OFF CAMPUS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Welcome to
Surf City Capitola Jetty When the swell is up, a nice left careens in front of the jetty and the right can go on forever, assuming your skag doesn’t hit the kelp-infested water. Also, about a block and a reef away is the infamous Toe’s Over, which needs a huge winter swell and a minus low tide to break. But when it does, it’s pure left- and right-breaking bliss. The Hook Named for the copious amounts of kelp in the lineup that “hooks” around skags and booties, this nice little point break also has a lot of surfers that are “hooked” on the spot. Nevertheless, it’s got a right-facing wave that, if you can maneuver around the flock, is to die for.
Manresa/La Selva Manresa is a mélange of peaks,
54 DILATED PUPIL | 2012– 2013
valleys and sandbars. But a lot of the time the place is epic, breaking left and right and all over the place. Expect a long, grueling paddle during the wintertime to the outside and nil to none summertime surf— unless there’s a south swell.
Pleasure Point This place is generally crowded with everyone from groms to experts, longboarders to ultra thin-glassed rippers. Practice, as always, common courtesy and you should be all right in the outer, best breaks. Privates Longboard paradise. Clean right-facing lines peel off and make for a great ride that will take you all the way into the break known as Trees and into the Capitola Wharf. Well not quite, but the ride is long and the waves are
gentle. Easygoing, without all the soft board hassles of Cowell’s to spoil your wave.
Cowell’s The bunny slope of surfing gets its fair share of beginners but it also has nice sloping waves that go on forever. Easy access and easy attitudes.
Steamer Lane Perhaps the most classic break in the world, Steamer Lane more than lives up to its reputation. With four reef breaks rolled into one spot—The Point, Middle Peak, The Slot and Indicators—the Lane has it all, including ogling tourists. There’s even a surfing museum in the nearby lighthouse.
Natural Bridges When the conditions are just right, like an 8-foot west swell, this
From beginners to the pros, here are a few surf spots to keep your toes on your nose
spot has the best tube rides available. It’s a speedy right that peaks over an outer reef and peels toward the beach.
Three Mile Primo reef break that is usually uncrowded, especially during weekdays. Named after the number of miles after Swift Street, it cops a great right line, particularly during a winter northwest swell. Three Mile, as with most North Coast spots south of Davenport, includes a long walk through Brussels sprouts fields that flank the ocean. Four Mile Here, locals tend to stare hard and long at newcomers. Because of its bluffprotected location, Four Mile isn’t affected (as much) by the afternoon summer winds as most spots on the North Coast. Reaches its full potential dur-
ing west, northwest 10-foot and above swells.
Scott’s Creek A potent combination of a beach and reef break, Scott’s dishes out about every challenge a surfer can handle. From long paddles and strong currents/rips to sharky waters and unpredictable peaks, Scott’s isn’t for the faint of heart or arms. But when it goes off, it’s heaven on water. Breaks best with a powerful north swell. Waddell Creek Similar conditions for Waddell Creek as for Scott’s, except during the summer and early fall Waddell is one of the world’s premier wind surfing (and now kite surfing) spots. Catch this right-breaking break early in the morning.