Surf: If there has been sufficient rainfall, Capitola can provide a decent rivermouth wave. The Jetty, next to the river, has a good sandbank with small punchy rights, which work during huge clean, peaky winter swells or a decent S and low tides. Environment: Rivermouth will bring polluted runoff after rains. Like all Santa Cruz breaks, there is always potential for a crowd. Popular with improvers and longboarders. Surf: General: A soft, gentle, right-hand reef/point that is popular with beginners and longboarders, Capitola is a staple of the Santa Cruz surf scene, and has the crowds to prove it (especially in summer). There is also a shorter, slightly more powerful left off the back of the right. Tides: Medium. Size: Small to well overhead. Wind: NW, N, Glassy Swell: S, SSW, W Bottom: Rocky reef and sand. Paddling: Easy spot to surf, which is why so many beginners are here. Spot Rating: Far from the best wave in Santa Cruz, unless you are a beginner (in which case this is where you should surf). Access: Parking is available throughout Santa Cruz, although it tends to fill up fast, especially in summer. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Super crowded in summer; moderately crowded in autumn. Local Vibe: This is essentially a beginner spot when it's small, so the crowd is one big party -- however, standard surf etiquette should still be adhered to. Beginners should be careful when it's big. Environment: Less clean than other spots in Santa Cruz (especially after a rain). Hazards: Rocks, beginners, errant longboards. Season: Gets swell year round, but summer and Autumn tend to be best.