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.
Water temp
18°C
Wetsuit
3/2mm fullsuit
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
10/10
Access: Surfrider Beach parking. Three sections: First, Second, Third Point.
Forecasts are validated against real-time buoy data.
Peak: Jun-Sep
Secondary: May, Oct
Summer S swells. Flat in winter unless big W wraps in.
Verified by Surfline spot guide
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions