Surfing in Santa Cruz, California is a must do since it's one of the most iconic surf destinations in the US.

Is There Good Surfing In Santa Cruz California?

ByHaley Posted on
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Planning A Trip To Northern California And Wondering If The Santa Cruz Area Is Really A Good Surfing Destination?

I first learned to surf in California over 15 years ago and although my favorite surfing destination is in Southern California, my next favorite surf town would be Santa Cruz for the surfing itself and for the whole surf culture of the town.

🏄‍♀️ Is The Surfing Any Good In Santa Cruz, California?

California is one of the worlds best surfing destinations and there are plenty of great options for beginners.

Santa Cruz is definitely a great surfing destination and typically considered one of the best in California, but there can be a few downsides to this area as well, so it just depends on whether it seems worth it or not to you.

✅ Pros of Surfing in Santa Cruz, California:

  • pretty good year round surfing, but typically best in fall and winter
  • usually consistent, quality, and good-sized waves
  • cool surf town with a cool surf culture and surf history
The surf history here is pretty interesting.

❌ Cons of Surfing in Santa Cruz:

  • Santa Cruz is a part of the “Red Triangle”
    • this means big white sharks can be seen here, so it can feel a little risky surfing, although attacks aren’t considered common
    • I personally feel a little less worried when I wear my Sharkbanz since I’m going to be out there anyway
  • Santa Cruz weather
    • the fall and winter seasons typically have the best waves, but the weather and the water aren’t so pleasant
    • it can get pretty cold, but because it’s so cold, it can be a little less crowded out there at times
  • surfing Santa Cruz as a non-local
    • Santa Cruz doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to friendly surfers
    • it’s better than it used to be but proper surf etiquette and staying out of the way of some of the angrier locals is essential for surfing here
    • this is why I typically recommend surfing lessons especially for beginners

➡️ If you’re a beginner and Santa Cruz doesn’t sound like the best spot for surfing to you, here are some other great beginner surf spots up and down the coast of California

Best Surf Spots In Santa Cruz

There are a few good surfing spots in Santa Cruz, California.

To become a surf town, you’ve got to have pretty good surf, and Santa Cruz definitely does have some good options throughout the year for all skill levels:

Hopefully you won’t have any problems at any of these beaches, but sometimes there are angry locals, car break-ins at some of the out-of-town beaches, and more “secret” spots that people are protective of, which is why I would recommend getting a lesson, especially if you’re a beginner.

🌊 Does Santa Cruz, California Have Good Beginner Surfing?

It can be an ok beginner spot but I would suggest going with a guide on a lesson.

Although Santa Cruz is a popular surf town for regular surfers and nearby there’s very advanced big wave surfing, there are still some good beginner options here so it can definitely be a cool place to learn to surf.

Some good beginner spots in and around Santa Cruz include:

🌟 If you’re really new to surfing (especially California surfing), I recommend reading up on the tips for beginners below and going out with an instructor to surf in Santa Cruz.

Tips For First Time Surfers

Beginners should be extra cautious in the California waters and always practice proper surfing etiquette to keep from having any problems with locals.
  • ➡️ first surfer on the wave has the right of way
    • this is very important in Santa Cruz because locals aren’t always the friendliest and they will not be happy if a beginner drops in on their wave
    • also do your best to hold onto your board even if you have a leash because it’s often crowded and you could accidentally hit someone
  • ➡️ good beginner beaches can change
    • factors like wind, swells, breaks, terrain, and crowds all help determine what makes a beach perfect for learning to surf, so the right choice can fluctuate
  • ➡️ surfing lessons
    • totally worth it for beginners, especailly in Santa Cruz because they’ll help teach you
      • how to stay safe from the water and the terrain (there are some rocky areas here that can be very dangerous)
      • the proper etiquette to not anger other surfers
      • how to paddle, pop up, and surf the right way
  • ➡️ dress warm
    • even in the summer, wetsuits are super helpful at both Southern California beaches and Northern California beaches since the water is so chilly, but especially in the winter in Santa Cruz
  • ➡️ pick the right time of day
    • in general for surfing, the earlier you paddle out the better, plus you’ll also beat most beach crowds this way

🛍️ Other “Surf” Stuff In Santa Cruz

The surf museum is small but a cool place to see some history of the sport.

I love Santa Cruz not just for the surfing itself, but for the surf culture of this town. Besides going out surfing on your own or on a lesson, here are a few other ways to get in the surfing mood:

  • Surfing groups
    • if you don’t want to do a lesson but also don’t want to go out alone, you might be able to find groups to join on Meetup or with Christian Surfers
  • Mexican food
    • I don’t know if it’s a me thing, a California thing, or a surf thing, but Mexican food is always the best after a day in the water and Santa Cruz has plenty of options

While surfing is what Santa Cruz is most known for, this area has some other awesome nature and adventurous things to see and do so it can definitely be worth spending a few days here.

🔁 Sum Up: Surfing In Santa Cruz, California

Although there are a few downsides to surfing in Santa Cruz (like the sharks, the weather, and sometimes the locals), this is one of the coolest surf towns in California so it’s definitely worth surfing at least once and it can be a good place to learn to surf if you go out with an instructor.

Haley

Haley is the owner and author of Adventure Evermore, a travel blog that encourages users to explore, adventure, & bucket list around the world, no matter what anxieties or other difficulties they may have. When she's not writing blog posts about her favorite destinations, she's reading, playing soccer, or watching sports, movies, or TV (especially The X Files).