Surfing Beaches?

[Barry]

My daughter is learning how to surf! :eek:
So I am interested find out good surfing beaches. Any surfers out there care to share your favorites? I know it depends a lot on conditions so please include any information that would be helpful.
Also, is there a way to find out the conditions (waves, wind, fog, etc) at the coast before going out there?

Please reply publicly.

Thanks!
Barry

[Teresa BW]

Can't speak to that -- surf shop folks in Bodega would know!

But I do have a tip: I don't know how old your daughter is, or if she would be interested, but the San Diego YMCA runs a very cool surfing camp right on the beach just south of SD. Our son (now 13) attended last year, on the recommendation of some friends whose daughter has gone for years. Too late for this year, but maybe next??

Here's the link -- https://camp.ymca.org/summer_surf1.html -- Teresa

[agentwahine]

the best place for beginners tends to be Bolinas and it just so happens that Bruce Landry at California Surf Shop in Sebastopol teaches there on Sunday mornings. he is absolutely the BEST with young people. they even call him Pops. give him a call at 824-4360 and tell him Jamie sent ya!
to see the buoy information and to get a bit of an idea what the conditions are like, you can go online to www.pacificwaverider.com (https://www.pacificwaverider.com) and click on Sonoma coast up at the top. they are not really very accurate most times but, it's better than nothing. for Bolinas, you can also call (415) 868-2412 for the surf report.

[RoastersEspressoBar]

Barry, the best thing for your daughter to do is to head out to the beach, Doran or Salmon. Getting comfortable in the ocean is the most important thing, it will save her life someday too. Pick up a wetsuit and have her swim around in the waves. The surfboard will come later. Once she is confident swimming out in the waves the surfing part will be alot easier. Alot of new surfers rely on their surfboard too much, swimming skills are the most important thing. This coast is as heavy as anywhere in the world.

I hope this helps....

Mike from Roasters

[agentwahine]

i wouldn't send her out to Salmon until she's REALLY confident in the water. even on a small day, the inside shorepound or rips can get the best of us. Doran is pretty much flat in the summer but occasionally will pick up a swell if it's huge at Salmon. i would say Doran is good to practice just getting comfortable....then Bolinas to actually try getting out with a board.
oh, on that website i sent you to, for Bolinas you click on SF bay area. it will show up as being just above Stinson. for Doran or Salmon, you click on Sonoma coast.

Jamie


Barry, the best thing for your daughter to do is to head out to the beach, Doran or Salmon.
{snip}

[Barry]

Thanks so much everybody for all your helpful and wise advice! I feel better informed and safer now!

Barry

[Becky]

Another great surf camp is www.endlesssummersurfcamp.com My husband went there a couple of years ago and had a great time. Its also in Southern California and right on San Onofre State Beach. The surfer who owns the place does this as his full time job and hires great guys as intructors for the kids and adults. I couldn't recommend them enough.

They have both overnight and day camps. My husband went to a week long overnight camp and said there was so much to do and had a great time. We plan on going as a fmaily once the girls are old enough. There are openings until the end of August for the kids and the water is very warm. Its definately worth checking out.:)

Good Luck!

[Peanut Yogi]

First, I'm not a surfer. But as an old sailor, I would like to share consideration about Doran and any area near Bodega Harbor/Spuds Marina. The marina area is not water I let my body or my sons body touch. With all the live-a-boards and human activity there, the water is, well... not clean. My neighbor a resident surfer for 20 years called Doran the most polluted beach in NorCal. So many people worry about sharks when surfing and it appears that infection or illness from toxic water is of greater (though lesser known )concern.
It is not my intention to be a "party poop" or create a huge discussion. I simply felt compelled to share - from one parent to another.

Best Wishes



i wouldn't send her out to Salmon until she's REALLY confident in the water. even on a small day, the inside shorepound or rips can get the best of us. Doran is pretty much flat in the summer but occasionally will pick up a swell if it's huge at Salmon. i would say Doran is good to practice just getting comfortable....then Bolinas to actually try getting out with a board.
oh, on that website i sent you to, for Bolinas you click on SF bay area. it will show up as being just above Stinson. for Doran or Salmon, you click on Sonoma coast.

Jamie

[agentwahine]

if we're talking surf camps, there is NOBODY better for girls learning to surf than Surf Diva, now in their 10th year, out of La Jolla.
www.surfdiva.com (https://www.surfdiva.com)
they also have their own line of surf boards for women and girls so check 'em out!


Another great surf camp is www.endlesssummersurfcamp.com (https://www.endlesssummersurfcamp.com) My husband went there a couple of years ago and had a great time. Its also in Southern California and right on San Onofre State Beach. The surfer who owns the place does this as his full time job and hires great guys as intructors for the kids and adults. I couldn't recommend them enough.

They have both overnight and day camps. My husband went to a week long overnight camp and said there was so much to do and had a great time. We plan on going as a fmaily once the girls are old enough. There are openings until the end of August for the kids and the water is very warm. Its definately worth checking out.:)

Good Luck!

[agentwahine]

that's why i always wear ear plugs!
but seriously....there is nowhere else to go in the fall and winter months when sharks are making the rounds at Salmon Creek. plus, it is an awesome bodyboard break from Oct. to May.....fast and hollow.



First, I'm not a surfer. But as an old sailor, I would like to share consideration about Doran and any area near Bodega Harbor/Spuds Marina. The marina area is not water I let my body or my sons body touch. With all the live-a-boards and human activity there, the water is, well... not clean. My neighbor a resident surfer for 20 years called Doran the most polluted beach in NorCal. So many people worry about sharks when surfing and it appears that infection or illness from toxic water is of greater (though lesser known )concern.
It is not my intention to be a "party poop" or create a huge discussion. I simply felt compelled to share - from one parent to another.

Best Wishes