Continent
North America
Country
California (USA)
Next Big City
Los Angeles
Next Town
San Pedro
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Expert
Features:
Shop, Rescue, Shower, Toilet

Water

Type:
Chop
Hazards:
Mole
Quality:
Clean
Best Tide:
Tide independent

Nearly-open ocean, and any swells create bad shore break you must bodydrag out through before getting in your straps. No rideable surf. Wind-driven chop. Crowded with sailboards when windy. Rock jetty in the water directly downwind of the launch area. Large, thick kelp bed upwind.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Small
Hazards:
Rocks
Beach Users:
None

Narrow sand strip, partly soft, partly concrete-hard. Beach looks long, but there's only one spot just upwind of big, jagged rocks, where the wind is not way to gusty to even fly a kite. Barely enough space to semi-safely launch and land one kite at a time.

Weather

Spring:
Normal
Summer:
Shorty
Fall:
Normal
Winter:
Thick

Temperatures range from 'shorty' (late summer/early fall) to 'steamer' (late winter/early spring). Year-round riding.

Wind

Best Months:
April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Wind Type:
Thermal
Best Direction:
SW
Main Direction:
N, SW, NW, NNW

Strongest, but also most gusty and shifty (horizontally and vertically!) April through October. About 5 days/week at least 15 knots for at least a couple hours in the afternoon. Usual direction is SW, which is sideon at the beach, but sideoff in the riding area out past the rock jetty. Often oscillates nearly instantly between about 10 and 25, which is about as strong as it ever gets in the summer, but it's impossible to tell when it's going to suddenly go from averaging 10 SSW to a solid or gusty 25 W. It's rideable from SSW to SW. Often it switches to WSW and even W, becoming EXTREMELY gusty and shifty on and near shore.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
No information

Driving out of LAX take Sepulveda South, 105 East, 110 South, Highway 47, Harbor exit, right at the light on Harbor, 22nd St right, Pacific Ave. left, 36th St. left, bear left to the toll-booth ($7 parking fee).

Extra information

Rules
Time, Other

Du to the small launch, be prepared to politely ask bystanders to move momentarily if they're within two line-lengths when you're launching. Be prepared to wait before launching as pedestrians walk by, waders, surfers and windsurfers enter and exit your path. Be prepared to land in the water if the small landing spot becomes occupied while you're riding. No riding or kite flying of any kind at all on weekends, from July 4th (may be changed to 'Memorial Day' at the end of May) through Labor Day (1st weekend of September). Lifeguards may prevent riding at any time, based on their opinion of beach occupancy. Expert riders only (being `expert` at less extreme sites may very well fail to qualify you to ride here). Fully-functional depowering kiteleash must be attached to your body at all times (`grab` leashes do not qualify). No kiteflying on the beach. Avoid flying overhead and be ready, willing and able to quickly fly out over open water when you get lofted.

Nightlife

Lots in LA.