It might have grown up here, but surfing was born in Polynesia and introduced to SoCal just over a century ago. In 1907 in Redondo Beach, George Freeth, a Hawaiian-Irish athlete, was paid to demonstrate surfing to stimulate interest in the region.

Just Add Water
There was interest, indeed. And it grew. Surfing has always been more than a sport — it’s a lifestyle — especially in Southern California. Surf shops and surf camps are found in every beach community. San Diego has surfing sculptures, pro contests, surf movie premieres, surf art exhibits, surf bands, pro and original California surfers, and more. Have you seen the street signs of silhouetted surfers with boards that warn drivers of possible surfers crossing the road?

Rentals and Lessons
If you’re ready to hit the water, San Diego’s surf shops rent foam learning boards for an average of $20 or $35 a day for epoxy boards. Private lessons generally run $60 an hour and group lessons about $35 an hour. Some surfing schools have trained staff to help people with special needs try surfing.

Online Surfing
The surf community also surfs online. San Diego-specific sites, such as www.surfshot.com and www.surfingsan-diego.com, are resources for local surfers who view surfcams, photos, and interact with surfing news.

Maritime data on swell height and periods is measured by buoys and transmitted via satellite to a national weather center. Surf web sites translate “six feet at 17 seconds” into waves of eight feet. Surf’s up!

Classic Surf Towns along Historic Highway 101
Many surf communities in San Diego are famous in popular culture, given their roots in early surfing. The Beach Boys (only one surfed — Dennis Wilson) included the celebrated coasts of Del Mar, La Jolla, and Encinitas (Swami’s) in Surfin’ USA (1963). Author Tom Wolfe wrote The Pump House Gang (1968), a collection of essays exploring counter-culture in the 1960s. The book immortalizes a gang of Windansea surfers from La Jolla, for which the book is titled.

There’s surf in San Diego — in the water and splashed into culture. No matter if you surf, enjoy the stoke.