Surf guides

Surf Guides

Regional breakdowns covering wave types, seasonal windows, water temps, wetsuit needs, and the best breaks in each area.

13 regionswave typesseasonal windows

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Regions covered

Southern California

From Malibu to the Mexican border, Southern California offers world-class waves across 200 miles of coastline. Point breaks at Rincon and Malibu deliver long, peeling rides on south swells, while San Diego's reef breaks and beach breaks handle everything the Pacific throws at them.

San Diego

San Diego delivers year-round surf across 70+ miles of coastline, from the kelp-lined reefs of La Jolla to the jetty breaks of Imperial Beach. The region's southwest-facing exposure catches every south swell that tracks through, while winter northwest groundswells light up the more exposed north county breaks.

Orange County

Home to Trestles, Huntington Beach, and The Wedge, Orange County sits at the heart of California surf culture. Trestles' cobblestone points are among the best high-performance waves in the world, while HB's consistent beach break hosts the US Open of Surfing every summer.

Hawaii

The birthplace of surfing. Hawaii's North Shore delivers some of the heaviest waves on earth from November through February, while the south-facing shores of Waikiki and Ala Moana serve up gentle rollers for beginners year-round.

Los Angeles

From Malibu's perfect points to Venice's beach breaks, Los Angeles offers diverse surf across 75 miles of coastline. Summer south swells light up Malibu First Point and El Porto, while winter northwest energy pushes overhead waves to exposed breaks in Palos Verdes and Manhattan Beach.

Santa Cruz

The birthplace of mainland surfing. Santa Cruz delivers world-class point breaks like Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point alongside consistent beach breaks and sheltered coves. The region picks up every swell the North Pacific generates.

Northern California

From Half Moon Bay to the Oregon border, Northern California delivers some of the heaviest beach breaks and most dramatic coastline on the West Coast. Ocean Beach San Francisco is the region's flagship — a powerful, shifting peak that punishes weak paddlers and rewards commitment. Mavericks, just south of Half Moon Bay, is one of the premier big wave spots on the planet.

Ventura County

From Rincon to County Line, Ventura County delivers some of California's most consistent waves. Rincon - 'Queen of the Coast' - is one of the best right-hand point breaks in the world when a winter west swell fills in.

Florida

Year-round warm water surfing on both coasts, with New Smyrna Beach, Sebastian Inlet, and Jacksonville delivering the most consistent waves on the Atlantic side. Florida waves are smaller and shorter-period than the West Coast, but hurricane season (June-November) brings overhead surf and hollow barrels.

New Jersey

The heart of East Coast surfing. New Jersey's 127 miles of beach break coastline light up on fall nor'easters and passing hurricane swells. Spots like Manasquan Inlet, Long Branch, and Belmar deliver punchy, hollow waves when the sandbars line up.

Outer Banks

North Carolina's barrier islands catch swell from every direction - northeast storms, southeast tropical swells, and even rare wraparound south energy. The Outer Banks offers some of the least crowded quality surf on the East Coast.

Puerto Rico

World-class Caribbean surf with warm water year-round. Rincon's legendary points - Domes, Indicators, Maria's - fire from November through April on northwest groundswells. Isabela and Aguadilla offer more accessible beach breaks for intermediates.

Oregon

Oregon's 362 miles of rugged coastline deliver some of the most powerful and least crowded surf in the continental US. Short Sands at Oswald West State Park is the jewel — a sheltered cove with a quality beach break surrounded by old-growth forest. Indian Beach, Otter Rock, and Pacific City's Cape Kiwanda offer everything from protected sandbars to exposed reef setups.