Page 422 - California Diving and Surfing
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NEWPORT BEACH SURFING: In rona. Rating: Advanced. HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER: The
general, Newport Beach is divided HUNTINGTON CLIFFS: Hunting- Huntington Beach Pier might be the
into two main areas, West Newport & ton Cliffs are another consistent set most consistent spot on the entire
East Newport. East Newport is more of sandbars located in front a series coast. No matter how small the swell
susceptible to W and NW swells, of eroded cliffs. This area is more is it always seems that there is some-
while West Newport fares better with receptive to NW swells than the thing to ride on one of the sandbars
S or SW swells. The waves in West rest of Huntington & as a result it is next to the pier. Predictably, the
Newport are a mix of rights, lefts often a few feet bigger here than the crowd here is vicious as longboard-
and peaks, dependent on a string of Huntington Beach Pier during a NW ers, shortboarders, kneeboarders, and
jetties that dictate the flow of sand. If swell. The crowd here is aggressive bodyboarders duke it out for any-
it’s breaking properly Newport Beach with an established crew of thirty- thing even resembling a wave. Both
offers some of the most exhilarating somethings who surf here daily. Best sides of the pier have potential to get
barrels along the coast (six seconds Season: Fall. Direction: SW or NW. good, especially during the fall, but
in a barrel is possible). Most of the Size: 3’-6’. Tide: Medium-Low. Wind: most people think that the NORTH-
time, Newport Beach is a high- E. Bottom: Sand. Rating: Advanced SIDE side is consistently cleaner &
performance surfing playground GOLDENWEST STREET: Easy ac- more suited for surfing. Blackballing
with easy paddle-outs and surpris- cess, fun beachbreak. Rating: Inter- on the SOUTHSIDE side of the pier
ingly powerful sections. The only mediate17TH STREET: Easy access, is from June 15 to Sept. 15, 11a.m. to
downside to surfing here is that it’s fun beachbreak. Rating: Intermediate 5 p.m. Best Season: Summer (North-
always crowded with surfers from all 9TH STREET. TACO BELL REEF: A side), Winter (Southside). Direction:
over Southern California. The most decent sandbar in front of Taco Bell. SW (Northside) NW(Southside).
consistent spot in Newport Beach is Rating: Intermediate Size: 3’-6’. Tide: Low - Medium-Low.
56th St., Best Season: Summer (West Wind: Et. Bottom: Sand. Rating:
Newport) Fall, Winter (East New- Intermediate.
port). Direction: All Directions. Size:
4-8 feet. Tide: Medium. Wind: East.
Bottom: Sand, except at Little Co-
