As the sun shines down over the waters that surround San Diego this winter, we at Carefree Boat Club know how lucky we are. On Christmas Day you may find us waterskiing around the bay, and on New Year’s Day it is entirely possible you will discover at least one of our staff surfing off the waters of Mission Beach—wearing a wet suit, of course, but reveling in the warmth of the sun beating down on them. The beautiful winter weather is probably one of the main reasons you chose to live your life in San Diego, but when you became a member of the Carefree Boat Club, you may not have been aware that your boating membership also brings you the opportunity to surf the swells all year round! This guide to winter surfing in San Diego will give you all the tips and hints that make California living all that much more fun and exciting.
Where to Find the Equipment You Will Need
You already know how to put your name on the books to reserve the boat of your choice, but if this is your first attempt at surfing, you probably don’t have the equipment you need. Fortunately, everything you need to hang 10 can be found at pretty much every beach shop in town, and if you aren’t sure this will be the sport of your dreams, you can rent what you need as well! The Pacific Beach Surf Shop/Surf School, located at 4208 Oliver Court on the boardwalk, offers equipment you can rent or buy, and if you need lessons, they offer those as well, ensuring that this one stop surf shop will figure prominently in your surfing adventures. If your Carefree Boat travels bring you to the La Jolla area, Mitch’s Surf Shop, located at 631 Pearl Street, is a long running business having been open since 1967. Offering the laidback beachy friendliness you should expect from every surf shop and a wealth of knowledge about the sport, shopping at Mitch’s promises to be almost as fun as surfing will be! Finally, Disco’s Paddle/Surf, located on San Diego Bay in Sun Harbor Marina offers rentals and lessons, and its position on the bay allows you to ride your favorite Carefree Boat Club vessel right up to the docks at the Marina.
Surf’s Up
Now that you have your board and your boat, it is time to hit the surf. As you might expect, there are a variety of spots around for you where you can catch a wave. Beginners will want to try the gentler waves that can be found in La Jolla and Encinitas, not just because they are less intimidating, but also because these spots consistently offer the waves you want to ride! If this isn’t your first rodeo and you are seeking the spots where the waves are high and large, Black’s Beach in La Jolla, Grandview Beach in Encinitas, and the beaches in Oceanside are where you, your board, and your boat need to be heading. Challenging, exciting, and massive, these are the winter beaches where the swells are, well, simply swell!
Hints and Tips to Keep Warm While Winter Surfing in San Diego
The waters in the San Diego region are warmer than most (which is why the whales migrate here in the winter) and even though the temps will reach nowhere near as low as they might elsewhere, it can still get pretty nippy, and staying warm and avoiding hypothermia is key. A wetsuit with a 4/3 thickness should help with this, as will a thermos filled with your favorite hot beverage, wearing layers that you can shed as the day grows warmer, and wearing your wetsuit over your gloves and booties will keep you toasty on the coldest of days. If you do happen to get too cold but aren’t ready to get back on your Carefree boat, the simplest way to warm up is by pouring warm water over yourself! Start out your morning preparations by adding hot water to your favorite thermos, and by the time you need it, the temperature should be just about perfect! When you have finally caught your daily “limit” of waves, if you have chosen one of our Carefree Boat Club cabin cruisers, you can change back into your land clothes and zip across the water to your favorite restaurant or perhaps try out a new one. La Jolla’s Herringbone, located at 7837 Herschel Avenue inside a restored 1930s warehouse, is one of our favorite places to enjoy a seafood dinner, and it could be yours as well!
Could You Surf Without Carefree Boat Club?
Of course you could, but why would you want to? All the joy a great day on the board can bring will be multiplied when you start and end your surf adventures on one of our boats. Sign up today!
