Malibu is California's most iconic wave—the birthplace of the modern longboard and ground zero for 1960s surf culture that changed the world. Three sections (First Point, Second Point, Third Point) offer different experiences, but First Point is the showcase: long, peeling right-handers that allow nose-riding and trim surfing at its finest. The crowds are legendary, sometimes comically intense, but the wave quality on a clean summer south swell explains why generations of surfers have made this pilgrimage. Surfing history lives here.
21 km away
Source: noaa
Water temp
18°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
10/10
👥 Spring Break (Mar 14 – Mar 22) — expect extra crowds
Access: Surfrider Beach parking. Three sections: First, Second, Third Point.
Peak: Jun-Sep
Secondary: May, Oct
Summer S swells. Flat in winter unless big W wraps in.
🇺🇸 Surf City USA • US Open home • California quintessential
👑 Queen of the Coast • World-class point • California royalty
⚠️ Newport's beast • Jetty wedge chaos • Shore break fury
🏆 World's best high-performance • Cobblestone perfection • Pro proving grounds
🏕️ Original surf camp • Mellow longboard • Old-school soul
🌊 Pier consistency • All-level access • Working-class waves