Manresa Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
W, NW, SW
Wind
E or glassy.
Surf Height
Waist high-2X overhead.
Tide
Decent with any tide, prefers incoming. Not as tide-sensitive as other spots.
Manresa Surf Guide
A beachbreak that catches a lot of swell, Manresa is a standby spot year-round, as it faces west and is out of the shadow of Santa Cruz. Manresa can be overhead when the rest of Santa Cruz is flat, and it can be triple-overhead and almost impossible to surf on bigger swells during the winter. After Manresa Beach, you enter the Fertile Crescent of Monterey Bay.Between Manresa and Moss Landing, you'll find mile after empty mile of open, lonely beachbreaks, just waiting to be explored. This area is best in the winter when the offshore winds are blowing, and it can be a wide-open forest of perfect surf.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Beginner-advanced.
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Mostly cool.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
Lots of room here. No reason for crowds.
Spot Rating
Fun
Fun.
Shoulder Burn
Exhausting
Strong and when it's big, you might not make it out.
Water Quality
Fair
Fair
Hazards
Occasional shark sightings, tired arms on big swells.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Gun, Funboard, Fish, Skimming
Access
Parking at Manresa State Park.
Bottom
Sand.
Best Season
January-December.
Do you have local knowledge about Manresa?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]