Who else likes to surf?

[RhodesEngr]

I actually surf more than I ride. It would be cool to find other riders that also surf. We head for Santa Cruz from Pleasanton usually about once a week or any day when there is a really good swell. This week we are going Sunday (assuming we survive the KS party). Should be a modest South swell and flat tide. We'll go to Sharks, which is one point East (South) of 41st Ave. 10AM would be a good time to hit the water. It's a nice tame longboard spot. If you shortboard you can just stay at 41st. If you don't have equipment, you can rent at the numerous surf shops on 41st Ave. Who's in? Now if I could find a way to put my board on my bike.....

Parking: You need a permit to park on the city streets near the coast line on the weekends in this area. There is a free parking lot at the end of 41st Ave but it fills up pretty early. You can buy a daily permit but the truck that sells them is way up by 9th Ave. I buy a season permit so I don't have to worry about it.

[mikev]

Paging Beauregard, Beauregard to the white courtesy phone.

(I'd like to learn but I'm a wuss.)

[RhodesEngr]

There are any number of guys that run surf schools in the area. There is a surf school that runs off the beach at Cowells Cove (Club Ed) next to the city pier (West Side) but the tide is wrong for that spot this weekend. The local surfers have been trying to run the surf schools out of the east Side spots like Sharks but they still show up. You can get a 1 on 1 lesson probably without attracting negative vibe. Or just rent a board and a wetsuit and paddle around.

[kawikz]

bodyboarder here....

i would gladly cut off fools that have that "locals only" mentality....that crap is not cool...

live aloha dammit! lol

[RhodesEngr]

well the surf schools tend to come out with sometimes a large numbers of people. This tends to clog up spots with small take off zones. There is a sign at the top of the staircase at 41st that say "no surf schools". I don't know if this a city approved a sign or just some locals trying to keep them out. We run into localism and sexism now and then. My 21yo daughter sometimes gets hassled but often by dudes that dont surf as well as her. Jerks in the water are just a sad reality and is the worst part of surfing. I have learned to mostly keep clear of the bs.

[kawikz]

probly not a city approved sign...still should share the beach with newbs...i mean, theyll have the beach all to themselves if a huge swell hits...more than likely good sized sets will deter newbs naturally....if the swells get that big there.

[RhodesEngr]

well nothing gets big this time of year and sharks is usually smaller than other spots anyway. I always have fun there but it does tend to be a longboard spot.

[Dubbington]

Last time I surfed was about a year ago in Santa Barbara. Ive only surfed Cowells in Santa Cruz, how does your spot compare?
I only longboard so it sounds perfect.
But I was supposed to go on a ride early sunday morning..hmm

Are you looking to split gas/carpool?

[FASTFLEE]

Dude head up north...I live up here in sonoma county and have surfed this coast for over 18 years...no real crouds and the locals me and others are cool...the waves are ok this time of year but the fall starts pumping..the wife and I just had a dream come true and rented a second house for the weekend get aways over looking bodaga head so now I will spend at least 3 days a week out at the ocean...I to now will surf more than I ride again...yahoooooooooooooooo but than again im looking for a beater truck to just leave out at the coast house so I can ride the bike out there and save gas...here is a short vid a week ago on a small but fun day..............http://img532.imageshack.us/my.php?image=007tk2.flv

[RhodesEngr]

FastFlee: I would be interested in trying some spots up north. I need specifics on where to go.

Dubbington: If you like to longboard, you will like Sharks. Sharks is smaller area than Cowells but also less crowded. Sharks has some kelp so its better when the tide is around 3ft like this Sunday. Cowells needs a much lower tide, like less than 1ft or it does not break. I was not necessarily trying to carpool or splitgas but that is a possibility. We have three in my car and room for one more. We are leaving at 8AM. We need to start a little early because the tide is coming up later in the day and that will shut down the break.