San Diego, CA
Crystal Pier works best on a clean west or WNW swell in the 3-6 ft range with light offshore east winds and a mid-tide. The pier focuses swell energy and creates more defined peaks than the open beach sections of PB. Fall is the prime season—summer sandbars are still intact, crowds thin after Labor Day, and WNW swells start filling in. Morning glass before the sea breeze kicks in around 11 AM is the daily window. On solid winter swells above 6 ft, the wave gets heavy near the pilings and is best left to experienced surfers.
