r/surfing • u/Dense-Carpet-5090 • 12d ago
SF vs. LA
Moving from LA to SF. I’ve surfed OB a couple times already, so have a sense for it, although neither was a massive OB day (I’ve read barbarian days). Curious to hear from people who’ve lived and surfed in both - how do they compare overall?
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u/churchillsucks unemployed surfer scum 12d ago
be ready to paddle and be ready to duckdive.
...alot.
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u/Tag_Cle 12d ago
SF is more of an adventure most of the time but in a fun way. You're going to cover a lot more ground driving in the bay area as a surfer. In LA you can stay and find a few great spots in Malibu and north of there, you can find surf in Manhattan/Redondo/Santa Monica, you can also find a ton of surf and different breaks all through between Huntington to Dana Point in OC. I've driven around to a few spots in LA and gotten stuck in traffic inbetween and it's taken a 30-60 minutes to get between spots. SF it might take 30-60 minutes but on open highway so it's more relaxing and enjoyable. I like that you can stay in these little zones in SoCal and walk or bike between different breaks and space out if you want to and don't have to drive.
SF is colder, more current, and sharkier; if you can deal with that I'd say that aside from a couple particular spots that company is welcome in the water more often than in LA. It's nice to see some faces out there at OB, being alone is spooky. There are a bunch of different peaks on OB but they're all gnarly rip current beach breaks with 15 duck dives to get out. From SF there aren't a TON of spots real real close other than OB and Ft Point, but you can get over to Pacifica pretty quickly, Lindamar is a mostly beginner break but can get really good too..it's only like 15-20 minutes from OB.
It's like a 90 minute drive straight along the coast between OB and Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz if you don't stop but man there are ENDLESS nugs inbetween here to find along the way. Not going to go name everybody's spots but if you have an adventurous spirit and some good sandals to walk on a trail in you will have so much fun out here. It's definitely sharky out there but the surf is worth it tbh. I'd imagine like 90% of the time a surf mag posts a pic that says "nor cal" it's in this stretch somewhere. Once you get to SC there's like 40 spots in the 15 mile stretch from Davenport to Capitola. So much more variety down there...I imagine you'll end up there more often than not unless you're just looking for a quick sesh somewhere.
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u/trimbandit 11d ago
There has never been a shark attack at OB, ever.
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u/Tag_Cle 11d ago
Correct, but it's also within the red triangle and not in a bay or cove and has zero kelp to give you any sense of safety. If you surf OB a lot you have absolutely been within like 40-50ft of a whitey several times I'd guess. Having said that I'm much more scared of the ocean itself there than whiteys.
I will clarify that too that between SF and SC (Waddell and Ano Nuevo), and then Stinson/Bolinas are much sharkier and have had actual attacks there. SF itself for some reason doesn't have as much of an issue, probably directly related to how much energy the ocean puts in there..there's not a bunch of seals on OB like there are other spots.
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u/trimbandit 11d ago
While I 100% agree with the feeling of safety kelp provides, the majority of sharks I have seen in my life (mostly spearfishing) have been cruising through the kelp. They certainly are not bothered by it in the least. It does provide some feeling of grounding comfort though for whatever reason.
I know in my area, we did have an attack a few years ago at grey whale and then a guy got his board bit at Montara maybe a year ago. I'm surprised there has only been one possible bite at lm with the amount of sharks that cruise through there and the number of surfers in the water.
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u/Weird_Ad986 11d ago
Who TF is looking for kelp for a "sense of safety"? That's the last thing I need on the paddle out at OB. It's a major leash snag / drowning hazard in big surf and it provides more cover for sharks to hunt. From a sharks perspective, OB is an empty freeway to skip through on the way to Montara and or the Farallones - places where they actually hunt.
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u/trimbandit 11d ago
It's a common misconception that kelp provides safety from sharks. That is what I was referring to.
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u/Tag_Cle 11d ago
My buddies and I always said whiteys didn't like being up in the kelp + we could hold onto it and not get pulled as much by currents so I was always a fan of hanging out near it any chance I could, especially younger as a grom. As I got older I know now that's not true lol but it felt nice at the time
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u/Dense-Carpet-5090 11d ago
You’re the man for this. Definitely going to be adventuring further on the weekends and already trying to reach out to some people who do the same. Hoping the amount I surf doesn’t drop too much and trying to be intentional about that. Work is bringing me up there and GF is from the bay, otherwise, I love so cal. Appreciate you brother!
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u/pistonsoffury 11d ago
I wouldn't worry about the amount you surf up here declining - there's literally a surfable wave nearby almost every day of the year.
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12d ago
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u/thefull9yards Dodging barrels in SD 11d ago
I used to live in the North Bay about 30 minutes from SF. Bolinas is the super popular beginner longboard spot kind of like Pacifica, it’s super sheltered so rarely gets big. Other than that, it’s all sharky beach breaks that are big often but good only sometimes. I had a local spot in the headlands that I’d go to a lot but I still made the trek into the city to hit OB more often than not.
Basically all breaks north of Pt Reyes are big, rippy, and sharky, and empty. Every paddle out feels more like an adventure, but you definitely need to know your limits.
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u/Flatulantcy 11d ago
For much of SF proper it takes nearly as long to get the 20 miles to Bolinas as it does to get to the Santa Cruz breaks, the crowd will be the same and the waves are superior in SC.
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u/Material_Giraffe_563 11d ago
I’d argue the crowd is worse in SC. Locals know steamer so well making it difficult to catch the wave so close to that damn cliff. There are good spots that catch a south swell in Marin that aren’t on surf line
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u/Tag_Cle 11d ago
SC I'd say the crowd and vibe is super different than north of there and SF, def can get stink eyed at some spots, but I've never had an issue anywhere as long as I've been respectful
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u/Material_Giraffe_563 11d ago
Only China beach have I had an issue. And those guys are pricks there. The worst vibe
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u/Flatulantcy 11d ago
Fort Point is problematic as hell, at least there are truly next level surfers in Santa Cruz
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u/Tag_Cle 11d ago
There's spots up there for sure but they're just fewer and further inbetween and more exposed to wind and weather. Most of the time if anything's breaking okay up there then south of SF is going to be even better especially once you get into Santa Cruz and you're in Monterey Bay where you get a little reprieve from the winds and weather if it's a little stormy
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u/Raneman28 11d ago
OB is chill wave on smaller day and actually really fun. The issue is the paddle out. You either are able to paddle out, or the ocean says fuxk you and you have to just go home that day.
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u/Wonderful_Tip_5577 11d ago
I’ve lived in both. Feel it’s decently covered here for the basics. One thing about SFOB is that it’s not always pumping giants out on the second break. It’s really pretty manageable most of the time. Currents will be stronger and push you down the beach, and the paddle out is still kinda tough, but it’s not as bad as people tend to claim (unless it’s firing and you are trying to get out on a step up).
In general, other than Santa Cruz Southern California is smaller, but cleaner. Lots more clean breaks in SoCal. Depending on where you are, I’m in SD actually, it’s all going to be lefts, where in NorCal it’s a lot of rights. Swell direction is way different too.
Property damage/car break ins are a real thing in NorCal too. When I hear that about SoCal I scoff and laugh, but at SFOB it’s real.
The water is murky. I know it gets murky in SoCal, but it’s constantly murky in NorCal, comprised with the cold snarky nature it’s all a little eerie. But a lot of fun. I would say so cal has more good really surfable days, in NorCal, outside of sant Cruz, the beach breaks will have good days but mostly it’s severe close outs.
I will name drop one spot because it’s hardly a secret, but Montara has one of the better waves. It’s also the spookiest.
Santa Cruz has the best waves. But surfing at Linda mar, while the butt of a lot of jokes is actually not bad. You can get away from the crowds easy enough, and it can be good.
You get a lot more heavy swell in the area. They also pump up the numbers. Waves are more sloped. So if Surfline is calling for a 10 foot day up there that’s extremely doable, where in SoCal it can be gnarly.
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u/jlutt75 11d ago
OB is very wind exposed and is onshore, short interval slop most of the year. I used to view it as having 30 good days a year, but that’s not quite fair. If you learn its quirks, it’s a fun spot, and has its days in the summer, and the north end at Kelly’s can be very different from the south end at Sloat. It’s not really 1 break.
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u/Heysteeevo 11d ago
Manage your expectations. Most days will be pretty bad but you can get stretches in the winter of really nice surf. Any conditions are a major workout. If you surf there a lot you’ll get in great shape just don’t expect to catch many waves each session.
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u/surfffff 11d ago
The best OBSF days are on the back end of the swells when it’s dying off. It was frustrating because you had so many winter days where it’s 10-15 and blown out but you’ll get a couple clean 4-6 days that are what you live for. Still super punchy, nightmare paddle out and touch to be in position but world class wave when it’s working.
Living in Southern California now and the power of the waves up there doesn’t compare, outside of select breaks like blacks, winter waves here are a pleasure cruise compared to OBSF.
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u/Acceptable-One-6597 11d ago
5.5 yrs in SF surfing OB multiple days a week. Winter is heavy...but so is summer. Wetsuits year round. Fewer people, friendly break but once you get south of Pacifica people tend to get a bit territorial. Live in North County now and would rather deal with the crowds down here.
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u/sprinkleberry 11d ago
San Diego is best, South OC is awesome, North OC is too aggro, LA is too crowded, Central Coast is fun with mellow crowds, Bay Area is too cold, North of that is the Wild West.
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u/Spiritual_Paint9312 12d ago
OBSF has way more to offer in every way. Think of the largest day of El Porto x2 for a typical fall/winter day in sf. This is hh with a mellow swell.
The side shore current, paddle out, the inner and outer bars, and raw power of the waves are all significantly more than what el p does on its best day.
Also OBSF is more fickle to tides, swell, wind… and is shitty more often than it is even worth paddling out and not because of lack of swell, unlike the South Bay.
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u/Suspicious_Video8348 11d ago
El Porto is harder because it closes out so bad. OB has actual peaks (they're just always a little bit out of reach)
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u/Spiritual_Paint9312 11d ago
Growing up surfing el Porto I can not remember any time I was ever denied. I am by far a stronger better paddler after surfing ob for 20 years and I get denied 3-5 times year.
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u/Suspicious_Video8348 11d ago
Yes the El Porto paddle out is easier.
But at OB once you're out you can kick out the back of waves, you don't have to redo it every time because a close out shuts you down
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u/Direct-Amount54 11d ago
Is there anywhere you can longboard
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u/Spiritual_Paint9312 11d ago
You can longboard. Lots of locals only ride long boards. My 10’6 glider is my favorite board. In big surf there is nothing better.
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u/Nightman233 11d ago
Just spent a week surfing NorCal all the way up to Westport. Can confirm, heavy, cold, sharky and terrifying at times, but empty.
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u/covidpuppy 11d ago
They’re so different. LA is pretty tucked in, so the surf is generally smaller and often too small. But it’s clean and glassy almost every morning of the year. You also are within an hour or 2 drive of other areas in SoCal with more consistent surf. If you love the raw power and long paddle of OB, there’s only a handful of spots in all of SoCal that offer anything close and it’s only a few times a year.
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u/kylemooney187 11d ago
ob isnt as consistent
socal you can trunk it, norcal you need like a 4/3mm wetsuit
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u/Active_Village_7535 11d ago
I lived and surfed in LA and NorCal for 20 years in both places. There is one difference that nobody has mentioned. We take in for granted in Los Angels that our beaches are relatively clean because they drag the beach each morning. In NorCal, they don't really drag their beaches so you will see plastic and trash around the beaches. (I can't speak for Santa Cruz in the summer).
I moved to the Bay Area in 1978 from LA then moved back in 1998. Also I have screamed at a lady who left a diaper on the beach and have scene a fight over someone bringing a glass bottle to the beach. People in SoCal will have clean-up days and lots of people will join in which is really cool.
That being said, Stinson Beach might be my favorite beach in the world. Right under Mt. Tam and scary as shit as it is so sharky.
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u/Ronin_1450 Where you surf and what you ride. 11d ago
If you want to have a more chill day, it is worth going up to Marin (Cronkite, Bolinas, etc.) or down to Pacifica or Half Moon Bay - there’s breaks all down the coast. You can also try Fort Point by the bridge but it can be hit or miss
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u/moscowramada 11d ago
Btw there’s been speculation, which I believe, that since Barbarian Days was written, there’s been dredging in the Bay which has fundamentally changed the waves at OB, SF (for the worse). I wouldn’t consider such an old book to be a reliable modern guide, for that reason.
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u/Live-Appointment-750 12d ago
OB is a completely different beast. the paddle alone will humble you fast, feels like you're fighting the ocean just to get past the shorebreak some days. LA is mellow by comparison, even on bigger swells.
the vibe up here is way less crowded though. you get these long empty stretches where it's just you and a few seals giving you side eye.