The Wall
SKIM SPOT DETAILS
- WAVE TYPE: Small sometimes, powerful sometimes. Sider at the south end.
- SWELL DIRECTION: NW is best for siders, something to ride on all directions though.
- SWELL SIZE: 2′ – 6′+
- BEST TIDE: Primary siders require a tide from 1.5 – 4 depending on swell size and sand set up. North end can fire on any tide below 2′
- BEST SEASON: Peak season usually runs from October – March, but Fall, Winter, Spring and sometimes early and late summer also work.
- ACCESS/PARKING: All street parking, most is 2 hour parking but I’ve never known anyone to get a ticket. Parking is rarely crowded except for summer weekends.
The Wall is San Diego’s most well known spot, providing straight wraps at most spots of the beach, and a sider at the south end. The sider generally starts working in October but sometimes as early as mid-September. It works throughout the winter and into March, usually ending sometime in April. This spot, like everywhere in San Diego, is inconsistent, but is the only place that works during the winter. When it gets good, there are clean primary connections and some great secondaries and A-frames. There is rarely anyone on the beach other than skimmers, though on hot weekends there can be a crowd of beachgoers but usually aren’t in the way of the waves. San Diego has a fairly small tight-knit crew of skimmers, but everyone is very helpful and even the oldest locals will share waves.
The Wall is in La Jolla cove on Coast Blvd right in front of the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, about a quarter mile south of The Children’s Pool, the beach with all the seals on it.
There are a couple more skim spots in sandiego!!
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The best swell direction for Wall is a NW swell. Typically begins working late fall and goes through till mid to late spring. Tides depend on the sand set up.
the wall is wayyy legit for san diego. we dont have many surgy beaches down here and la jolla in general is the only good place to go. Peoples works best with a northwest for sure but dont be fooled because the south or west swells leave the best formed waves. northwest swell in what gives you the pumping side wave. there are a few rocks in the water that are not of much concern on medium-high tide…on low tide they are a big problem. these rocks also mess up the water and create alot of choppiness when the nw or big swells comes in and usually makes the side wave a little impossible. need to get a HUGE BOAT and tow some of those rocks out…maybe put them next to the wall to help the side wave
the wall is wayyy legit for san diego. we dont have many surgy beaches down here and la jolla in general is the only good place to go. Peoples works best with a northwest for sure but dont be fooled because the south or west swells leave the best formed waves. northwest swell in what gives you the pumping side wave. there are a few rocks in the water that are not of much concern on medium-high tide…on low tide they are a big problem. these rocks also mess up the water and create alot of choppiness when the nw or big swells comes in and usually makes the side wave a little impossible. need to get a HUGE BOAT and tow some of those rocks out…maybe put them next to the wall to help the side wave
This spot is now updated with better info
Im from Washington and im trying to find a creek worth skimming. so far my favorite place to skim is dog beach on OB. So if you know of anywhere else that isn’t sloped and has a constant rush of water please let me know