How To Surf Trestles, according to Tanner Gudauskas

1. Cotton’s Point is a fun wave with a longer left into an inside sandbar when it’s all coming together. There’s a right that’s a little bit shorter. It can have an oncoming end section that’s fun to bank off of. It likes a low tide with a lot of west in the swell. The crowd’s a little more spread out here. It’s right in front of Richard Nixon’s old house.

2. When the San Mateo Creek blows out after a lot of rain, it’s like a poor man’s Rincon. It doesn’t happen that often, but I remember about ten years ago, Chris Ward and Archy were out and it blew my mind. It looked like Snapper Rocks. Archy was getting three barrels on a wave, Wardo got a 10-second barrel. It can happen.

3. You have to fall in love with Uppers. The lineup tends to be spread out with a different takeoff spots. The lefts go against the grain, the main right peak on the outside runs a little before slowing down. Then there’s the mid-zone before it runs into the cove. It’s a playful sprint down the cobblestones and connecting it all really depends on the tide and the angle of the swell. Straight south swells tend to close it out a bit.

4. Fur Dog, one of the staple locals at Lowers, was telling us in the water how he named this spot 5-0’s. It’s this little sandbar between Uppers and Lowers. He thought it looked like that wave in Hawaii 5-0. I’ve not once had a proper good session out there. It’s illusive, but it has a name.

5. I think the left is more versatile at Lowers. It takes a little more west and south, which is ultimate summertime conditions. The left will give you a vertical section right off the bat, then it goes into a roundhouse section, and I think that’s where a lot of guys lose it, but there’s usually a neat end-section too. The right, once you pop up and get a line, you can pretty much crank off as many turns as it will give you. With both you have to pay attention to how you’re linking it all together.

6. Middles is wintertime delight. It’s a winter wonderland. My dad calls it Trim City. When the north swells come in you can get really fun surf here. You just have to choose the right board, I think. Think short and wide.

7. Finally, there’s Church. This is where the Trestles zone ends and San Onofre begins. It’s kind of the cultural convergence point. You can ride pretty much anything from huge logs to little fishes. You’re going to see it all go down here. As the inside corner wraps around the point and kind of stands up it can be really rippable. Maybe a little soft, but again, it can have its day when all the pieces come together.