Anchor Bay

Good spot for beginners, with the best sand on the Mendocino coast. The central area of this half-mile long beach has a slight slope that is usually clean and smooth. The south end of the beach can have a steeper slope, particularly at the end of the summer, and can get some nice 1-3 foot shorebreak (but not consistently). In the winter, storms take out most, if not all, of the sand, exposing underlying rock and making skimming impossible.

Anchor Bay is located 4 miles north of the Mendocino/Sonoma border and 3.5 miles north of the town of Gualala. Access is easiest through the Anchor Bay Campground, where you can purchase a day pass for a buck.

Schooner Gulch

Great beginner's beach with one of the flatest, longest hydroplane surfaces I have ever seen. This is a great place to start skimming or to practice headstands and your footwork.

Gualala Point Park

Access to this park is actually at the extreme northern tip of Sonoma County, right before you cross the Gualala River bridge. The shorebreaks here are consistent, but WARNING this beach is very unforgiving, the riptide can be deadly and you should never skim this one alone! I have seen 8-10 foot shorebreaks here in the winter, but you would have to be suicidal to attempt to ride them. If you want to give this beach a shot, stick to the south end away from the river mouth (which pulls a tourist or two to their deaths every few years). Spend some time watching the break, make sure you have a wetsuit (at least a spring suit, this water is cold!) and have a blast skimming and watching the seals who will undoubtedly be watching you.

Submitted by Jim Lotter, former Gualala resident, currently residing in Seal Beach
wavdncr37@earthlink.net

Salmon Creek

Salmon creek beach in norcal is the most popular surf/skim spot in Sonoma county.  On a big winter day, Salmon creek has heavy shorebreak that will kick your ass no matter how many times you’ve skimmed the wedge on a pounding day. If you’re accustomed to riding big burly shorebreak salmon creek is for you if you like mushy small waves than stick to Doran the next spot south.  There is a shifting spot that the locals call the wedge because of its strong currents and a steep mountain of sand that shoots you into the heaviest shorebreak at the whole spot.

For south salmon creek turn onto bean avenue off highway one and drive to its end.  For north salmon creek (where all the skimboarders usually are) and where the wedge is pull into the paved north salmon creek parking lot one mile north of bodega bay. Take one of the trails down the sand.

Submitted By: sox03@earthlink.net

Sony's Cove

This place is the best around. The sand can be a little inconsistant, but near high tide the sand softens up. This is when Sony's gets the best. The beach has some slope, but the most around. Also there is a strong undertow, and the water gets deep fast, like with most good skim spots. So be careful, and keep a hand on your board.

This beach is right after you see the Moon Stone antique shop in Cambria. The sign on the beach says "San Simion State Beach", but my friends and i like to call it Sony's Cove.

Submitted By: chandlersgotpants@hotmail.com