(almost) surfing in Santa Cruz, New Year's Day 2008

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Santa Cruz, California is about 72 mi (115 km) south of San Francisco. It's a popular surfing area in Northern California. The water is relatively cold year-around. Today the surf was very small, but it was a beautiful day. It was around 62F/16C in the air, and about 53F/12C in the water.

The Surfer statue in Santa Cruz, decorated for the holidays:



The reason people move to California. Surfing in Santa Cruz (Cowells) New Year's Day 2008



Surfing in very small surf at Cowells. We are in a calm before another Pacific storm hits the west coast of North America. The surf was no more than 5 feet/1.5 meters, but the surf should rise to 25 feet/7.5 meters this weekend:









A few more at http://blob.smugmug.com/gallery/4091492

OrvSal

Santa Cruz is a real interesting town in many ways. You definetly have some more crowded areas then we have here near San Diego. Our locals wouldn't know what to do if there were that many trying for the same wave. Maybe there are more miles of beaches to chose from. You have some real nice surf shots on your site. Shooting off of a pier gives some good angles and action shots.

ed_h

Thanks for posting, spent a year leaving near Cowells late 50's. there were times that it was just as crowed ( OK maybe 5 or 6 out) then as now and of course it was always small

Thanks again

Ed

ian408

Wave buoys say wave height is increasing ahead of the approaching storm.

Nice shots!