Surfing, unlike many sports, requires no teams, rules, regulations, scores, or stadiums full of spectators. Surfing instead encapsulates personal triumph, in which the individual measures the growth and limits of his or her own capabilities while riding the face of a wave.

Initially published in 1963, this first ever guidebook to California surfing remains a classic that embodies the essence of SoCal surfing during the Golden Years. In addition to understanding the anatomy of the coastline, get the skinny on private vs. public beaches, weather and wind conditions, water temperature, swell classifications, sea life, and the history of surfing. Accented with over 100 aerial photos, action shots, and maps, Stern and Cleary's witty guide provides precise descriptions of the entire southern coast and essentially everything you need to know before hitting the waves.

Although the surfing scene has changed, Surfing Guide to Southern California remains highly relevant for surfers of today and provides a dose of nostalgia for surfers of yesterday.