Surfing California (Paperback)

by Allan Wright (Author) "The seasons are important to surfing..." (more)
Key Phrases: foot winter swell, sandbar peaks, foot south swell, Santa Cruz, Point Arena, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A complete guide to the surfing spots of California. Complete with lots of photos, maps, and descriptions of each and every spot along the beautiful California coastline.

About the Author
Longtime California surfer/skier from the 60s.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Mountain & Sea Publishing (June 1973)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911449027
• ISBN-13: 978-0911449020
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #167,336 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars California Dreamin', April 11, 2001

By A Customer

Bank Wright traveled up and down the California coast for two years, personally checking the spots, taking photos, and gathering information from locals for this book on surf spots of the Golden State. Its becoming a real gem of spot history with some great photos and spot tide/swell info, and is an excellent book for both those new to surfing in California and for locals who are curious about how their spots are presented. The reasons I am not giving it five stars are because of some minor problems of Nor Cal information which could have serious consequences...

He writes of the Nor Cal coast as if its mostly fun and empty surf, but there is rarely, if ever any mention of how sporadic conditions can be, how heavy and often unrideable it often is, and how sharky some of these spots are. Tomales Bay, for example, should have some mention of how sharky it is. I'd hate to see someone from So Cal come up here and see those Uluwatu-like lefts firing off south Tomales Bay headland, paddle out there and most likely get grubbed by a whitey. Many other spots in Nor Cal are way more sharky than he mentions. But then again, as he was just passing through and probably didn't surf most these empty spots, how was he to know?

He talks about big combers coming into Nor Cal shores like its an empty Hawaiian dream. Sorry Bank, but when these beach breaks get big, which they usually are, its very, very difficult to make it to the outside, and sometimes impossible. He does have some of the more legitimate heavy-duty spots on the North Coast, such as Harbour Entrance. Bank has respected the spots that deserve to be kept quiet, and that he overlooked spots is all for the better- it keeps the element of exploration and new discovery alive in California surfing.

One other thing- I've never seen Pigeon Point breaking right as a big wave break. I've only seen it firing off of a mysto reef way outside the lighthouse, breaking left on that huge Tahitian swell we had a few years back. Pigeon Point is not a wise place to surf anyway- an abolone diver was attacked and killed there by a huge great white shark there less than 10 years ago. And as far as the Potato Patch goes- OK you Cortes Bank and Mav's tow-in crew- here's your new challenge. I have seen it good and clean with two guys out paddling in to big blue shoulders. The tide was medium and it was a big and perfect fall swell with very light offshores from due East. I swear it looked a lot like those Cortes Bank rights that Snips, Mel and Crew scored for the Project Neptune session, but a bit more manageable yet. These waves were so big that they properly scaled to the tankers which passed before them! I even have pictures of that day to prove it. On a good fall it might get good for more than few days. Check it from Deaddies' with binoculars and fling yourself off the cliff while you're ahead!!!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best surfspot guide to the California coast., October 2, 1999

By A Customer

Eventhough its been around for awhile, this little guidebook is still da best brah! And at less than $11.oo it's a steal. Lots of maps, photos, and interesting descriptions make it a good thing to have if your cruising the crowded Calif. coast.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful, though sometimes loathed, December 31, 2000

By	Loves To Read (La Jolla, Ca.) - See all my reviews

This book is one of the most useful tools that a surfer can use. This book has had me travel from my home in San Diego to all around the rest of Southern California. The most useful information is the tide height and swell directions to make each spot go off. Even though I hate the fact that the book helps tons of traveling surfers find there way into the spots around my home on the best days, I still value my prized copy. I think that Bank Wright should do an updated version because some of the names of the spots have changed as well as some new spots that are being surfed. I also think some of the spots need to be reconsidered on how dangerous they are (Torrey Pines isn't a "big wave break"). Overall I think this book fits in with surfline.com and those surf report faxes, because they are okay for you to use, but you hate when others do the same. Just buy the book go up and down the PCH.