Surfing is a sport intrinsically tied to the California psyche. It captures that be-in-tune-with-the-universe craving that draws so many dreamers out to live along the Pacific-fed West Coast. It’s a chance to get a great workout, be outside in a spectacular setting, and look super cool while doing it. And one of the best places in California to experience surfing in all its glory is the seaside city of Santa Cruz, where surfing is so hallowed that there’s an entire museum dedicated to it.
For those who want to get to know the sport, there’s much ritual and many initiation rites to endure. There’s getting up at dawn and squeezing into a wetsuit in the morning chill to seek out that one wave that’s got your name on it. There’s learning the lingo and practicing the etiquette and perfecting the art of knowing when to duck and when to go for it. There’s scanning all the online surf ‘cams to scope out the best spot for that day’s conditions. There’s getting wiped out and going back for more.
For the casual Santa Cruz visitor, surf lessons are offered up in spades (and many surf schools promise that they’ll get you up on the board in a day), but if the intimidation factor is feeling high for you (and the water, at an average temperature in the mid 50-degree mark, a bit cool), there are ways to enjoy and appreciate this sport without getting wet.
First of all, just watching can be mesmerizing, and the best spot in the city for surfing spectators is Steamer Lane, which sits off West Cliff between the Lighthouse and Cowell’s. This is no namby-pamby, even-your-grandmother-can-do-it surfing spot. To catch a wave out here, the surfers have to know what they’re doing, and with dangerous breaks and competition for each wave fierce, there’s no room for error, which is what makes watching so fun. Bring a pair of binoculars for an even better view.
Once you get your fill of spectating, head to the Lighthouse nearby, which houses the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. If you can tear your eyes away from the view, you’ll find over 100 years of Santa Cruz surfing history at your fingertips, including everything from early models of wetsuits and surfboards made out of redwood planks to vintage photographs, cultural trends (including movie posters), and even a shark-bitten board (don’t worry, the surfer survived). You can also learn about local surfing legends, many of whom now work at the museum as its docent staff.
It might just inspire you to get in the waves after all.
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