Surfing/living in San Diego

**CascadeCrudSkier** · 05-18-2006, 07:12 PM

So my work is taking me out to San Diego next month, anywhere for 6 months to four years. I've never been south of L.A. so I don't know much about the city or it's geography(other than from google earth).

Does anyone have any advice on the best places to live? I'm looking for a 3 or 4 bedroom house w/ a yard that's in a good neighborhood, bike friendly, close to the beach, and w/ a decent commute to work(Coronado). I've seen in other threads people recommend Pacific Beach but does that fit the criteria I've listed? There will be three or four of us living together w/ a dog, and we'll all be getting a housing allowance so we'll have probably $2500-4000/month to play with for rent. Imperial beach looks like it's in a good location to Coronado but I've heard some people say it's a bad part of town.

I've found some info on surfline.com about some of the breaks in San Diego but any further advice would also be appreciated. Thanks.

**nutcase** · 05-18-2006, 08:09 PM

Imperial Beach is not that terrible a place. Good (but polluted) surf and very close to coronado. PB and Mission Beach are the best IMo but expensive and a bit of a drive. Ocean BEach is pretty cool.

As far as surfing what are you looking for? Beach breaks or reefs? If reefs I would look at Ocean Beach (its close to sunset cliffs) or PB (most of the southern half of la jolla are reef breaks). IB, OB and PB are all beach breaks. Mission beach in my opinion is not great for surfing.

**tarkman1** · 05-18-2006, 08:50 PM

CascadeCrudSkier check your PM for my two cents. Your avatar picture told me we have a lot in common.

Surf breaks? Too many to count and varying in characters. If you're around La Jolla there isn't much need to surf anywhere else. The reefs pick up different swell directions though you don't get some of the extreme south swells may hit Trestles or OC. Sunset Cliffs can handle the winter juice.

You and the boys will have fun cruising the beach in PB and hitting Garnet. I think living in PB is obligatory for those coming from Milton.

**iskibc** · 05-18-2006, 10:23 PM

Ask SheRa, she lived there for a while and her family still lives just outside of San Diego. I know her son is a big surfer and would be able to point you in the right direction.

**shera** · 05-19-2006, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by iskibc

Ask SheRa, she lived there for a while and her family still lives just outside of San Diego. I know her son is a big surfer and would be able to point you in the right direction.

I haven't lived in San Diego actually, but the rest of my family lives there. On Point Loma. My son surfs Ocean Beach, which is not the gnar, but lately he's more interested in lifeguarding than anything else. I've surfed at Tourmaline, which is an old schooler longboarder hangout, very chill. Small, but clean long break.

There are other folks here that know all the breaks and the attitudes that go with them. Kinda silly I have to say that...

**CascadeCrudSkier** · 05-19-2006, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by nutcase

As far as surfing what are you looking for? Beach breaks or reefs?

Honestly, I've never surfed a reef break before, my experience has only been sloppy beach breaks. I'm just looking for some recommendations to begin with, I'm sure I'll get a feel for what I like when I get out to San Diego but right now I'm too clueless to even know what I've been missing. I'm not a great surfer but I'm getting better and I'd like a couple breaks that I'm not gonna piss anyone off by showing up and paddling out into 'their' lineup.

tarkman, thanks for the PM, I sent you a reply.

**Artz** · 05-22-2006, 05:27 PM

I lived and surfed in and around San Diego for more then 20 years.
So tell me what is wrong with living right in Coronado? Nice town kind of expensive but looks like you have a nice housing allowance so you could do Coronado. might want to think about buying a little 25 foot or so sailboat. would be a fun day to run out to the tip of Point Loma and catch some waves. sail in at sunset and have a beer or two.
There is a free anchorage right off the golf course. Coronado is beach break and can get massive on the right swell. Coronado surfers use to have a rep for being gutsy taking off on do or die waves. If you have access to the Navy base there is a couple of excellent surf spots right there. IB is weird place but I always liked it met some great surfers from there. Very much into the soul surf thing. Some good beach break and one of the all time mysto spots about 1/4 mile off shore just south of IB. You are also so F-ing close to Mex. you may never surf north of the boarder. Many years ago some IB locals took me into some of the close by Mex. secret spots that you can't see from the Hwy. They the Coronado and IB rats were Surfing Todo Santos way before it was discovered. I'm sure they still have a few hidden gems on the Baja. For a better social life OB, Sunset Cliffs Mission Beach, PB and La Jolla would be excellent with lots of near by surf lived in both south OB and Sunset Cliffs for a few years before moving back to my old Encinitas stomping grounds. I do miss Swamis on a north west swell at 6 foot plus. The La Jolla reefs are legendary in more ways then one. Maybe the localism has mellowed there, maybe not? La Jolla would be the outer limits for a sane commute to Coronado. if you are looking fora board check out Moonlight glassing in San Marcos. They are the last of a dyeing breed a real surf shop that makes their own boards right there in the back of the retail shop. They have a few excellent shapers that work out of Moonlight. these are great guys with more then 40 years of building boards under their belt. They are true Artist. After all those years they are still filled with stoke!

**shera** · 05-23-2006, 07:38 AM

Wow artz, freaking cool response. I thought why not Coronado as well, but maybe he'd feel confined on that island? I dunno. It is a cool place for sure. I played tennis at that old hotel.

I visited a little surfboard fab in Santa Cruz many years ago. Really fascinating to have them explain it all. Those guys had taken up windsurfing. In the big waves.

I heard La Jolla attitude is scary, but I really don't know jack about jack so I'm embarassed to say a word. My son is at Mesa College right now, but he's gonna transfer to UCSD next year.

Damn, I love California. Just wish the water wasn't so cold. But CascadeCrudSkier, you're gonna have awesome fun...

**tex1230** · 05-23-2006, 07:52 AM

+1 vote for PB - north end near La Jolla. I lived there my last year of college and surfed Tourmaline every day. great group of guys - very mellow. when it gets big you can get rides from the point all the way to the cove - 300 yards+

not sure about housing costs there, (it's been 12 years since I lived there) but you should do ok with your housing allowance there.

I'd avoid Imperial beach - my experience there was it's almost as bad as Windansea with locals with bad attitudes.

**Brocktoon** · 05-23-2006, 12:31 PM

Stoked. You are going to love San Diego. I grew up there, went to UCSD and lived there for years afterward. I was supposed to be moving back this summer but it looks like I'm going to be derailed. That's a story for another post. Here's the gouge as I see it:

IB - great barrelling surf. gets polluted because of TJ sloughs run off. Get a water testing kit if you're going to surf down there regularly because the lifeguard feedback won't be responsive enough. it's very frustrating because the sand bars are typically groomed best after a big storm. that's also when all the sewage is pushed out into the water. makes for a frustrating combo - kind of like propecia (a medicine for male pattern baldness that tends to cause impotence).

Downtown SD - why the hell not? super quick commute. easy access to sunset cliffs and OB. great nightlife. the gaslamp district goes off. the ballpark is down town now. tons of great bars and restaurants. i would give it serious consideration if I were you.

Loma Portal - Loma Portal is kind of on the fringe between down town and Point Loma proper. It's cheaper than point loma but you're still plenty close to the action.

Point Loma - sweet if you can afford it. sunset cliffs is one of my favorite venues. don't bother paddling out at newbreak (heavy local vibe - not for nubes) but you can do pretty well most other places.

Ocean Beach - kind of a hippy vibe there. the beach break off the pier pretty much sucks but the jetty by dog beach can get ridiculously good. as mentioned above, you're right next to the cliffs.

Mission Beach - mission beach is kind of a classic ca pseudo-slum. there are million dollar houses there but also tons of heavily tatted, heavily drunk scum bags riding around on schwinn crusiers and sector nines. pretty much a bunch of beach breaks. the south mission jetty can get really good and is situated as the mirror image of the right at dog beach (though not as good, IMO).

Pacific Beach - surf is pretty much indistinguishable from MB surf as it is mostly situated along the same strip of beach. the exception is the north part of PB which tapers into Bird Rock and La Jolla. As others have noted, some classic breaks in there.

La Jolla - i don't really like it. it's a great place but the traffic in and out sucks and it's kind of a snooty vibe. As far as localism, I never experienced much there even at supposedly notorious places like Big Rock. Hassles happen at Windansea but it's pretty much over run these days.

You can't lose, man. San Diego is the shit.

**Artz** · 05-23-2006, 12:56 PM

Good stuff Nugget. Down Town isn't a bad idea. I have been thinking of doing a live-aboard boat at the Marina there, or maybe Shelter Island. Would be nice to catch those south swells at Ralphs It would be a pretty nice situation, a place in the mountains and a place on the water. Utah to San Diego is only a short flight and or about a 12 hour shot down I 15 by car. Loma Portal has one problem, over flight from the San Diego Airport. let a jet in the front door and out the back door.

SheRa Your going to pay for your son to be a Blacks local!, I mean a student at UCSD?

**shera** · 05-23-2006, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Artz

SheRa Your going to pay for your son to be a Blacks local!, I mean a student at UCSD?

Dood, didn't you know we are trustafarians! Grandma was very generous.

Seriously, he's gone to school at Mesa for two years now and that's cheap. He's gonna stay on Point Loma, down the street from my parents and teach swimming across the street at the yacht club or something. When he surfs, he just goes to hang out with his friends near the pier at OB. Not Blacks.

I was talking to him about making a big surf/camping trip down baja this year, but he'd rather go diving. That sounds cool to me. Down to the Carribean where the water is warm. Isla Mujeres.

Like I said about Tourmaline, it was very chill there. Whenever I rode one, everybody was shouting out and I was a true gaper on a big foam board. Nice crowd.

**CascadeCrudSkier** · 05-23-2006, 03:54 PM

Thanks for all the replies, it looks like I have no shortage of options for either housing or surfing.

I'd like to have a place lined up in the next couple of weeks, as soon as I arrive in San Diego I have to attend a two week survival school and I don't want to worry too much about house hunting while I'm trying to learn to fly a new helicopter.

So far I haven't been able to find many houses for rent in Coronado, PB, OB, and only a couple in Imperial Beach. I'm trying some websites such as the San Diego Tribune and Craigslist, does anyone have any property management companies or real estate agents to recommend in the area?

**nutcase** · 05-23-2006, 11:11 PM

I wouldn't be scared away from Imperial Beach. On a big day the TJ sloughs are insane

!
I lived in San Diego for 20 years and surfed all over. IB locals aren't that bad, neither are the La Jolla locals. Seriously the chances of anyone actually starting some serious shit with you because you are not "local" is almost nil. I surfed all over and rarely ever got too much shit.
If I had to choose I would live in pacific beach for sure-PB is the shizzle. Second would be OB. Tourmaline is a fun place but just north of Crystal pier is a pretty sweet break also. Wind n Sea is an awesome break and I never got hasseled too bad at all there. In fact the only place in all of SD I ever really got shit was at bird rock.

Shera- that's cool bout your son- I went to Mesa for a half a year. Best community college in San Diego county IMO.

Nugget really nailed the description of the breaks and the fact that wherever you end up it'll be dope- although I would take exception to the Mission Beach - Pacific beach comparison he has. I think north of Crystal pier is WAY better than anything south of the pier as far as surfing.

**tex1230** · 05-24-2006, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by CascadeCrudSkier

So far I haven't been able to find many houses for rent in Coronado, PB, OB, and only a couple in Imperial Beach. I'm trying some websites such as the San Diego Tribune and Craigslist, does anyone have any property management companies or real estate agents to recommend in the area?

Try Coldwell Banker in Pacific Beach - when I lived there they pretty much had a lock on rental houses

**Artz** · 05-25-2006, 05:39 PM

She Ra your a Trustafarian? Will ya Marry Me?

Oh is the San Diego weekly reader still being published? They always had a lot of rentals in their classifieds.

**Viva** · 05-25-2006, 06:57 PM

CascadeCrud, PM me if you want to check out North County. I know a few surfers here, too. Whatcha mean by "bikefriendly"? Road cycling? Again, contact me and I'll show you some routes. I know some agents that I'd recommend, but they can be kinda territorial, so it'd help to know where you'd like to buy.

**Big Tim** · 05-25-2006, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by SheRa

Dood, didn't you know we are trustafarians! Grandma was very generous.

Seriously, he's gone to school at Mesa for two years now and that's cheap. He's gonna stay on Point Loma, down the street from my parents and teach swimming across the street at the yacht club or something. When he surfs, he just goes to hang out with his friends near the pier at OB. Not Blacks.

I was talking to him about making a big surf/camping trip down baja this year, but he'd rather go diving. That sounds cool to me. Down to the Carribean where the water is warm. Isla Mujeres.

Like I said about Tourmaline, it was very chill there. Whenever I rode one, everybody was shouting out and I was a true gaper on a big foam board. Nice crowd.

One cool mom...........

**Artz** · 05-26-2006, 09:56 AM

Viva, Your a North County Rodent? I logged a lot of waves at Swamis, Cardiff Reef, Neptune, Grandview and other spots.

**Viva** · 05-26-2006, 10:42 AM

^^^I am now. Recently moved back from PDX.

**Brocktoon** · 05-26-2006, 11:41 AM

Wow. I've just come off of an insane couple days of tumult. It appears I will be moving back to San Diego in a week and a half now. I'll drive from VA (and may detour up to Tahoe if it's still worthy).

At any rate, we should have a San Diego micro-summit over beer in a few weeks to discuss surf in SD and ski missions next year.

Pizza Port in Solana Beach is sweet. Big tables, micro brew, surf videos playing and good pizza. Late June early July? Any interest?

**Viva** · 05-26-2006, 11:53 AM

PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA...

**las olas** · 05-27-2006, 11:12 PM

Ok CCS,welcome to S.D.But remember one thing,you are a Kook and you will be probally for a couple of years.It takes serious dedication to become a good surfer in a short time(2 years or less).But just remember every surfer started out as a kook.Kooks are not looked upon kindly at most advanced spots like Blacks,La Jolla reefs,and the cliffs.You should stick to the easier places like La Jolla Shores and Tourmaline until you learn the ropes about surfing.Get out there on your tanker and crash into other kooks and learn proper surf ediquette.That is very important.There are alot of unwritten rules about surfing that unfotunately most newbies have'nt taken the time to learn.How do learn a set of rules if they are not written down somewhere you might ask?#1 ask questions to more experienced surfers and #2 sit on the beach and observe.Watch the good surfers,see where they paddle,where they line up,how they don't drop in on other surfers(most of the time unless the other guy is a kook),how they deal with cleanup sets.The San Diego surf scene has never been more crowded than it is now.That creates alot of tension in the water when the surf gets good.I have noticed much more shouting and punchouts in the last 2 years than in the previous 10.It is just getting really crowded out there and the long time locals are starting to retaliate,especially at the cliffs.So you better know your shit before you paddle out there.Learn the sport,have proper respect for the locals,don't hurt anyone with bonehead actions,be stoked and most important have a smile on your face when you're out there.After all it is the sport of Kings.

**shera** · 06-03-2006, 06:48 PM

I am so glad I've kept up with this thread. It's good to know that maggots are right there with the rest of my family.

If you guys only knew how close I came to moving to San Diego or Encinitas or something like that a few years ago. I wanted to dedicate myself to surfing before I ever stepped foot on snow. It's one of those things that I know is right for me.

And you never know what the future may bring. In any case, the next time I get down that way to visit, I'm gonna give a shout out. Let's drink beers and eat fish tacos.