The Daily Froth
“ Our Love For Lowers”
I asked the Fulcrum staff what their favorite wave was in Southern California and the ubiquitous answer amongst the coaches was San Clemente’s notorious A-frame , Lower Trestles. In this edition of The Daily Froth, I’ll tell you why this cobblestone point break is so beloved by all who have surfed it.
First things first….
The wave is located in the San Onofre state park, a stones throw away from the 5 freeway. However due to the fragile ecosystem and bountiful wildlife, if a surfer wishes to slide along this wave, they must hoof it just over a mile to reach the beach. This walk has become a sacred ritual for surfers each summer as they descend down the path to Lowers with backpacks and surfboards in tote.
“My favorite aspect about Lowers besides the quality of waves is the walk. I like that you have to work for it a little bit. So many waves in California you can pull up, pay for parking, and be in the water in no time at all. You’ve got to dedicate a good chunk of your day to surfing Lowers and because of that it feels like a mini adventure”. – Fulcrum Surf Coach- Yehuda Benhamo
Lower Trestles is an “A Frame” which means that every time a wave breaks, there is the option to go either left or right. This feature is courtesy to the bathymetry (or oceanic bottom contour) which makes the reef form a perfect triangle. If their is any south swell in the water, there will guaranteed be a wave at Lowers. Due to it’s reliability and the perfect pace that it breaks at, the wave caters to high performance surfing. Whenever the waves are over waist high, you are guaranteed to see some of the best surfers in the world such as Kolohe Andino, Chris Ward, The Gudaskas brothers, Filipe Toledo, and Jordy Smith who all just so happen to call San Clemente home.
“The caliber of surfing at Lowers is always the highest in the area. Sometimes it’s hard to get waves with such incredible surfers in the water but I enjoy how much it pushes me to do my best surfing. Every Summer when the Surfing America USA Championships are about to run, Lowers is filled to the brim with the best groms in the country. I love the eclectic nature of the place”- Fulcrum Surf Coach, Sean Santiago.
So what’s the best way to score Lowers without the crowd? In my experience, it’s best to surf when their is a forecasted south wind or just after breakfast, say 9 to 11 am. The wave quality diminishes during a south wind but so does the crowd so you’ll still have a great time. Out of habit, I always avoid Lowers sunday morning, easily the most crowded time of the week.
At Fulcrum, we offer a travel camp that makes frequent trips to Lower Trestles. The kids absolutely adore the opportunity to surf the wave because it is one that most parents necessarily have the time to take their kids too.
If you would like to join our next travel camp, sign up at fulcrumsurf.com