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Surfing News

Surfing In San Diego, California

Surfing isn’t just a lifestyle, it’s a way of life. And, even though surfers can’t always be out on the water, I can guarantee that when that drive-through manager, or the neighborhood upholstery cleaner who is working their tail off, they’re really thinking about catching that perfect wave. The passion people have for the sport has had a major impact on the entire San Diego area. Even if you’re local to the area and don’t engage in shredding up the coastline, chances are the culture surrounding surfing still constitutes a part of your identity.

Big City or Surfing Town?

Despite San Diego being home to over 1 million residents, the surfing-themed bars, restaurants, and local flavor make it seem like the perfect surfing town. Don’t forget, although surfing has only been part of the mainstream culture in the continental U.S. for about 60 years, San Diego can largely be considered as the place where it all began. After all, it was here that Bob Simmons engineered the light, fiberglass model surfboard which has become the modern-day standard.

Catching Your First Wave

Surfing truly is a one-of-a-kind sport. What’s more, it’s not just about learning the techniques necessary to get up on your board. Surfing is also about learning about the coastal environment and reading the waves. At the end of the day, it’s just you and your board out there trying to catch the perfect wave. People often forget how individualized the sport truly is—but that is the point! You can’t win or lose, you can never get a bad score, and there are no rules to distract you from enjoying a great surf.

Just remember, if you’re going out for the first time, the sea can be very unforgiving. So, for those of you just starting or who don’t have a great deal of experience swimming amongst rip-tides and sometimes very strong currents, making sure a lifeguard is on duty is probably a good idea. Much less, if you’re not yet comfortable with surfing in general, why not try boogie boarding first? Trust me, there’s no shame in it and it’s a great way to gain some familiarity with the water before going full Kelly Slater in the cut.

Ripping it Up

Now, if you’re already a seasoned surfer, San Diego offers 70 miles of some of the sport’s best coastline. Also, this stretch of the Pacific coast offers a ton of different types of waves, so it’s you’re not just going to be surfing monsters. For instance, in the northern part of San Diego County, that is from Trestles down to Del Mar, the breaks mainly face the southwest. Not to mention, parts of coastal reefs, artificial levees, and river deltas make for a wondrous variety of superb waves. Furthermore, if you happen to be lucky enough to be out on the water when the seasonal Santa Ana winds meet the north shore’s topography, you’re in for a real treat.

Safety First

Finally, a word of caution. Notwithstanding the riptides and strong currents already discussed, there are other noteworthy hazards to keep in mind when catching the tide. Watch out for stingrays, jellyfish, and the occasional shark. Of course, these hazards are few and far between, so just have fun out there and hang ten!

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Surfing News

Top 5 Surfing Locations in the USA

Everyone is familiar with the ever-buzzing luxury of Malibu Beach, or the “spouting waters” of Waikiki. Unbeknownst to many, the United States hosts a variety of understated beaches with conditions perfect for long sets and deep groundswell. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just a grommet, this list is comprehensive and includes a variety of locations and surf conditions for every break type and skill-level.

Black’s Beach, San Diego: The acronym BB could easily stand for “Best Breaks”. Here the water is as warm as you can dream of finding on the west coast, though swells are larger in the winter months. San Diego is also home to surf inspired artwork. Dubbed “Cardiff’s Kook”, the statue titled “The Magic Carpet Ride” depicts cleaner surf than the most esteemed upholstery cleaner Chula Vista.

North Shore, Oahu: This beach is located outside of America’s mainland in Oahu, Hawaii. Home to the Triple Crown of Surfing competition, Oahu’s North Shore has been a legendary surfing location since the inception of the competition in 1983. Here, swells reach up to 30 feet high in the wintertime. North Shore features a diverse array of breaks, including reef and sand.

Montauk, Long Island: Montauk surf differs from its lower counterparts due to the large sediment deposits left by ancient glaciers, making it one of the best places on the east coast to hit the waves. Montauk can be rather remote in the winter, but this area is packed in the summertime, so be sure to make a hotel reservation ahead of time if you intend on visiting for longer than a day-trip.

Cocoa Beach, Florida: Looking for a more beginner friendly beach? Consider Cocoa Beach. Home of Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach is located on Florida’s east coast- only an hour from Orlando. The long, crumbly waves are well-suited for new surfers, yet many competitions are hosted here, such as the annual NKF Surf Festival.

Lincoln City, Oregon: Oregon isn’t the state people usually think of in their search for the best swells, however these gnarly waves can reach as high as 50 feet. Smaller, less daunting breaks are common in the summer months, so you don’t have to worry about “eating it”. Road’s End is particularly popular, featuring mostly reef breaks.

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina: Wrightsville Beach is perfect for longboarding and known for its tubular surf. These waves are produced by nor’easters and southern hurricane swells. Traffic depends heavily on the month of visit as the city population doubles in the summertime. Here, you won’t be subject to many hazards in terms of local wildlife, but surges and strong undertows are not uncommon, so pay attention to weather forecasts and surf and pollution reports.

While these locations are accredited as the top beaches for sporting, there are dozens of other radical and promising opportunities waiting to be discovered. Regardless of your personal style or preferences, the US presents prime surfing destinations from coast to coast; all that’s left to do is explore.

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Surfing Supplies

Best Surfing Brands

If you’re a beginner surfer, you might want to know the need for surfing apparel before your first move on the ocean waves. It is because these surfing products protect you from getting cold and losing heat due to water current. For instance, surf suits made from quality fabric reduce water circulation over your body when surfing.

As you know, water dissipates heat 20 times more than air. It takes away your body heat every time a water wave touches your body. For this reason, you need to know the surfing brands that make quality apparel.

Some of the most popular brands in surfing are used throughout San Diego, one of the best cities for surfing in Southern California. Jacob, an avid surfer, owner of Riverside House Cleaning Agents in Riverside, CA, recommends these top 4 brands for beginners starting surfing.

Hurley

Established in 1979, Hurley is one of the top surfing brands that sponsor professional surfers all around the globe. Out of them, many surfers won the Championship Tour and Big Wave Tour alongside other events.

Hurley surfing brand also sponsors Carissa Moore, the Women’s champion of the 2021 World Surf League.

Currently, the brand manufactures both surf apparel and daily wear, including t-shirts, jackets, board shorts, rash guards, wet suits, etc.

In the start, Bob Hurley created the brand in California and started making surfboards. Later in 1999, he leveled up his brand by making surf apparel and clothing.

O’Neill

In 1952, O’Neill originated in San Francisco, California. It came out as a brand that offers surf, snow, and lifestyle apparel to its customers. Later, the brand’s founder Jack O’Neill moved the company near Santa Cruz.

The brand combines surf and innovation and created its first neoprene wetsuit and rash guard. Since neoprene has the natural tendency to provide buoyancy, it means you can swim and float easily after wearing this wetsuit.

If you start finding the most iconic and established American surf brands, you will most likely come across O’Neill standing at the top of the list. It’s because O’Neill is consistently focusing on innovation and is expanding its business by offering snow and lifestyle apparel on top of surfing products.

Channel Islands Surfboards

As the world’s largest surfboard brand, Channel Islands Surfboards was created in Santa Barbara, California.

Started as a local company in 1969, the brand paved its way in the international market by constantly evolving and shaping new surfboards for professional surfers.

Today, you will find traction pads, leashes, surfboard bags, fins, and other surf apparel of this brand.

Vans

At first, Vans came out as a skateboard shoe company in California in 1966. However, the brand did not stop there. Instead, in 1997, it started selling surfing equipment alongside snow and lifestyle apparel.

Today, Vans is sponsoring many professional surfers by supplying them with its surf products. On top of it, the brand sells t-shirts, hoodies, and other surf accessories.

Surfing is a pleasurable activity and sport that can be your hobby or profession. For this reason, shop from the most popular surfing brands to make sure you get a smooth surf experience.

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Surfing News

2021 World Surf League

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the World Surf League canceled its surfing tours and events. It was because many countries, including Australia and Portugal, banned traveling within and across the country.
Additionally, Australia put implications on surfers that they will have to remain in quarantine for 14 days from the day they arrive in the country.
As a result, the 2021 World Surf League was scheduled from 4-December, 2020 to 17-September, 2021. Based on the dates, this season is also called 2020-21 WSL.

What is the World Surf League?

World Surf League is a global organization with a mission to bring change to the world through surfing. The organization provides authentic news, events, experiences, and inspiration to all individuals and surfers globally.
In 1976, WSL was established to bring professional surfers of the world to one place. WSL is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, with offices in different countries.
Every year, WSL arranges 180+ contests among professional surfers. On top of it, the World Surf League schedules tours and events to inspire the global community.

What is the 2021 World Surf League?

As the 44th season of professional surfing tournaments, the 2021 World Surf League has significant “locations and events changes” compared to previous seasons.
Some of the decided tours were also canceled because of the pandemic.

Major Changes

The 44th season experienced changes, and many places were added for the first time in WSL. For example:

  • Billabong Pipe Masters became the first event for the first time in all rounds of the tour. Every year, 34 surfers from the World Surf League compete in this event held in Hawaii.
  • WSL picked Narrabeen for the 2021 tour compared to Gold Coast, Australia, because of the pandemic restrictions.
    Almost after a decade, Newcastle came back to the WSL tournament.
  • The Women’s Championship was held in French Polynesia, and Mexico became part of this championship for the first time in the history of the World Surf League.
  • On top of all, the 2021 World Surf League season ended in San Clemente, California, for the first time.

Schedule and List of Events in World Surf League

From December-8 to 20, the Billabong Pipeline Masters event was held in Hawaii.
After that, Rip Curl Newcastle Cup spanned from 1 to 11-April.

Other events include:

  • RIP Curl Narrabeen Classic
  • Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro
  • RIP Curl Rottnest Search
  • Jeep Surf Ranch Pro
  • Corona Open Mexico
  • RIP Curl WSL Finals

Result of the 2021 WSL

After the RIP Curl WSL Finals, held from 9 September to 17 September 2021, Carissa Moore from the USA and Gabriel Medina from Brazil became the world champion of the 2021 World Surf League.
Carissa Moore won the Women’s Championship World Surf League, while the Men’s Championship World Surf League 2021’s winner is Gabriel Medina after surfing in Lower Trestles.
Filipe Toledo is the runner-up. And, Ítalo Ferreira came in third place for Men’s Championship WSL 2021.
Likewise, Tatiana Weston-Webb is the runner-up, and Sally Fitzgibbons from Australia is in third place for the Women’s Championship.