Foiling in Cali
The top 10 Foiling destinations in California
Stretching from the warm waters of the Mexican border all the way up to the frigid waters of Southern Oregon, the vast California coastline is incredibly diverse and full of adventure. Sandwiched between rugged mountain ranges and the unrelenting Great Pacific, the aptly named U.S. "Golden State” has some of the best waves in the world and a legendary surf culture to go with it. If you’re thinking of hitting Highway 101 for a foiling road trip, here are our top 10 favourite foiling destinations to add to the bucket list.
1. Del Mar River Mouth, San Diego
Del Mar is one of the most renowned surfing destinations in San Diego County, with a vibrant blend of upscale surf community and restaurant culture intermixed. With multiple surf breaks in a short vicinity, the beach has a mostly sand and rock bottom, and relatively warm waters year round. Surfers tend to pack out the breaks around 15th street, and it can get quite crowded, however at the River Mouth of the San Dieguito River there is ample space for foilers, who will find multiple peaks with softer, longer rides into deeper water.
2. Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Encinitas
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, or simply Cardiff, lies at the exit of the San Elijo Lagoon in Encinitas. Consisting of lefts and rights which break over reef and sand, there is a healthy surfing community here with a laid back vibe, friendly to all skill levels. For foilers, there are ample options north and south of the main surfing peak, especially on a higher tide when the waves are deeper and fuller. Conditions work best on a south west swell, and when recent rains have caused the banks to shift causing new gutters to open up and carving areas of deeper water that only the foils can shred.
3. San Onofre State Beach, San Clemente
"SanO", as it’s affectionately called by locals, is an absolute surfing mecca, embodying the essence of the Southern California surf lifestyle. With consistently fun waves breaking over cobblestone reef year-round, SanO has something for everyone. Watch out for the persistent crowd of aspiring pro surfers and surf fanatics stretching from Lower Trestles down to The Point. Stay well away from this area if you’re planning to foil, instead opting for the longer, gentler swells wrapping into Old Man’s or DogPatch breaks at the south side of the beach where there is more space. With a growing community of local foilers, it’s not uncommon to see a mix of surfers, longboarders, and foilers coexisting in the lineup. In the summer months, it can get really crowded, so remember to keep a good distance from everyone else and consider chasing peaks further down the beach toward the San Onofre nuclear plant where there are miles of empty a-frames and deep gutters to call your own.
4. Seal Beach, Orange County
Seal Beach, located south of the Alamitos Bay inlet, is known for its mellow, user-friendly waves which are perfect for both learner and advanced foilers. Due to the soft, sandy bottom, the falls are low-risk, the crowd is generally dispersed and there is a friendly atmosphere amongst the longboarders, beginners and foil enthusiasts that frequent the spot. The section of deeper water at “River Jetties”, where the mouth of the San Gabriel River emerges, creates the perfect shoulder for foilers to take off and practice pumping back out to catch the next wave. Working best on south swells during the summer, Seal Beach is well-protected from the brunt of the Pacific energy making it a perfect spot for foilers a.k.a. "small wave enthusiasts". Make sure to chat to other foilers in the lineup, this area is full of frothers. You might even want to join the LA Foil Club!
5. Surf City, Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach, or "Surf City", is a consistent, year round beach break which is hugely popular among local surfers and an emerging population of avid foilers. While the general vicinity of the Huntington Pier is a favourite for the surfing masses, foilers can enjoy ample room to the north and south where there is more space to pump around. The mouths of the Santa Ana river (to the south), and the Bolsa Bay (to the north), offer deeper banks and fuller waves which break further out with the shifting sands. As a highly accessible destination with many beachfront carparks up and down the stretch of coast, it’s easy to find your own slice of empty foil perfection at all times of the year.
6. SurfRider Beach, Malibu
Simply "Malibu", this Los Angeles right-hand point break is downright historic, and serves as a cultural centre-point for American surfing, dating back to the 50’s and 60’s. Long, peeling, consistent rights from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd peaks, end with the famous Malibu Pier. If you are looking to escape the crowds, this is not the place. The summer months see it absolutely packed, with domestic and international travellers hoping to score the "one wave" that makes their trip. If you’re up for it, humbly enter the water and be patient. You are sure to catch a long ride that will be worth the wait. Frequented by competitive longboarders, especially in the summer months, Malibu is better to try your hand at foiling during weekday business hours, when winds from the south ruffle the surface conditions deterring the majority of the crowds and opening up space for foilers to carve up both the swells and wind swells all the way to the Pier.
7. Mondo’s, Ventura
Mondo’s Beach in Ventura County is a family friendly, beginner spot with a much more relaxed, easy-going vibe compared to many of the other competitive breaks in the region. This sandy breach break sits amongst a more natural, less commercialised SoCal backdrop with views of the Channel Islands out off the coast. During the summer and autumn months when the south swells are more frequent, Mondo’s lights up with well formed, slow, gentle swells rolling into the beach. The soft whitewash is perfect for less experienced foilers to catch and ride to the unbroken shoulder of the wave and practice their carving and pumping, or stay with the wave until it reforms on the inside. Plenty of children and beginner longboarders frequent the area, so always be mindful of foiling etiquette, safety and distance from others when starting out.
8. Rincon, Santa Barbara
Sometimes referred to as the "Queen of the Coast", Rincon Point is one of the longest, most perfect right-handers in the country. Working best on swells from the northwest, the wave starts at "Indicators", peeling through the "River Mouth", and down into the "Cove". With the perfect pace and even some barrel sections, this area is hugely popular for surfers and can become crowded and highly competitive at times. However, on days when the conditions are marginal, when the waves are tiny or winds slightly onshore, the crowds can abate opening up space for foil enthusiasts. Head to the Cove on the inside of Rincon Point, where foilers can paddle into the wave just before it fades, pumping back out to catch one of the unbroken swell lines wrapping into the bay.
9. Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a Nor-Cal coldwater surfing hub, and a seedbed for grass-roots boardsports brands and professional water athletes alike. Compared to the famous Steamer Lane break to the north which serves as the primo surfing area in town, Pleasure Point offers a more relaxed atmosphere, with consistently fun waves breaking across several distinct patches of reef that never truly line up. This tends to break up the crowd a little, creating space for foilers and small wave experts to carve up some long lines as they wrap into the bay. Best for foiling on a south-west swell direction with a high tide, even the windy days are fun. Down toward 38th Avenue at the south end of the break is where the waves are slower and gentler, and the crowd of grizzled longboarders is more dispersed, making it perfect for the growing population of Santa Cruz foilers seeking a slice of the fun.
10. Patrick’s Point, Trinidad
Patrick’s Point, near Trinidad in the far reaches of Nor-Cal, is a dramatic and beautifully rugged area set amongst a backdrop of tranquil redwood forests. Breaking over a rocky reef along a point, long peeling left handers can be caught all the way into the picturesque Agate Beach. Best through the winter months when northwest swells are groomed by offshore northeast winds, this place is an adventure just to drive to. If you’re looking for some great foiling conditions away from the usual Cali-crowd, this is the place, but always remember to be respectful of the tight-knit community of locals that call it home. Always take care to avoid rips and rough conditions, and be mindful of the area’s healthy population of sharks. Despite its ruggedness, a firing day out at Patrick’s will go down in the memory book due to its natural wonder and isolation. Remember to always foil with a friend and make sure to consult with other more knowledgeable foilers before entering the water here and other spots on the beautifully remote Nor-Cal coastline.
California is an iconic surfing and foiling destination and it is no great secret that some of the best waves in the world can be scored here. Along with these favourites, there are so many other breaks to explore, and it’s great that foilers do not need to chase the conventional surfing breaks to have loads of fun. At FLITELab* we believe in safe and respectful foiling so we can continue to share the ocean and coexist with surfers and other water lovers in the best way possible. Load up the truck and hit the road!