Page 417 - California Diving and Surfing
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DANA STRANDS: Surfing here rides no matter what the size. The LINDA LANE: At Palizada & Seville,
requires a quad-burning hike down bottom consists of both sand and just N of the pier, a long line of beach
an elongated set of stairs. Located rock so be careful out there if it’s low breaks is great, mostly for body-
at PCH & Selva Rd., there are two tide. Rating: Beginner. boarding. Surfing is blackballed from
surf breaks: STAIRS & THE POINT. KILLER CAPO: Rarely breaking 11a.m. to 5p.m. all summer.
STAIRS is a reef break between the peak right in front of private homes SAN CLEMENTE PIER: Typical
beach entry & the Point to the south. on empty Capistrano State Beach. beachbreak on both sides of the pier.
It is best at high tide on S swell. The Often a big shorebreak, but when the Rating: Intermediate.
Point has great bodyboarding at the S S or W swell is double-overhead high T STREET (TRAFALGAR STREET):
end of the beach. it won’t close out. Intermediate plus. T Street is a complicated set of reefs
DOHENY: At PCH and Dana Harbor POCHE: At PCH and Camino and sand which produces some of
Dr. there are four surf breaks here Capistrano, S swells gives an outside the most consistent & often per-
called FIRST SPOT, left or right break over a rock reef, & formance-minded waves along the
SECOND SPOT, BONEYARDS, & a reforming inside break for short- coast. There are three main areas to
RIVERMOUTH. Doheny of pre- boards or longboards. Rating: Inter- surf depending on the swell direc-
1970 was THE premier surf spot of mediate tion, each one offering everything
California, until the harbor was built. 204 BEACH: Off Avenida Aragon from fast, down the line surfing to
Now, instead of Pipeline tubes, you a long stairway leads to beach with slow, gutless mush. When it’s micro
get small, slow, mushy surf. An ideal generally tame, mushy waves. How- everywhere else give T Street a check
beginner’s wave, Doheny is a favorite ever, with a big S swell the waves & you’re bound to find a little some-
among longboarders & families alike. transform into a screaming barrel. thing. Bodyboarding 11a.m. until
The waves here are always smaller Advanced. 6p.m. all summer. Rating: Intermedi-
than surrounding areas because of ate.
jetty blockage; however, Doheny is
still perfectly suited for long, mellow