Surfing for Dummies
I bought a surfboard about a month ago and have been going out every weekend since, splitting my time between Manhattan Beach (El Porto, to be precise) and Bolsa Chica, two great beginner spots. I bought my board from Rocker Board Shop on Venice Blvd. The people at Rocker were extremely positive and helpful to me as a beginner and not super intimidating like some of the other shops I'd browsed in before. I ended up settling on a 7'8" funboard shaped by Guy Okazaki in Venice.
Manhattan Beach is a small coastal town just 15 minutes South on the 405, and El Porto is a small stretch of beach with a coin-metered parking lot that usually fills up by noon. The line-up can get pretty crowded, but it's a known beginner break and I haven't encountered any territorial attitude. I end up going here a lot because it's so close and easy. There are also good running and biking trails extending up and down the beach where Janet likes to run while I'm in the water.
Bolsa Chica is a state park a little further South on the 405, and a $10 entry fee gets you a day pass to miles of beach with ample parking, hot showers and a small cafe. Bolsa Chica usually attracts more families and campers on the weekends, so even when the parking lot is crowded, the line-up in the surf is still pretty laid back.
It's been interesting seeing how different the waves can be from place to place and from one week to the next. Manhattan Beach is usually pretty choppy, with waves coming in from both the NW and SW that result in quick close-outs. Last weekend the waves in Bolsa Chica were like slow softball pitches, evenly-spaced, waist-high waves that peeled perfectly to one side.
I'm not quite to the point where meteorology plays a role in whether I go out or not — waves are waves — but I check the surf reports on Surfline and WaveWatch just to get into the spirit. Oh yeah, I caught Point Break on cable the other night, too. If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price.
Manhattan Beach is a small coastal town just 15 minutes South on the 405, and El Porto is a small stretch of beach with a coin-metered parking lot that usually fills up by noon. The line-up can get pretty crowded, but it's a known beginner break and I haven't encountered any territorial attitude. I end up going here a lot because it's so close and easy. There are also good running and biking trails extending up and down the beach where Janet likes to run while I'm in the water.
Bolsa Chica is a state park a little further South on the 405, and a $10 entry fee gets you a day pass to miles of beach with ample parking, hot showers and a small cafe. Bolsa Chica usually attracts more families and campers on the weekends, so even when the parking lot is crowded, the line-up in the surf is still pretty laid back.
It's been interesting seeing how different the waves can be from place to place and from one week to the next. Manhattan Beach is usually pretty choppy, with waves coming in from both the NW and SW that result in quick close-outs. Last weekend the waves in Bolsa Chica were like slow softball pitches, evenly-spaced, waist-high waves that peeled perfectly to one side.
I'm not quite to the point where meteorology plays a role in whether I go out or not — waves are waves — but I check the surf reports on Surfline and WaveWatch just to get into the spirit. Oh yeah, I caught Point Break on cable the other night, too. If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price.
posted by travis at
9:01 AM
<< Home