Overview
Huntington Beach Pier Southside is a sand-bottomed beach and pier break on Southern California's "Surf City" stretch, peeling both rights and lefts alongside the pilings. It is a good-quality wave with a big reputation, having hosted countless surf contests over the years. Opinions on it are split, but catch a peaky swell here with the right winds and it is easy to see why the diehards rate it so highly.
When It Works
The break draws swell from south-southeast through south to west (SSE-S-W) and is usable from 1.2 m / 4 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. It holds waves through all four seasons, and fall can be especially good. Plenty of locals actually favor winter here, when northwest swells wrap around the pier and stand up as peaky rights. On the bigger swells it can throw long closeouts, so it pays to wait for the right bars and the right swell to line up.
Wind and Tide
Look for offshore wind from the northeast (NE), the classic Santa Ana direction, with a workable wind window running from north to east (N-E). The southside of the pier also picks up some shelter from west-northwest wind. It breaks on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call, and it tends to lose punch at high tide. Be ready for it to blow out quickly once the prevailing south or westerly winds fill in around midday.
Local Tips
The wave suits everyone from beginners to experts and works for just about any board, from shortboards and fish to funboards, longboards, and bodyboards. Expect a busy lineup when it turns on, particularly right at the pier, with a somewhat reserved feel in the water. Keep an eye on the pier pilings and the current, which can get brutal on a strong south or northwest swell.
Access
There is free parking on the side streets and at the meters nearby.
