Surf: General: One of Laguna Beach’s most dependable waves, Thalia Street has been a go-to spot for local surfers for generations. Most days of the year Thalia Street will hover between being flat to ribcage-high. Cruisey and fun when it’s small, the summer months see an influx of beginners and tourists, but that tends to sort itself out on a solid S swell. The place can hold overhead surf when it’s pumping. Timing is everything at Thalia Street, as scattered rock outcroppings and reefs will alter the wave dynamics depending on what the tide is doing, as well as swell direction and interval. More than a few fins have been knocked out here, but that delicate dance is part of what makes the wave fun and interesting. Tides: When the tide is too low at Thalia Street the rocks can be an issue. When it’s too high the wave can bog down. That window where the tide is filling in or pushing out will offer up more opportunities. Size: Waist to head-high. Wind: E Swell: S, SW, NW Bottom: The wave breaks over sand with rock reef outcroppings that help break things up and cause the wave to stand up on a lower tide. Paddling: A mellow paddle-out when it’s small, the wave breaks relatively close to shore and doesn’t have a ton of power. This changes a bit as the swell increases, but even at chest to shoulder-high, it’s not a grueling paddle. Spot Rating: Laguna Beach is notoriously fickle and hard to get good unless you live in town, but for those driving up or down P.C.H., Thalia Street offers a relatively dependable option compared to other more obscure nooks and crannies around Laguna. Access: Metered parking available along Pacific Coast Highway. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Thalia Street is one of the more dependable waves in the Laguna area, and thus is more heavily trafficked, especially during the summer months when the tourists flood the zone. The locals shine when the surf starts pumping as they understand the waves’ unpredictable nuances. Local Vibe: The vibes at Thalia Street are generally pretty cruisey. With a blend of beginners and locals just looking to get wet, there isn’t a lot of haggling over set waves on the daily. Environment: The waters off Laguna Beach are a protected marine area, which means the ocean is relatively healthy around Thalia Street. Winter rainfall can cause issues, but during the summer the water’s pretty clean and the visibility is usually much better than beach towns to the north and south. Hazards: The biggest hazard is probably knocking your fins out on submerged rocks. Thalia’s not going to kill you, but if you’re not paying attention you could be doing some ding repair. Also, when the water’s warm during the summer, stingrays can be present, so shuffle those feet. Season: Summertime S swells are the most dependable for Laguna Beach, and Thalia Street is no exception. The area can go flat for weeks at a time in the winter due to shadowing from Newport Beach and Huntington Beach to the north, as well as Catalina and other offshore islands.