Page 437 - California Diving and Surfing
P. 437
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SEASON hemisphere storms are not quite re- pristine oceanic conditions. The en-
OVERVIEW: adjusted. You may luck into a magical tire Southern California coast revels
WINTER: Winter in Los Angeles morning session somewhere along in fluctuating high and low pressure
County is blessed with mild tem- this stretch of coast, but chances are systems, which makes waves, but
peratures and consistent surf. During you’re better off sleeping in. If you’re keeps the horrendous afternoon on-
the winter, northwest swells repeat- extremely lucky you might be able shore winds at bay. During the fall, if
edly pound the coast with overhead to catch to few early season rights at you feel the warm Santa Ana Winds
surf. Most of the south county spots Malibu, but don’t count on it. kicking up, head for the beach.
that are dormant during the sum- SUMMER: Sumner means crowds in MANHATTAN BEACH An evolving
mer finally wake up from their long Its Angeles County. Crowds on the mix of Bond, swell, tides, and wind
hibernation. The South Bay’s beach- beach, in the water everywhere. A which can yield decent waves when it
breaks especially fare well during this strong south or southwest swell is a all comes together. Search around for
time of the year but unfortunately great match for northern Los Angeles a spot that seems to have an estab-
run-off from repetitious storms make County’s points and beachbreaks. lished sandbar. Plenty of public park-
surfing a dicey proposition. In order The infamous Malibu is the preferred ing means by crowds in the summer.
to escape the filth, the Palos Verdes wave of choice for what seems to be Best Season: Fall, Winter/Direction:
peninsula offers a selection of local- ten million surfers from all corners of W/Size: 2’ – 8’/Tide: Low -Medium/
ized spots that are not as exposed the county. Overall, the summer can Wind: E/Bottom Sand/Rating: Inter-
to the massive run-off f ram the Los get good but there are other places mediate/ Daily Surf Report/Webcam.
Angeles basin. that get good, without the obscene
5PRING: Most surfers in Los Ange- crowds.
les know that spring is the optimal FALL. Fall is the best time of year to
time to surf somewhere else. The surf in Los Angel. County as late sea-
northwest swell machine is slowly son south swells combine with early
grinding to a half and the southern season northwest swells to produce
