So while we continue to determine the meaning of life, there is a really good swell brewing for the east coast and out west the Lowers Show begins. I don't know why but I dig this contest...when it's on (quality waves). I have never surfed Lowers. Any of you guys? Is it as good as it looks? It just seems like such a rippable wave! I have surfed various spots on the west coast but never Lowers. Those who have, what was your take? Mostly curious from my EC brethren (that means Noprofile dude need not apply).
Lowers, Middles, Uppers, Cottons and Churches are all amazingly fun waves that at least a couple of are working well almost every day of the year. Such a mellow wave that can get hollow and faster at times. I've surfed it all the way up to 23s period and have seen it on a wide variety of swell directions and buoy readings. I found it to be a great place for EC surfers to acclimate to Pacific waves. Cobblestone reefs rule bro. I'm sure you know of a couple prominent ones in New England. There are many cats on here that are lifers down there that can give much more detailed responses. For your questions and purposes, yes, it's rippable as hell and you'll love it coming from the EC.
If I could try out surfing anywhere without any crowds I think I would go with Lowers, just from what I've seen and heard. I just love those rolling waves that Lowers has to offer.
Thats the area I'm looking forward to the most when I visit in September! Hope we can get some more responses on this thread, would love to hear from some local West coasters. Nice OP
It is so fun! every set wave has a left that goofy footers will rip to shreds and an even better right. I've surfed it maybe 6 sessions over a few trip, and always enjoyed it. Go at an odd hour, odd day, time of year, and you might just happen on 2-3 foot perfection with 6-8 people out. There are several other fun waves nearby that can be less crowded because its a bit of a walk and not easy to check from the road. GO! Small day on a trip about 10 years ago...you gotta remember this might be the smallest day in three weeks...so it takes some of the pressure off...LOVE IT!
Sounds like you got an awesome setup out there, do you like living in that area? I've been looking at areas out in SoCal and San Clemente area sounds beautiful, very chill & plenty of surf. Only thing I've heard is that it's really family friendly so it may not be the best area for the younger crowd.. Like to hear your thoughts - thanks!
Tons of Marines and their families. Nothing personal against the military, but if you've ever lived in a military town, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
good stuff folks. Thx Caroline! I loved San Clemente and almost moved there when I left HI. It is such a chill little town...it seemed. Did not get to surf Lowers so I too am looking forward to a little get away in the fall. Z, you do any South of the border trips? I was thinking of doing SoCal to Cabo (just cause I have never been...It seems there are some decent spots around Cabo although much better places to choose, for some reason I want to check that place out).
It is as fun as it looks. As crowded as it is, one wave is worth it. On a WNW uppers isnt half bad itself.
Maybe out of the 20 some odd times I've surfed San Onofre, I've never once been on these so-called "packed" days. I mean yeah, I've seen 20 dudes at lowers but then there's a peak right next to it with another 10 and so on all the way down through uppers. Never once have I encountered anything less than the finest lineup etiquette and I've always caught waves with no aggro interference by others. There are just so many damn waves there up and down the beach and they're so rippable everyone scores. Yet, I've been at many breaks both east, west, and CenAm that were prohibitive to good rides with many less on the lineup.
Went there with Mitchell and spent 40 minutes not negotiating the pack well and getting extremelly frustrated and over it. Caught my first set wave and completely forgot how annoyed I was.....it really is better than you can imagine if you snag a set wave, easiest wave to surf ever.
I'm about 40 minutes from trestles. While it is a pretty fun wave, the crowds of little kids and guys that can barley surf makes it a spot to avoid. Don't go on: weekends, after 10 and everyday in the summer. Plenty other quality waves around with way less people
I've heard that while it's super crowded at most Southern CA spots, hardly anyone can actually surf and it's super easy to get yours. I've heard this actually doesn't apply at all to Lowers, though. Any truth to that?
This can happen infrequently, but as a whole this statement is not true. I had this conversation recently with a couple of PNW locals, and the general consensus is that it can be difficult for average surfers to catch waves in a crowd at most good SoCal spots due to the higher caliber of surfing there. At my current local, it's a little different. On many days, there's probably about 10-15 competent guys on the peak, and about 30-50 people from Seattle learning to surf on the inside whitewash. I've never seen anything like it in my life.
At the mellowest part of Pleasure Point, yeah I saw two LB kooks literally run each other over a couple weeks ago. I see the same at Doheny on the inside most days I'm there (hanging out, not surfing - it ain't Killer Dana no more). Other than that, I've largely seen nothing but great skill and etiquette from SoCal all the way up to NorCal. You want kooks and surf-prohibitive crowds? Look to many EC spots. Wherever you're hearing that hardly anyone can surf in SoCal, I'd stop listening to that source immediately even when asking them what day it is. I wish I could Shred half as hard as some of the elderly out there that have been ripping for life.
Made my first trip to the area a few months back. Uppers was so good every day for a week with a light crowd that I never bothered to even walk down and see what the 30 people on the peak were scrapping over at Lowers. One evening it was just me and JR alone at Uppers in super fun glassy waves for about 40 minutes before a few others joined us. Even the most crowded sessions we had that trip the crowd and vibe were much easier to deal with than what I'm used to in Ocean City. I found most of the locals to be pretty mellow. Never had a problem getting more than my share of waves. PS. Waist to chest high Uppers would be like the day of the year here in NJ. The wave is just so much fun!!!! Nothing like a reeling chest high wave that goes so long and allows so many turns your legs are burning.
