Newport Beach

Surf Guide

From checkerboard 5'2" twin-fins to break dancing on the beach to the latest variation of an alley-oop, this "hottest 100 yards" of Newport is traditionally known for defying surfing tradition. Jeff Parker, Preston Murray and Danny Kwock got the ball rolling back in the early '80s with their New Wave approach, setting the stage for the modern Volcom movement (and their annual VQS event). Needless to say, if you've got an affinity for the clean lines of yesteryear, you won't fit in here. 54th and 56th Street is all about the rock 'n' roll, and lucky for them, the crossed-up peaks offer plenty of ramps for solos. Thanks to the string of jetties that break up the sand flow, the shape of the waves -- particularly in front of these two streets -- tends to be favorable for high-speed surfing. There are three main peaks that peel inside the 54th Street jetty that take both south and north swells, making it consistent surfable throughout the year, but also consistently smaller than Huntington Beach, just a couple of miles north. On the north side of the jetty, 56th Street produces zippy, sometimes world-class lefts on a south swell. This probably won't come as a surprise, but the crowds are heavy. A couple of locals at neighboring surf shops have reported seeing fights break out in the water in the last year. But, like any high-performance hotbed, if you prove you can fly with the best of them, chances are you'll be given plenty of clearance.