Summer is a magical time in Southern California. The weather is about as perfect as it gets: sunny, mid-70s, rarely humid. Summer is what all the songs are written about, why this region of the world has become so famous. It’s also got a ton of good surf breaks from IB to Malibu. However, summer means both good and bad for surfers. Here are some of the pros and cons of summer surfing in SoCal.
Warm Water (Pro): In case you haven’t heard, large portions of the Pacific Ocean are cold, including the bit off the SoCal coast for much of the year. Water temperatures plunge into the 50s in the winter, but the summer usually brings temps in the low-70s. For many people, that’s just warm enough to ditch their wetsuit most days. I personally hate wearing a wetsuit, so when the south swells of summer bring in the warmer water I’m usually one of the first in the lineup to brave a session without a suit. It’s so freeing that first time I surf in trunks, and I honestly feel like I surf better.
Swimmers (Con): The warm water is a blessing and a curse. While we’re able to trade in our wetsuits for boards shorts and bikinis, summer brings crowds to the beaches. All of the sudden, surfers find themselves dodging people bobbing up and down in the lineup. I’m still amazed at how many swimmers will take up residence right inside the lineup with no regard for their own safety. A wipeout, or even a botched turn, can mean serious injury if they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. I’ve come close to accidentally decapitating a kid several times, all of these occurrences coming in summer.
Atmosphere (Pro): There is something contagious about the good vibes at the beach in summer. It’s as if everyone is appreciating what makes Southern California great, something we can actually all agree on. Smiles, laughing, splashing, thongs; who wouldn’t love it?
Crowds (Con): While the fun-filled atmosphere is enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face, the crowds can be pretty chaotic. There are certain beaches I won’t even attempt to park at on the weekends, some breaks at which I won’t even consider paddling out. The beach itself is crowded, but it’s really the throngs in the water that can get to you.
Kooks abound, which means a multitude of things. First, you’d better keep an eye on their boards, especially if they’re not on a Wavestorm. It’s never fun to have a massive longboard careening toward you because some novice got caught inside. Secondly, they’re going to get in your way while you’re on waves. They can’t paddle that well and they simply don’t know how to avoid you. This can try your patience after repeated encounters, but it’s best to try not to yell at anyone. Lastly, it means you’re going to get dropped in on. Even if they know it’s a cardinal sin, they still might not be able to stop themselves from tumbling over the falls. Be prepared to kick out early a lot.
Waves (Con): I’m a huge fan of smaller surf, but there can be some brutal stretches of summer that see minimal-to-no swell. There are days when the Pacific resembles one gigantic lake. It still makes for a nice day at the beach, but not for folks looking for waves.
Nothing is perfect, even SoCal summer surfing. But even with the cons, I’d still take an endless summer of crowds, weak swells, and warm water. It’s what living here is all about.
