Perfect wave not far away

ALISTAIR BLAIR

* EDITORS’ NOTE: On Thursday, two Corona del Mar juniors, Alistair

Blair and Taylor Alston, spent the morning at the Daily Pilot as part

of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Mentor for a Day program.

At the end of the morning, each was invited to contribute a

commentary for the paper.

I was asked today what was the best surfing spot in Orange County

and I came up with Salt Creek. Why? Because all I could think of were

those perfect barrels when it’s blowing offshore and a west swell has

just rolled in.

Salt Creek makes those perfect barrels where you think you’re

dreaming and don’t want that dream to end. Every time I go back to

Salt Creek, it seems like it’s the perfect surf once again.

The only time to go is when the sun is just peaking, and the cold

seems to be inside your wetsuit and there’s no one out yet except you

and your buddies.

The other great fact to surfing Salt Creek is the water seems to

be cleaner and there’s always the view when you’re standing at the

top and you can see the whole beach with the waves breaking

perfectly, as always.

But there’s also downsides to surfing Salt Creek, such as paying

for parking and driving there, both of which put a hole in your

wallet.

The other morning I was sitting in the water and the clouds were

slowly rolling out of the horizon and it made the whole picture

perfect. The clouds were being reflected off the water with this

orange-yellow glare and it felt like I was sitting in a painting that

was still being painted.

Every time I go there, something new and unique happens to me,

which lets me grow and makes me feel like I’ve become closer to the

ocean in a way.