The Best, Least Crowded Waves in Los Angeles
The best, least crowded wave in Los Angeles: Lunada Bay
However, as the mere act of stopping to check the waves, parking, just parking at Lunada Bay will give you stink-eye laser beams from all the bro’s in the vicinity, so let’s move out of PV to more assessable waves in LA shall we?
Zuma Beach
For consistency, accessibility, and wide range to spread out the crowd, Zuma is to my mind the best, least crowded wave in LA. On the best days, Zuma Beach, and especially the corners at Drainpipes and that stretch can really turn on. Expect multiple changes in the surf conditions in one session due to the tide and also an odd lull-enhancing aspect to the coastline there. Summer is the best time for Zuma but winter and really all-year hold potential for something rideable. Cold Water. Seals and Dolphins. Rock climbing on the south end. From there heading north are first a few odd, warbly peaks until about the rock. From there left peaks start to flow down through drainpipes. The sand changes a lot here through the years. Rounding the bathrooms it really can peak up and some of my best days have been on this part of the beach, wedging left pipes that can stand and bend through to the sand… From here it runs fast and closer to the beach until about the lifeguard headquarters. This piece of the beach is Regs, and has a variety of waves that can get good and go left and right and can also be as closed-out and cold as everywhere else on the beach. Nearing the Trancas market and creek, the beach bends again as it enters Broad Beach. This exclusive little enclave is similar beachbreak, but does have moments, fleeting moments. Finally at the top of the beach, Trancas Point. Watch Runman 2 to get the full vision of this wave, a rare winter right point that can get pretty sweet.
As you can see, a lot of variety and space to go around so get out there to Zuma and challenge my claim that it is the best, least crowded wave in all of Los Angeles.
2 Responses to “The Best, Least Crowded Waves in Los Angeles”
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Nice write-up. I would have to add some thoughts on late-winter and spring seasons… I consider this prime season for Zuma’s drainpipe. Winter swells and rains push the sand and creek sediments south that set up the beachbreak that many surfers refer to as “drains”. I had some of my best days ever out there between rain storms this past March and April (2010). Best on shorter period west storm swells or combo swell. The break is always much colder than the rest of the county and constantly changing so you have to be on it. I believe it is one of the more challenging beachbreaks around, but if you know when its gonna be on you can get shacked silly out there.
Haven’t had the displeasure of directly dealing with the full blown “aggro” surfer but I’ve certainly seen it. While it’s understandable that those “who can” generally expect those “who can’t” to avoid compromising their ride, it’s just a necessary evil. A freshman/senior mentality and all part of the learning process; builds character
Funny how such a “Zen” sport still lends itself to potential hazard from none other than a fellow surfer. After all “aggro surfer” is an oxymoron.