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Local Surf Scene
Even when surfers aren’t out surfing, they’re usually thinking about surf. This obsession has influenced the entire San Diego beach culture and even residents who don’t surf, embrace its important role in shaping our local identity.
Surf-Themed San Diego
There are surf themed restaurants and bars, surf fashion is practically obligatory among San Diego schoolchildren, and the whole city seems to be infected with excitement whenever the surf is up. Even though surfing has only been known on the mainland for the last 50 years, San Diego has played a prominent role in this brief history. It was here, in the time of the old Windansea Surf Rats immortalized in Tom Wolfe’s “The Pump House Gang,” that engineer Bob Simmons pioneered the lightweight fiberglass surfboard that has remained the standard to this day.
You Never Know Who You Might Run Into
In contrast to the traditional stereotype of surfers as lazy and illiterate, they are among the most ambitious and accomplished members of the local community. With UCSD overlooking Black’s Beach and Sunset Cliffs at Point Loma Nazarene’s doorstep, it’s no surprise that bright students with their pick of schools, come from around the world to attend San Diego’s coastal colleges. City Council Members and Corporate CEO’s, doctors and developers, lawyers and Nobel laureates count themselves among the local enthusiasts. As more young people take it up and older surfers stay with it, surfing has matured into a sport for all ages, and in recent years, more and more women have been joining the lineup.
It's Easy to Get Started
If you want to try surfing for yourself, you can rent gear from surf shops at all the popular San Diego beaches, or hire instruction from one of the licensed outfits that operate out of La Jolla Shores. If you want to ride the wave without dropping in, the best place to get a taste of the surfing lifestyle is Mission Blvd., from Garnet Avenue to the Belmont Park Roller Coaster. The shops here reflect the staples of the simplified surfing lifestyle: surfboards and bikinis, beer joints and Mexican food. To get more intimate with the sport’s history, check out the California Surf Museum at the head of the pier in Oceanside (www.surfmuseum.org).
Only Want to Watch?
Spectators should set their sights on Windansea at the foot of Nautilus Street in La Jolla where the action is relatively close to shore and the talent is always worthy of attention. There are surf competitions in San Diego, notably the WQS events at Oceanside Pier and Lower Trestles, but it’s just as fun to watch people out surfing for the pure fun of it.
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San Diego Surf Scene
