Looking to Surf North America, Travel to California and Surf the Pacific Ocean

If you are looking for great surfing conditions in America, then you will need to look at the west coast, especially the coast of California. California offers almost 1,000 miles of undeveloped shores to surf. It is defiantly worth the trip out to the west coast to explore the amazing waters here. The surfing conditions are great all year round, but you will get bigger waves in the spring and winter months, but take note that the water in the Pacific ocean is very cold and one could get hypothermia very quickly, so make sure you bring your wet suit. During the fall and winter months in California, the Santa Anna's will kick in and make for great surfing conditions with big off shore swells.

There is great surfing all the way down the coast from San Diego to Santa Cruz and all the stops in between. Makes me want to pack my bags now! If you come to surf California you will not be disappointed. Take Hwy 1 from southern California all the way up the coast to Half Moon Bay, where the expert surfers will give a great show to all who pass through. To surf Half Moon Bay one has to be the best of the best, I personally am terrified to surf here, the swells get well over 30 feet in some areas and they break right over the most traitorous reef. If you plan on surfing here at Half Moon Bay I would hope that you are well versed in surfing, because if you are not, you may be taking your own life. So take caution with you when you surf this particular beach.

Below is a list of beaches that are great for any surfer from beginner to expert. Along with the list of beaches, one should know that at any one of these locations you will be able to rent surfing equipment if you do not have your own. At any one of the beaches you can find a rental store and you will be able to rent all the gear needed to surf California's waters for 150.00 or less. Usually it will run around 40.00 to 80.00 to rent a surfboard, but if you need extra gear like wet suit that will coast extra. Roughly one could rent all the gear needed for all day for just fewer than 150.00.

Best Beaches to Surf in North America

Half Moon Bay, CA- this is a 4-mile stretch of the Pacific Ocean that are exposed to the northwest winds and offer great breaking waves at high speeds. This is a great place to surf for the advanced to expert surfer.

Doran Beach located in Bodega Bay, CA- Doran beach is a powerful sheltered beach that breaks to the south of the Bay. Doran beach is very clean and beautiful and good of any surfer from beginner to advance. There is a surf rental shop right on the beach for your convenience. The swells here never get over 12 feet, so come and rip them up!

Ocean Beach located in San Francisco, CA- Ocean beach is very popular spot to surf or just watch the great surfers play. This 3-mile stretch of exposed breaks can be tricky to surf and this beach gets a powerful northwest wind in the evenings that bring the swells well up to 15 feet. There are no surf rental shops at this beach, one must bring your own gear or borrow from a friend.

Salmon Creek Beach, Bodega Bay, CA- This is an extremely powerful breaking beach and should only be surfed by the most experienced surfer. Beginners beware; this is not the beach to learn on, unless you are suicidal! The swells here break to the north and consistently hold 12-18 foot swells that break right over the reef requiring experience and wave knowledge. If you want to surf this beach and have no gear with you, have no fear, there is a rental spot right on the beach that can accommodate anyone's needs.

The beaches listed above are my favorites, I have surfed California since I was 10-years-old and consider myself to be a knowledgeable surfer with intermediate experience. I have surfed almost all that California has to offer, with the exception of Half Moon Bay.

Half Moon Bay is for the expert surfer only and is not recommended for anything less than expert or professional. If you are looking for the best surfing that North America has to offer, this is the State to be in. California has so much more to offer the surfer than any other state in America. So pack your bags and come surf California.

References for this article came from my own personal experience and from www.surf-america.com and www.surfamerica.org