have a chance to Summer. Direction: S, SW. Size: 6’- SALT CREEK: Located at PCH &
learn what “going over the falls” can 10’. Tide: Medium. Wind: E. Bottom: Ritz Calrton Dr. Three surf breaks
do to them. Rock, Sand. Rating: Advanced here are called GRAVELS, MID-
STREET BEACHES: THALIA ST. PEARL STREET: Only a few locals DLES, & THE POINT:. Shifting sand
needs a large S swell to work, but is have the patience to wait for a good & gravel changes Gravels into board-
a fun reef break when it does. ST. surfing day here, but the local skim- busting barrels in knee-deep water at
ANN’S is a hollow reef break too, boarders have a haven, especially at the whim of nature, otherwise it is an
when it is on. Both are good body- low tide. unsurfable closeout. Although it’s a
board spots. BROOKS ST. is usually VICTORIA BEACH: Not much huge closeout, during the right swell
the best waves in Laguna Beach with chance to surf on this heavy duty and angle it can turn on into some of
a powerful left breaking over a jagged shorebreak, but it sure makes for the the squarest tubes imaginable. Don’t
reef. The larger the S or SW swell the best skim boarding around. ride your new board out there as
better. Brooks Street’s take-off zone ALISO BEACH: Fast shorebreak dings, buckles, and outright breaks
moves out to a second and even a popular with advanced bodyboard- are the norm. Middles is a virtual
third reef when it’s pumping and the ers who welcome the heavy barrels skatepark, full all year of left & right
tide is low. A sharp, unforgiving reef & backwash punch. Aliso is most peaks over a sandy bottom.
is evident by multiple boils and war- known as the home of the “Annual
py impressions coming up the face.
Figure out where these spots pop