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USA West Coast
The west coast ranges from warm water, sandy beaches in San Diego to cold water, cliffs, wild wind and sharks in the north. This should be enough to satisfy any surfer! From the beginner who wants to learn to surf in San Diego from a blonde beach betty, to the ever-searching big-wave seeker sitting alone in the frigid waters off Lincoln City Oregon... waiting for that monster wave.
A surf adventure starts when you start dreaming and it reaches it's peak when you're in the water, surfing your brains out. But some of the best times are re-living the sessions over and over again with your buddies. I've surfed all over the west coast, from the southern-most city in the US to the lonely waters of Washington State, and I think we are blessed to have so much beautiful surf. So get a map and get on the road, but remember that it's the adventure that matters... it's the way it changes your soul that matters.
Where does Northern California turn into Southern California? Is it the spot where Hwy 1 opens to the ocean just south of Jalama? Personally, I think there is a magic shield that sits somewhere between Ventura and Carpenteria, where the Hwy changes from being asphalt to concrete. Whenever I'm driving down from Santa Cruz to San Diego I cross this magic shield and suddenly cars start driving faster, people start cutting me off, the hwy gets really bumpy and the girls start getting really hot. But that magic shield is hard to pinpoint, so I like to just say Santa Barbara is the last big city in Southern California.
If you're just visiting this beautiful state you may think we all dress in shorts and hawaiian print shirts, but you would be wrong. Some of us wear flip-flops, too.
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Calling this Central California is a little like cheating. I think it's really part of Northern California, but there are a few towns like Santa Maria, Pismo and San Luis Obispo that have that Southern California feel without as much pretense.
Regardless of what you call it, the middle towns are great places to live and visit. I personally like to bring all my gear when I'm heading to Central Cal, including my kites, my stand up paddle board and my surfboards. The beaches here are diverse and the conditions vary so much that you have to be prepared for anything. So if you kite, surf and paddle, you'll like this region.
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Northern California is home to some of the best surf in the world and you'll find waves to suit everyone from beginners to hardcore watermen. We tried to create surf maps that would highlight a variety of spots and give you enough information to choose a couple and seek them out. Are you ready for the adventure?
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The magical Oregon coast is filled with hidden surf spots and long stretches of beach. It's a great place to spend a couple weeks exploring and surfing.
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The Washington coast has some hidden surf spots that are calling on the adventurous surfer willing to face the chilling waters and other harsh elements.
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