Stab Magazine | The World's Best Cities For Surfers: San Clemente, CA

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

19 Views

The World’s Best Cities For Surfers: San Clemente, CA

Interview by Lucas Townsend | Photos by Quinn Mathews Best place to go for breakfast: Definitely SC Cafe. I eat there every day. Everything’s good. I usually get Chilaquiles, but I get the veggie mix a lot, too. It’s pretty much right in the middle of San Clemente. Where does the travelling surfer stay: Well, if you know me, you can stay at my parents’ house. But, if you don’t, then stay at Comfort Suites. It’s about US$100 a night. Where to stay when bills ain’t a problem: There isn’t anything really swanky in San Clemente. But a nice spot to stay is the Ritz Carlton up the road at Dana Point. It’s ballin’, about a 15 minute drive north. US$525 a night, though. Where to surf if it’s pumping: My favourite spot, if it’s on the perfect swell in San Clemente, is South Side of the pier. It needs hard north winds blowing for three days, and then it’ll be like a left conveyor belt, right next to the pier. Where to surf if it’s appalling and you need a wave: T-Street. Thats the spot. It breaks every single day, no matter what. It has similarities to Manly, expect with more push. The worst of the worst days will be knee-high, but you just wait for a medium to high tide and it’ll be ridable. Crowd advice: T-Street is always crowded. On any given day you could run into a bunch of little groms riding their soft tops, boogie boards, or longboards. It’s a grom zone. Who to spot in the crowd: Archy, the Beschens, Chris Ward, and the Gudauskas brothers, too. I still see them all around home sometimes. Watch out for Griffin Colapinto. I’ll be surprised if he isn’t on tour one day. Even younger, keep an eye on Jett Schilling. He’s 11 or 12 and a gnarly comp guy already. Lunch: There’s a bunch of different spots on Avenida Del Mar. I eat at Billy’s Meats Deli a lot. When you’re there, order a sandwich, eat the sandwich, then get a bunch of good meat before you leave and BBQ it later. It’s a two for one. Or, you can always get a burrito from Pedro’s. It might make you feel a little sick afterwards, but it tastes good. Where to buy a board: Catalyst, f’sure. There’s one at the north end of town, but they’re opening a new one right next to the Triangle, (the part of town with all the bars). One board to bring: I always say that my next life after tour will be riding short, fat, four-fin epoxies so I can float and go fast on any wave. That’d be it. What to do away from the beach: Me and my friends have been playing Buck Hunter at Pizza Port, so that’s something you can do. This new Target sports centre just opened on the inland-side of town. If you’re into sports, or you want to go swim or shoot some hoops, there’s a big area so you can do all of that. Best place to go for a drink: If you want to get real ratchet, and go Aussie big, get on the piss, mate, then go to the Triangle; Ole’s, Dukes and Red Fox. But, if you’re trying to have some wine and listen to some guy play piano, go to The Cellar on Avenida Del Mar. Where to go for dinner: South of Nicks. It’s a nicer spot. They do really good Mexican food for cheap. It’s really hard to get in, though. All the rich people go there because they’re rich and they’re trying to save money to be richer, or something. Where to find a gal: Go to any of those spots in the Triangle if you’re looking for girls. I would go to the Cellar though because it’s a little bit more classy. For some reason, San Clemente is littered with hot girls. It’s the weirdest thing ever. I see hot girls I’ve literally never seen before, every day. Best haircut: I haven’t cut my hair in a while, and if I do, I do it myself. But, everyone gets their hair cut at Kings Club Barbershop in Dana Point. Señor Barber is the spot in San Clemente, though. Avoid: Nothing. It’s Whoville from the Grinch. There’s guys who think they’re hard, but it’s not like that at all. Especially if you’re a surfer. You’ll fit right in.

style // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Interview by Lucas Townsend | Photos by Quinn Mathews

Best place to go for breakfast: Definitely SC Cafe. I eat there every day. Everything’s good. I usually get Chilaquiles, but I get the veggie mix a lot, too. It’s pretty much right in the middle of San Clemente.

Where does the travelling surfer stay: Well, if you know me, you can stay at my parents’ house. But, if you don’t, then stay at Comfort Suites. It’s about US$100 a night.

Where to stay when bills ain’t a problem: There isn’t anything really swanky in San Clemente. But a nice spot to stay is the Ritz Carlton up the road at Dana Point. It’s ballin’, about a 15 minute drive north. US$525 a night, though.

Where to surf if it’s pumping: My favourite spot, if it’s on the perfect swell in San Clemente, is South Side of the pier. It needs hard north winds blowing for three days, and then it’ll be like a left conveyor belt, right next to the pier.

Where to surf if it’s appalling and you need a wave: T-Street. Thats the spot. It breaks every single day, no matter what. It has similarities to Manly, expect with more push. The worst of the worst days will be knee-high, but you just wait for a medium to high tide and it’ll be ridable.

Crowd advice: T-Street is always crowded. On any given day you could run into a bunch of little groms riding their soft tops, boogie boards, or longboards. It’s a grom zone.

Who to spot in the crowd: Archy, the Beschens, Chris Ward, and the Gudauskas brothers, too. I still see them all around home sometimes. Watch out for Griffin Colapinto. I’ll be surprised if he isn’t on tour one day. Even younger, keep an eye on Jett Schilling. He’s 11 or 12 and a gnarly comp guy already.

Lunch: There’s a bunch of different spots on Avenida Del Mar. I eat at Billy’s Meats Deli a lot. When you’re there, order a sandwich, eat the sandwich, then get a bunch of good meat before you leave and BBQ it later. It’s a two for one. Or, you can always get a burrito from Pedro’s. It might make you feel a little sick afterwards, but it tastes good.

QuinnM-1304-00047_EDIT

Where to buy a board: Catalyst, f’sure. There’s one at the north end of town, but they’re opening a new one right next to the Triangle, (the part of town with all the bars).

One board to bring: I always say that my next life after tour will be riding short, fat, four-fin epoxies so I can float and go fast on any wave. That’d be it.

What to do away from the beach: Me and my friends have been playing Buck Hunter at Pizza Port, so that’s something you can do. This new Target sports centre just opened on the inland-side of town. If you’re into sports, or you want to go swim or shoot some hoops, there’s a big area so you can do all of that.

Best place to go for a drink: If you want to get real ratchet, and go Aussie big, get on the piss, mate, then go to the Triangle; Ole’s, Dukes and Red Fox. But, if you’re trying to have some wine and listen to some guy play piano, go to The Cellar on Avenida Del Mar.

Where to go for dinner: South of Nicks. It’s a nicer spot. They do really good Mexican food for cheap. It’s really hard to get in, though. All the rich people go there because they’re rich and they’re trying to save money to be richer, or something.

Where to find a gal: Go to any of those spots in the Triangle if you’re looking for girls. I would go to the Cellar though because it’s a little bit more classy. For some reason, San Clemente is littered with hot girls. It’s the weirdest thing ever. I see hot girls I’ve literally never seen before, every day.

Best haircut: I haven’t cut my hair in a while, and if I do, I do it myself. But, everyone gets their hair cut at Kings Club Barbershop in Dana Point. Señor Barber is the spot in San Clemente, though.

Avoid: Nothing. It’s Whoville from the Grinch. There’s guys who think they’re hard, but it’s not like that at all. Especially if you’re a surfer. You’ll fit right in.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025
Advertisement