State of the Surf

When it’s small, which is most of the time, Poche is a fun beach break with left and right peaks up and down the beach. As it gets bigger on south and west swells, the lineup moves out the back and the waves break over a reef before reforming on the inside. Significant beach erosion continues to deteriorate sandbars and wave quality.

204s often looks better than it is, and is typically uncrowded. This area picks up most swell directions and can be fun on the right tide and swell direction. Breaking over a combination of sand and rock reef, it’s a great option if you’re looking to get wet without too many expectations. The beach has mostly disappeared from erosion, and the sandbars suffer for it.

Mariposa provides a solid rock reef break during large winter swells, but rarely breaks with size and quality. The inside beachbreak is typically walled-up and punchy with occasional corners through the Linda Lane / Lifeguard HQ region. Beach erosion has essentially eradicated the beach from Mariposa through Linda Lane during all but the summer months.

The north side of the San Clemente pier almost always has a wave to ride, but it’s seldom the best wave in the region. There can be a right wedge off the pier, as well as other scattered peaks in the area. The south side of the pier can be fun in the winter when west swells set up playful lefts and rights. Bermed beach sand during the winter helps retain some of the beach and associated sandbars.

On a strong swell, waves will break on the outside V-shaped reef, roll slowly toward shore, then pick up speed on the inside. Various inside sections to the north and south of the main peak offer fun and often punchy peaks to this often crowded but very consistent spot. The point-like reef structure helps retain both beach sand and shifting sandbars, so this wave region is not suffering quality issues as much as nearby beachbreaks.

La Suen, like its sister beachbreak just to the south, is one of the few pure beachbreaks in San Clemente. Larger swells tend to wall up the break, but excellent tubes and corners can be had during proper combinations of tide and swell direction. Sand berming of the volleyball courts has created a small oasis of beach sand in this rapidly eroding beach area, yet locals yearn for previously better sandbars and waves.

Locally known as “Rivi”, this wave offers a fun beachbreak with left and right peaks during combo swells, but more walled up as of late. Preferring a mid-tide and combination of south and west swells, it will start to close out when the swell is too big and too south. Like La Suen, the severe beach erosion in recent years has significantly deteriorated the sandbars and wave quality.

The beachbreak at Calafia State Park can be a bit hit and miss, but it does have some hollow, punchy moments. Breaking primarily on low tides, sand flow is an issue here and the sandbars must be in place for there to be quality waves. It’s the third beachbreak of the La Suen / Rivi / State Park trifecta where locals grieve the loss of beach sand and associated deterioration of sandbars and waves.

The northernmost break in the Trestles zone, Cotton’s Point is a playful wave that offers lefts and rights, and there’s usually something to ride here. When the swell is really pumping it can hold its size, as the waves will break further out on the reef. Low tide is ideal here. Unfortunately, the eradication of the beach in this area due to the railroad’s rock revetment creates mid-to-high tide backwash through the lineup.