Surf: Famous reefbreak firmly entrenched in the annals of surfing history. Powerful, thick peak with a long, tapering right and a shorter, hollower left. Either can hold sizeable swells. Best with summer SW swells and any tide; usually bigger than other spots around. Gets very crowded and has a competitive atmosphere Directions: Accessed from the end of Vista de la Playa and from Vista de la Playa at Fern Glen, and by stairways along Neptune Place, south of Fern Glen. Surf: General: Cobalt water speckled on the horizon where the kelp bed has stopped short of its urge to reach for the sky; shape-shifting peaks emerging and reacting with elemental choreography; the inside shorepound, arid sandstone ledges, rocky shoreline and the iconic shack at Windansea - this stretch of San Diego coast from PB Point to La Jolla Cove is peppered with reefs. In the early days, these reefs contributed more to California surfing than most any other length of the coast in the state. The peak at Windansea has been the main stage of the area since the 1930s. Tides: medium-low to high Size: chest high to double overhead Wind: E Swell: NW, WNW, SW, SSW; straight W swells are blocked by San Clemente Island Bottom: Rock, sand, eelgrass Paddling: A decent amount of work, especially when it is pumping. Spot Rating: Regional classic. Access: Parking right out front or on adjacent streets, if you can find an open spots when it's good. Crowds: Crowd Factor: San Diego Zoo without the zoo-keeper, mobbed. Local Vibe: Surly, competitive, one of the least friendly places in Southern California. Environment: Typically ok but gets dicey after a rain. Hazards: Drop-ins, water fist-fights at Windansea, snaking around you at Big Rock, clean-up sets, and getting washed into the caves at The Cove. Season: January-December