Located in Santa Cruz, California, 26th Avenue is a fun beach break that offers up a variety of rides depending on the conditions. There is a main peak that breaks off a bit of reef that usually barrels when the swell is bigger, but there will be good peaks up and down the beach when it’s on. The waves here break for up to 100 meters over a rock and sand bottom. Pollution is a problem here after rain.
What are the best surf conditions for 26th Avenue?
Gets good between chest high and double overhead. We recommend riding a longboard here when smaller and a shortboard as the size picks up. This break is suitable for all levels of surfer but gets a bit harder when at size for beginners. The surf here usually has a wave (5/10) and will get very crowded with ornery locals when good (8/10). The best winds are from the Northeast. The best swells are from the Northwest, Southwest, and West. Works on a low or mid-tide best.
We recommend wearing a 4/3 year-round here. Water temperatures range from 12 to 15. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
