Even someone who knows very little about Southern California would probably know that it is a popular place for surfing. Modern surfing actually grew out of this area as technological advances made it increasingly more accessible by making boards cheaper, lighter, and more effective at catching waves. Many students come to UC Irvine excited, not only about their academic programs but also, for living near the beautiful beaches of Orange County. This blog post will provide some simple, yet useful, advice for new arrivals to the area interested in beaches and surfing.
When looking for a wave to surf it is important to understand the many variables that make waves good and bad. A good starting point is to look up some local beaches on surfline.com. This site provides information about swell, tides, wind and weather and even has webcams for many popular beaches. Newport Beach is one of the closest surf spots to UCI and it is a decent place to try out surfing. Blackies is a well-known surf spot near the Newport pier. Doheny State Beach in Dana Point is also a good place for beginners to surf.
As far as equipment goes, you will want a wetsuit, surfboard, board leash, and some wax to add some grip to your board’s deck. Our waters tend to be cold enough to warrant a wetsuit throughout the year so this would be a good investment if you want to embrace the beach life. They can be expensive so look for used ones online and at surf shops. The same goes for boards. You will save a lot of money getting a used board. Most surfers start on a long board, around 8.5-9.5 feet long, to get the hang of catching waves and standing up. Many new surfers opt for “soft top” boards for a variety of reasons. This is a sensible option but if you stick with it you may want to upgrade to a higher performance board down the road.
Some other considerations include knowing where to park at beaches. Many beaches in OC have paid parking or you have to hunt for street parking. Consider an annual pass for state beaches because there are many state beaches around (i.e. Huntington, Bolsa Chica, San Clemente) and it can quickly make the around $200 price tag well worth it if you go out often. Also, while at the beach or in the water, be mindful of those around you. If you are new to a beach be aware that many surfers and beachgoers may be regulars who are there daily and have a strong sense of pride and devotion to their waves and beaches. This may come across as territorial and even aggressive to the outsider. But if you are respectful by not leaving litter, picking up left-behind trash, letting more experienced surfers have waves, and generally bringing a positive vibe to the environment, then most likely everyone will have a good time and hopefully new friends will be made.