If you have ever lived in Santa Cruz, California, chances are you tried surfing. If you did, chances are you went to Cowell’s Beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Municipal Wharf. You probably had a fun time getting from the water to the staircase that leads to West Cliff Drive, where most surfers gather before and after going out. On big surf days, it can be just plain hairy getting to the steps without falling over on a submerged rock, slipping on seaweed/algae that is growing on a submerged rock, or bumping into your fellow surfers as they try to get to the steps with you.
Every now and then however, the ocean makes the trip to the Cowell’s staircase quite easy. A small beach has formed at the base of the staircase in the past, but this is the biggest one I’ve ever seen. It is probably 50 yards from the staircase on the right to the water. Crazy!
As for the waves? Not bad, but the new beach has created a strong rip current going parallel to the beach from the staircase to the wharf. You have to go out pretty far to avoid it, but its worth it.
Water temperature? Don’t ask.
Click on the image for a bigger pic.
Hey cool blog Rob! Found my way here from Newsvine. I’ve never been surfing, but i have done some water skiing. I was trying to subscribe to your RSS feed, but both Thunderbird and Firefox are telling me it’s invalid.
I’m a Cowell’s local, and that was a pretty sandbar. I also have a few crazy pics of that sandbar in my Jan-March posts. I, for one, am glad it’s gone making the nice long point break, a nice long point break. Can’t wait for the winter swells!
Keep surfin’!