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Huntington Beach is the alleged Surf City: a land of palm trees, riots, reform madness, body art, heat sheets, pink stucco, and a surfing Walk of Fame. Huntington, like many of Hollywood's sagging heroes of yesteryear, has undergone some major cosmetic surgery over the past few years. The Pier alone has been reconstructed some half dozen times. Mom-and-pop liquor stores and surf shops have transformed into block-sized palaces equipped with movie theaters, health food and top-rate surf goods. Like it or not, the days of Huntington as a mellow little surf town are over.
Despite all the surrounding changes, the waves remain unchanged. Diehards swear by the break, claiming it's the ultimate surfer's wave, and others just laugh and say that contest organizers can have it every day of the year, for all they care. Whatever the case, there are still classic California days to be had at the Pier. Just wake up early one morning and if it's a peaky swell with Santa Ana winds, you'll side with the diehards. The division between the two main breaks is a logical one.
SOUTH SIDE
While most outsiders think of the south side as a summer hot spot, it's not always the case. Locals say it works better during winter, when northwest swells wrap around the Pier to create peaky rights.
If you watch any of the ASP events over the last few years, you'll see that the south side can be less than ideal during summer. It blows out easily with prevailing south or westerly winds arriving from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The wave lacks gusto at high tide, producing the famous death trench between the outside bar and the shorebreak. And during larger swells, you're dealing with a 200-yard-long closeout. You're lucky if you squeeze in more than a couple of maneuvers out the back.
That said, it still does get good. With the right bars, right winds, right tide and right swell, you'll want to make out with the pilings.
-- Blair Mathieson
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medium
Combo of swells SSE, S, SW with WSW, W, WNW
shoulder- to 3 feet overhead
NE, Santa Anas, Southside of pier offers some protection from WNW wind and Northside from SE wind
7
sand
beginner to advanced, above average at the pier
shortboard, longboard, fish, funboard, pier-shooting abilities
year-round, but fall can be epic
free parking on side streets and meters
zoo at the pier and Cliffs, everyone is spread out elsewhere
Can be heavy at the pier, a few grumps at Cliffs, otherwise mild
6, but can be a 10 on a south swell current
1, but State Beach can be a 10 near the Santa Ana River if it's flowing
Locals at the pier, pier pilings, car rip-offs at Cliffs, Southerly current, loose longboards at South Bolsa, baby white sharks at the Huntington Flats.
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Sugar Shack Cafe (213 Main St., 714-536-0355). Cooked by surfers, for surfers. Nice place to chill outside and take in the scene. The head chef says she is really picky about the food and recommends the Tuna sandwich for first timers.
Wahoo's Fish Tacos (120 Main St., 714-536-2050). This healthy Mexican food is probably the most popular grub in Southern California -- and they even play surf/snowboarding videos while you chew.
Longboard Restaurant and Pub (217 Main St., 714-960-1896). If you have leathery skin, a receding hairline and wear lots of floral T-shirts, this is your pub. Good spot to have a few drinks and eat greasy bar-food.
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Huntington Beach has an endless sea of accommodations. Here are few of the more affordable ones:
777 Motor Inn, 16240 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714-846-5561
Beach Comfort Motel, 118 11th St., 714-536-4170
Beach Inn, 18112 Beach Blvd., 714-841-6606
Best Western Regency Inn, 19360 Beach Blvd., 714-962-4244
Comfort Suites, 16301 Beach Blvd., 714-841-1812
Edelweiss Inn, 7561 Center Ave., 714-373-4999
Hilton, 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714-960-7873
Holiday Inn, 7667 Center Ave., 714-891-0123
Huntington Suites, 727 Yorktown Ave., 714-969-0450
Huntington Surf Motel, 720 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714-536-2444
Hyatt Resort, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy, (714)698-1234
Ocean View Motel, 16196 Pacific Coast Hwy, 562-592-2700
Pacific View Motel, 16220 Pacific Coast Hwy, 562-592-4959
Princess Motel, 18382 Beach Blvd., 714-848-8422
Quality Inn, 800 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714-536-7500
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For a healthy consumption of surf history, go to the International Surfing Museum (411 Olive St. 714-960-3483). There are all kinds of impressive relics: a hood ornament of the Duke riding goofyfoot, the original 16mm camera used to film the Endless Summer, an evolution of skateboards and surfboards and much more.
For the clubber, drop in to the Shark Club (714-751-6428) in Costa Mesa. Rave the night away in the multiple rooms for techno, R&B, etc. For the athlete groupies, Dennis Rodman and Mo Vaughn like to hang there with their posses.
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All in Huntington Beach:
311 Boarding Supplies, 1506 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714536-9311
Beachcombers Surf and Sport, 207 Main St., 714-960-0031
Board Riders, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 408, 714-377-9191
Board Shack, 5942 Edinger Ave Suite 103, 714-377-7804
Chuck Dent Surf Center, 311 5th St., 714536-8887
Huntington Beach Surfing, 8351 Clarkdale Dr., 714-962-3515
Huntington Surf and Sport, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite 408, 714-960-2266
Jack's Surfboards, 412 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714536-9509
Line Up Surfboards, 7272 Saturn Dr. Suite C, 714-842-1648
Michael Surf and Sport, 414 Pacific Coast Hwy, 714-960-0880
On Edge Board Shop, 22311 Brookhurst St., 714-965-9283
Sakal Surfboards, 201 Main St. Suite A, 714-536-0505
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