Nearly-open ocean, and any swells create bad shore break you must bodydrag out through before getting in your straps. No rideable surf. Wind-driven chop. Crowded with sailboards when windy. Rock jetty in the water directly downwind of the launch area. Large, thick kelp bed upwind.
Narrow sand strip, partly soft, partly concrete-hard. Beach looks long, but there's only one spot just upwind of big, jagged rocks, where the wind is not way to gusty to even fly a kite. Barely enough space to semi-safely launch and land one kite at a time.
- April - May - June - July - August - September - October
Wind Type:
- Thermal Winds
Best Direction:
- SW
Main Direction:
- SW
Strongest, but also most gusty and shifty (horizontally AND vertically!) April through October. About 5 days/week at least 15 knots for at least a couple hours in the afternoon. Usual direction is SW, which is sideon at the beach, but sideoff in the riding area out past the rock jetty. Often oscillates nearly instantly between about 10 and 25, which is about as strong as it ever gets in the summer, but it's impossible to tell when it's going to suddenly go from averaging 10 SSW to a solid or gusty 25 W. It's rideable from SSW to SW. Often it switches to WSW and even W, becoming EXTREMELY gusty and shifty on and near shore.
Driving out of LAX take Sepulveda South, 105 East, 110 South, Highway 47, Harbor exit, right at the light on Harbor, 22nd St right, Pacific Ave. left, 36th St. left, bear left to the toll-booth ($7 parking fee).
Du to the small launch, be prepared to politely ask bystanders to move momentarily if they're within two line-lengths when you're launching. Be prepared to wait before launching as pedestrians walk by, waders, surfers and windsurfers enter and exit your path. Be prepared to land in the water if the small landing spot becomes occupied while you're riding. No riding or kite flying of any kind at all on weekends, from July 4th (may be changed to `Memorial Day` at the end of May) through Labor Day (1st weekend of September). Lifeguards may prevent riding at any time, based on their opinion of beach occupancy. Expert riders only (being `expert` at less extreme sites may very well fail to qualify you to ride here). Fully-functional depowering kiteleash must be attached to your body at all times (`grab` leashes do not qualify). No kiteflying on the beach. Avoid flying overhead and be ready, willing and able to quickly fly out over open water when you get lofted.
