La Jolla Shores is a strand of beach located centrally along the San Diego coast. It's nestled into the west and north end of the La Jolla Cove coastline. While the cove is home to an abundance of underwater hobbies, the area known as “La Jolla Shores” is a haven for surfers of all skill levels. The summer and early fall seasons pick up gentle swells creating perfect waves for beginner through intermediate skill levels. Peak swell seasons see waves get into the excellent range as SW, W and NW swells create steep hollow waves that peel along shifting sandbars.
The waves at the south end of the strand, in front of the huge parking lot, are best suited for easy going surfers. The waves get larger as you go north towards the pier. During the summer months (and especially weekends) it can get fairly crowded in the lineup.. however.. There are a bunch of little peaks to play with along this stretch of coast so venture out and find your own little peak!
We recommend this surf spot for all skill levels. It’s a great place to learn how to get used to other surfers in the lineup. There are plenty of waves to go around if you’re patient. The waves are typically small and tame, great for longboards and other stable board shapes. During peak swell seasons it gets much bigger and closes out fairly easily. You'll need a shorter board to make the steep drop. Given an ideal swell, get ready to get barreled!
SURF SPOT CHARACTERISTICS
Surf Spot Quality
Wave quality: Medium (occ. Excellent!)
Experience: Beginners wave (most of the time)
Frequency: While not always impressive, the Shores pick up most swell directions
Wave Characteristics
Type: Peaky Beach-break
Direction: Right and left
Bottom: Sandy
Power: Ordinary, Fun, Powerless (typically)
Normal length: Short (50m)
Good day length: Normal (50 to 150m)
Tide, Swell and Wind
Swell directions: S-NW
Good swell direction: SW-NW
Good wind direction: SE
Swell size: Starts working at less than 1m / 3ft and holds up to 3m+ / 9ft+
Tide positions: All tides, best at mid tide
More details
Week crowd: Few surfers (Summer = slightly crowded)
Week-end crowd: Crowded (Summer = surf convention)
Board Recommendations
Small-Crowded: Try our Ultimate Longboard
Medium - Less Crowded: Punt a few on the Bean
Barreling - forget the crowd.. Go big or go home : Get shacked on the T9 or Optimist
Turnoffs
- Light rips / undertow - Light localism, can get ultra crowded
ACCESS
From the I-5 freeway, exit westbound on La Jolla Village Dr. Turn left on Torrey Pines Rd. Turn right on La Jolla Shores Dr. Turn right on Calle De La Garza and park in the La Jolla Shores parking lot.
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Garek Hurt
Author