From highway one, exit to the La Selva Beach or San Andreas exits. Several roads take you to the beaches. There are multiple spots so take a chance and find your own break!
Watch the currents, if you learn them, you will catch all the waves!
Overview
Atmosphere
Classic beachbreaks with just the right amount of people to allow space for everyone.
General
La Selva/Manresa is a great place to surf because it offers an escape from the crowds in town. Not to say it doesn't get crowded, but when it's good, there WILL be multiple uncrowed peaks. Take a walk up or down the beach and find yourself your own!
learn respect or go home
Actually, us locals do have the right to the waves, we grew up here and we live here....thats how surfing works. I don't go outta my way to BE a dick to all of the kooks from elsewhere that have a disposable income and just decided it would be cool to learn how to surf. But we do not owe any of you kooks any respect. Its the other way around. Know that before you come to Manresa/La Selva/ Sand Dollar. If you don't know how to surf, don't paddle out to a good peak where a bunch of locals are. Its simple and makes sense. No one wants wax on their windows or a brick upside their dome... figure it out.
comment by Anonymous, 2008-10-13 18:09:59
not powerless. beginners be careful
I got my butt kicked and my first real dues paid at Manresa. The friends that went out surfing here for their first outing have never surfed again. This wave has FORCE. It was the first beach break I surfed and gave me a lot of respect for the ocean. And yes, it does wall-off 99% of the time. If you know how and when to choose your wave, though, you could have some serious fun here, though. Even some great longboard lines now and then. But you have to use your head here, or you'll have your face planted in the sand!!!
comment by Anonymous, 2008-08-27 07:32:20
not a great beginner spot
went out today (9/26/08) for the first session since i was about 10 -- this place ripped me a new one. NOT powerless.
DO watch for rips. And DO mind the sucking, seaving southward current that'll certainly pull your ass into the next available rip (which were plentiful). Was barely head high on the bigger sets too.
comment by Anonymous, 2009-07-24 00:53:44