Surfin’ safari

Whether you are a body surfer seeking the challenge of your life, a body

boarder looking for your own special spot or a surfboard rider looking

for the waves to do a little slashing, the beaches of Newport will not

disappoint.

The seven-mile stretch of coast--from the Santa Ana River jetties to

Crystal Cove State Beach--is truly a paradise for those who love water

play.

From fast, hollow waves that rival those in the Hawaiian Islands to slow,

mushy breakers chock-full of long boarders, the surf here is epic.

Take this cruise along the coast from north to south to see what we mean:

Santa Ana River jetties

One of the more popular places to surf in town, the jetties sit at the

far west border of the city, at the mouth of the Santa Ana River. The

waves break here on any swell and can provide some of the best surfing

around.

But the downside is the contamination, pollution and runoff that often

streams out of the river mouth, making the water a part-time haven for

bacteria.

56th Street to 44th Street

Like the river jetties, this stretch of beach also breaks on most any

swell. The waves from here are punchy, hollow and powerful, and they

usually draw a pretty big crowd.

Sometimes called “Kodak Reef,” the 56th Street jetty and those just south

of it have become showcases for some of the hottest surfing talent in the

area. Photographers from the many surfing magazines often camp out here

with their 300 mm lenses, hence the nickname.

44th Street to 40th Street

Dubbed the “boogie jetty” by local surfers, this spot is reserved for

body boarders during the summer months. It breaks similarly to jetties to

the north and usually sports a very colorful collection of body boards.

Blackie’s

Named for the bar across the way in McFadden Square, Blackie’s sits

directly to the north of Newport Pier. It is best in the winter months

and breaks solid on a west swell. It does break in the summer on a south

swell but not very often. And make no mistake, Blackie’s is a long

boarder hangout. Short boarders don’t bother.

Newport Point

Just south of the Newport Pier, “the point” is straight out from 18th

Street. It’s a summer wave and breaks the best on a strong south swell.

It’s especially good on a hurricane swell. On an interesting note, many

believe the wave breaks so well because just offshore from it is a deep,

underwater canyon where the Newport/Inglewood earthquake fault comes to

an end.

The Wedge

Probably the best body surfing spot in California -- maybe the world. It

breaks as big as 20 feet on a big hurricane swell. It’s dangerous even

when the waves are small, and it probably has been photographed as much

as any other wave. Only body surfers are allowed in the water from 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. May 1 to Oct. 31.

Big Corona and Little Corona

Located just to the north of Corona del Mar State Beach, this spot breaks

just off the harbor jetties. On a giant south swell, the wave will hit

the jetty and break along for about a quarter of a mile. It is quite

possibly the longest wave in Orange County. Little Corona is at the end

of Poppy Street and rarely breaks; but when it does, it can be fun.

Crystal Cove State Park

Teeming with wildflowers, squirrels and coastal sage scrub, this stretch

of the coast is not known for its great waves. But the surf does break

most often during the summer and is the only true reef break in Newport

Beach. Although it is the least surfed of the breaks in Newport, early

mornings can draw a good crowd. One favorite spot is called “spiders”

because when the tide is just right, the rock reef below resembles a

spider. Other spots here include Pelican Point, Reef Point, Sammy’s and

Scotchman’s Cove.