From the early days of action sports, San Diego was at the center of it. Surfing and skating both grew up in the streets and on the beaches of this destination, and it remains an awesome board-topia to this day. Action sports expert Chris Cote has spent his life in the thick of it, and is here to show you why San Diego is a true paradise of the surf and skate world.

San Diego is a surfer’s dream, from easy beginner swells to challenging waves for the experts to rip. One of those experts is pro surfer Mele Saili. A San Diego local, she knows San Diego’s surf scene better than anyone, and she’s giving her take on the best of the best.

From George Freeth to Bob Simmons to Rob Machado, many San Diegans have played an influential role in propelling surfing from a pastime to a sport and a way of life.

Where to go, what to love, and what to know about these 12 miles of flat, scenic bike paths passing by all of Mission Bay’s public parks and following a portion of the San Diego River.