As a surfer born and raised in Hawaii, I’m always on the lookout for the best surf shops. On a recent trip to Southern California, I decided to check out local Southern Californian surf shops to find out which ones had the best deals on surf board rentals, as well as the best selection of surf gear. Of course, I also wanted knowledgeable surf shop attendants who could point me in the direction of great surf beaches.
If you’re ever in Southern California in the cities of San Diego, Long Beach, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, or any other Southern Californian cities, and are looking for the best that these SoCal surf shops have to offer, I can recommend these as the best surf shops:
Best San Diego Surf Shop: Clairmont Surf Shop
6393 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 292-1153
clairemontsurf@sbcglobal.net
The people at this San Diego surf shop were really friendly and told me all the right surf spots to hit. They also have a huge selection of surf merchandise, some of the best in San Diego.
They have all the major surf brands, including my two favorite surfing brands: Quicksilver and Da Kine (reminds me of Hawaii!). They also have a great selection of skating brands.
If you’re looking for a conveniently located surf shop in San Diego, check out this Southern California surf shop.
Best Long Beach Surf Shop: Shelter Surf Shop
2148 E. 4th Street Long Beach, CA 90814
562-342-4401
This Long Beach, California, surf shop has all the basics. Surfboards, surf gear, and the all important stock of surf wax and sunscreen. If you’re in Long Beach and need some surf hookups, this is the place to go. It was one of the best Long Beach surf shops I came across. And why wait to get to Long Beach? Shelter Surf’s website, sheltersurf.com, lets you order some of their surf gear over the Internet and have it shipped to you. I might just do that, all the way back to Hawaii! This Long Beach surf outfit definitely has a lot of pro surfers stopping by, a good sign. They also gave me some good surfing pointers on where to find good wave breaks in Long Beach. Definitely one of Southern California’s finest surf joints. As a surfer, I approve!
Best Los Angeles Surf Shop: Rocker Board Shop
12204 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles
(310) 397-8300
info@rockerboardshop.com
www.rockerboardshop.com
M-F 11am to 7pm, Sat 10am to 6pm
This trendy little surf boutique fits the flashy fashion of Los Angeles. You can find all the basics here, and the people were very helpful with any questions that I had about surfing.
Best Santa Ana Surf Shop: Clone Surf Boards
Clone® Surfboards
1018 E. Chestnut Ave., Unit G
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 245-0661
Clone Surfboards is one of the neatest, small surf board manufacturers on the west coast. Their boards are reasonable, ranging around $300 for a custom board. You can even get surf-styled furniture, great for that beach house you might own. Not exactly a surf shop, but Clone Surfboards is a great place to find a new surfboard.
Best Anaheim Surf Shop: Identity Boardshop
7886 Beach Blvd, Buena Park
(714) 232-8020
www.identityboardshop.com
Identity Boardshop is more than just Anaheim’s best surf shop; they also carry full collections of skateboard and snowboard accessories and supplies. If your sport requires a board, this is the place to go in the city of Anaheim. The prices are a bit high, but for the area they’re good.
Best Riverside Surf Shop: Defy Board Shop, Inc.
451 Magnolia Ave # 101, Corona, California
(951) 371-2707
Riverside’s surf shops are a little different from the other SoCal surf shops I visited, but the people are nice and helpful, and you can get all the basics at Defy Board’s Magnolia Avenue outlet.
Best Chula Vista Surf Shop: Marbella Surfboards
825 Hollister Street, Suite G San Diego, CA 92154
(619) 575 9283
Chula Vista has some of Southern California’s nicest breaks. The beaches are nice, and the surf shops are outstanding. Marbella Surfboards was one surf shop that really stood out, mostly for their wide and varied collection of beautiful surfboards.
Best Glendale Surf Shop: Ocean View Board Sports
3706 Ocean View Blvd, Montrose
(818) 541-9127
Ocean View Board Sports is a Glendale Surf Shop strategically placed and easy to find, perfect for a tourist like me. They’ve got the basics, but don’t expect anything to huge. It’s just right.
Best Irvine Surf Shop: Killer Dana Surf Shop
(949) 588-7873
I counted over a dozen surf shops while trying to find Killer Dana’s surf shop, but Killer Dana is one of the best. They’ve got all you need that you’d find in a classic, beachside surf shop.
Best Huntington Beach Surf Shop: Huntington Surf Shop
http://www.hsssurf.com/
This Huntington Beach staple has one of the biggest, sweetest collections of surf gear I’ve ever seen in California. Even if you’re not shopping for surf merchandise or not surfing at all, check it out for cool surfer clothes and gear that’ll make your surfer friends jealous.
