Nearly no swells, so no real waves, only small shore break. If boat traffic is heavy (hot summer weekends) and the wind is stronger, it gets a bit choppy. Tide makes no difference. Bottom slopes down slowly, allowing riders to walk out about a line-length before getting in the straps. Plenty of space on the water, as long as you don't mind launching upwind of (or riding out through) any summer weekend crowds. Watch for stingrays in the summer time. Shuffle your feet when walking in the water so you will not step on top of a stingray and get stung.
Long, sandy, wide beach, with acres of nice soft sand. Plenty of space (as long as you don't mind launching a bit upwind or downwind of any summer weekend crowds). No grass.
Best season beginning of April through beginning of November (same as Daylight Saving Time months), with about 5 days/week of at least 10 knots for at least a couple hours in the afternoon (thermals). Nearly never more than about 20 knots. Nearly always SW, which is between `side-on` and `onshore` (since the beach faces SSW). Off season about 2 days/week at least 10 knots for at least a couple hours.
Driving out of LAX int. airport take Sepulveda Blvd. South, 105 East, 710 South, `Downtown Long Beach` exit, right on Atlantic, left on Ocean. Keep right where Ocean splits (at Vons and Jack-in-the-Box), and continue until you see kites to your right, or sand up to the sidewalk.
Kiteleash required to be attached to your body (no `grab` leashes) any time kite is flying. Entire shoreline is officially a swimming-only zone from the sand to 200 feet from shore (about 2 line lengths), but the authorities (lifeguards) are letting us launch and land (as near to perpendicular as possible) as long as we go slow (officially 5mph.) and do no turns or jumps within 200' of shore.
06-09-21 Chad: Water is very unhygienic. Expect to see diapers, condoms and other trash floating around everywhere.
04-12-19 Francis: Watch for stingrays in the summer time. Suffle your feet when walking in the water so you will not step on top of a stingray and get stung.
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