The Surf Window

Malibu

Los Angeles, USA

Point breakIntermediate

First Point Malibu is the birthplace of California surf culture, a graceful, cobblestone right-hand point break that has shaped surfing's identity since the 1950s and still delivers world-class longboard waves today.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalW (270°)
WindowSSW–NNW (210°–330°)
Size3-8ft

Wind

NE

Offshore

Tide

Mid

LowMidHigh

Season

October–March

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Right

Bottom

Cobblestone and sand

Shape

Three long, linking sections, classic long wall with nose-ride potential

Length

200–400m on a quality swell

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Intermediate
  • •Why: The wave itself is forgiving, but the ferocious crowd (hundreds on a good day) demands sharp etiquette and awareness.

Hazards

  • •Extreme crowds, one of the most crowded waves in the world
  • •Cobblestone entry/exit on a running wave
  • •Long swim if you lose your board

Local Tips

  • •The third section (Surfrider) stays open longest on a mid-swell day, position carefully at the top of the point.
  • •Weekday early morning sessions are the only realistic way to get waves here.

Location

Map showing the location of Malibu in Los Angeles, USA

34.0334, -118.6777