Surf: Wide sandy beach with peaks breaking on both sides of the pier, the south side usually being better. The Shores, fronting the parking areas to the south, can be excellent. Best with a medium tide; blows offshore during rare wintertime SE winds. Environment: Home of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (researchers love the deep waters of the canyon). The Shores becomes very crowded during the summer. Very friendly beach. Access via La Jolla Shores Drive. Surf: General: One of the most popular beachbreaks in southern San Diego, the sandbars that form at La Jolla Shores and on either side of Scripps Pier have qualities that augment the beaches to the south. This stretch of beach isn't quite as tide-sensitive as Mission Beach or Pacific Beach, which makes it the overflow spot for the masses. Although it can be smaller than the surrounding breaks like Black's, its sandbars hold more swell before closing out. And a S wind, which mottles waves in other parts of the county, can blow offshore or sideshore here. W and NW swells work best, and the rights dominate at these times. Tides: Medium tide Size: waist high to overhead Wind: E, SE, even S Swell: W, WNW Bottom: Sand Paddling: Mellow. Spot Rating: Great place to learn. Access: Easy -- it's where La Jolla Shores Drive meets Torrey Pines Road. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Packed. Local Vibe: Mellow. Environment: Typically ok but gets dicey after a rain. Hazards: Loose surfboards. Season: Best November-February, but it works year-round.