Steamer Lane
Corey McGlynn
Professor Werner
March 19, 2012
Location
• Located in Santa Cruz, California.
• Northern California
About The Break
• Known as Northern California’s best point
break
• Faces almost directly south
• Can pick up a wide variety of swells do to its
location and exposure
• Four main peaks: The point, the slot, middle
peak, and indicators.
Map of Steamer Lane
The Point
• Located at the end of the rocks at the
lighthouse.
• Ranges from waist high to double overhead
• Accepts all swells
• Prefers a South swell
Middle Peak
• Further south, or away from the cliffs than the
other peaks
• Moves further out as swell increases
• Best on West and North West swells
• Also offers lefts
The Slot
• The Slot is located on the inner cove between
the point and middle peak.
• Waves the miss the point and refract off of the
cliffs
Indicators
• Located inside of Middle Peak
• Best on a West swell
Swell Direction Video
• http://www.surfline.com/travel/spot-checksteamer-lane-santa-cruz--checking-in-atnorcals-most-famous-pointbreak_41314/1/
Wave Models
• http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display.cgi?
a=ncal
• http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display.cgi?
a=ncal_per
• http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display.cgi?
a=ncal_wind
More Facts About the Break
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The bottom is rock reef with spots of sand
Best tide is medium low to medium high
Can get as big as triple overhead
Best swell directions are West, South, and North West
The best winds are North East, North, and North West
No best season, it breaks pretty well all year round
Average swell period seems to be between 10 and 15
seconds
Localism
Localism
• Some of the best surfers in the world call this
break home (Nat Young, Skin dog, Flea, etc.)
• Accepted to ride a long board or short board
as long as you know your place in the line up.
• Work your way up the totem pole.
• Separate Parking Lots: Local lot, West lot,
“Carp” lot, and tourist lot
• Often times one of the most crowded breaks
in the world
Water Temperature
• Water temps range from 53 in January to 60 in
August
• Bring your 4/3, 3/2, boots, and maybe even a
pair of gloves for the middle of winter
Weather
• Air temperatures range from average daily
highs of 62 in December to 76 in August
• Characterized as a Mediterranean Climate
• warm to hot dry summers
• mild to cool wet winters
Flights
• Flights run regularly from Philadelphia to San
Francisco
• Philadelphia San Francisco PHL 6:00am
SFO 9:15am Nonstop 6h 15m UNITED 445
• Roundtrip from $334 per person includes
taxes & fees
Board Bag Prices
• http://www.surfline.com/travel/boardbag_ch
arges.cfm?id=15425
Cold Water Classic
• Annual surf contest put on by O'Neill
• ASP Event
• Will be featured on the World Tour for the first
time ever this year
Final Facts About Steamer Lane
• It is surrounded by cliffs which can be
intimidating with many people watching
• It is Steamer Lane not Steamers Lane
Cold Water Classic Video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg9fS8sZ
U0o&list=UUJpYAIXW5M_sDR8jvXbrxog&inde
x=40&feature=plcp
Citations
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http://www.google.com/imgres?q=steamer+lane+surfing&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=706&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=p
5V08DBd2r04hM:&imgrefurl=http://photo.net/photodb/photo%3Fphoto_id%3D8353287&docid=PmTTVTqCarq8
CM&imgurl=http://gallery.photo.net/photo/8353287-lg.jpg&w=648&h=437&ei=lb9mT74K_HH0AGIiPHXCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=376&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=194&st
art=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&tx=129&ty=62
http://www.surfline.com/travel/boardbag_charges.cfm?id=15425
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=surfboard+bag+in+airport&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1276&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbni
d=jU_Fj37mnK6riM:&imgrefurl=http://beach.orangecounty.com/2012/03/12/surfline2/55213/&docid=0ql4ngxtjVwqBM&imgurl=http://beach.orangecounty.com/files/2012/03/bags_airport.jpg&w=5
00&h=375&ei=fcJmTGiCujh0QGY0tCfCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=304&vpy=163&dur=148&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=205&ty=118&sig=
102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=161&tbnw=200&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=surfing+steamer+lane&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=684&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=S
v6W3ROI4JwuNM:&imgrefurl=http://espn.go.com/action/surfing/news/story%3Fid%3D4463940&docid=8iBG25Y
1YN5DEM&imgurl=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0910/as_surf_steamer_lane_576.jpg&w=576&h=324&ei=K
cNmT-WBKcq7tweNlqHDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=187&dur=1218&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=163&ty=126&sig=10263652667
3938692698&page=2&tbnh=119&tbnw=211&start=15&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:15
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=surfing+steamer+lane+barrel&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1276&bih=684&tbm=isch&t
bnid=d1jTfGwi9MA9xM:&imgrefurl=http://www.perlgurl.org/archives/random/&docid=ElP6xb0NnbLfM&imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/2499491405_6a8ae88f86.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=rsNmT9_gGIn
V0QGKwsHTBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=789&vpy=390&dur=1252&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=144&ty=133&sig=1
02636526673938692698&page=2&tbnh=146&tbnw=195&start=15&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:15
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/california-sees-windows-of-great-surf-in-between-storms_53641/
Citations
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http://www.expedia.com/FlightsSearch?trip=roundtrip&leg1=from:Philadelphia,%20PA,%20United%20States%20(PHLPhiladelphia%20Intl.),to:San%20Francisco,%20CA,%20United%20States%20(QSF%20%20All%20Airports),departure:05%2F01%2F2012TANYT&leg2=from:San%20Francisco,%20CA,%20United%20State
s%20(QSF%20-%20All%20Airports),to:Philadelphia,%20PA,%20United%20States%20(PHLPhiladelphia%20Intl.),departure:05%2F31%2F2012TANYT&passengers=children:0,adults:1,seniors:0,infantinlap:Y&
options=cabinclass:coach,nopenalty:N,sortby:price&mode=search
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=plane+in+clouds&num=10&um=1&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbni
d=8Os1IrhdRQI5lM:&imgrefurl=http://meship.com/Blog/2011/05/12/cloud-computing-is-like-anairplane/&docid=fsLX4esYkG7TVM&imgurl=http://meship.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/airplanecloudcomputing.jpg&w=1024&h=768&ei=6plmT5inBrSQ0QGPxqmnCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=189&vpy=69&dur=441&
hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=148&ty=110&sig=102636526673938692698&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=197&st
art=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
http://magicseaweed.com/Steamer-Lane-Surf-Report/163/
http://www.sodahead.com/fun/darkness-or-sunshine/question1865077/?link=ibaf&q=sunshine&imgurl=http://flagspot.net/misc/ar%2527sun.gif
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=the+point+steamer+lane&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1276&bih=706&tbm=isch
&tbnid=kgJmCw3adTCN4M:&imgrefurl=http://www.hotlineonline.com/COMPANY/SteamerLane/tabid/70/Default.
aspx&docid=GWlK77sR7gUHkM&imgurl=http://www.hotlineonline.com/Portals/0/Images/Steamer%252520Lane/
point.gif&w=325&h=245&ei=gaRmT5S6Lajs0gHN65mUCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=978&vpy=109&dur=547&hovh
=195&hovw=259&tx=158&ty=92&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=191&start=0&ndsp=
15&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0
Citations
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_climate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_California
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=steamer+lane+aerial&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1276&bih=684&tbm=
isch&tbnid=yXcDZ6m4P_RdXM:&imgrefurl=http://www.satprints.com/browseproducts/SteamerLane-(Santa-Cruz)--California-satellite-map-printposter.HTML&docid=E4Rte4S_HuLloM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.satprints.com/ProductImages/St
eamers_lane.jpg&w=431&h=651&ei=ovpjT6emN6jq0gHHqICCCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=878&vpy
=120&dur=300&hovh=276&hovw=183&tx=106&ty=107&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&t
bnh=157&tbnw=104&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=o%27neill+coldwater+classic+ca&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rl
s=en&biw=1276&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbnid=lIkgPLfWDOsOiM:&imgrefurl=http://www.surfermag.c
om/contest-wire/o%25E2%2580%2599neill-cold-water-classic-santa-cruz-confirmed-for-2012-aspworld-titleseries/&docid=WRY1nUgDAWMk6M&imgurl=http://www.surfermag.com/files/2011/12/O_Neill_C
oldwaterClassic_03.jpeg&w=600&h=400&ei=IAFkT8vJFOfy0gGqp6CPCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=18
2&vpy=164&dur=4511&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=203&ty=87&sig=102636526673938692698&pa
ge=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=198&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
Citations
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http://www.google.com/imgres?q=steamer+lane&num=10&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1276&bih=706&tbm=isch&tbnid=
Wv1FB-riJQLRGM:&imgrefurl=http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/steamerlane.cfm&docid=sVT6E1RGkN0pM&imgurl=http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/images/steamer_lane/loyd_steamer_h.jpg&w=241&h=1
47&ei=aOVjT6W4Loj30gHsuvHACA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=264&sig=102636526673938692698&sqi=2&page=1&t
bnh=117&tbnw=192&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=76&ty=17
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/cpac.html
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=surfer+in+4/3+and+boots&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=684&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbni
d=JtvHSQAVXCO8pM:&imgrefurl=http://www.onewayboardshop.com/index.cfm/fullsuits/85/fullsuits/540/west_l
otus_4_3_fluid_chest_zip/8691&docid=DXzpBOV8JLplM&imgurl=http://www.onewayboardshop.com/images/products/PAAAAAFBPJJAOPIJ.jpg&w=400&h
=400&ei=teljT7fpGKiO0QHW16CaCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=341&vpy=288&dur=374&hovh=149&hovw=128&tx=
112&ty=122&sig=102636526673938692698&page=2&tbnh=149&tbnw=128&start=19&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:1,
s:19
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=surfer+in+4/3+and+boots&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=684&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbni
d=AWRM2_Zna27RtM:&imgrefurl=http://www.livetosurf.com/products-page/wetsuits-onlinestore/%3Fview_type%3Ddefault&docid=PVRCWWhybpV46M&imgurl=http://www.livetosurf.com/2008/wpcontent/uploads/2011/06/5mminfinitirt.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=EupjT_H2Oory0gH62JypCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vp
x=1012&vpy=139&dur=1268&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=140&ty=137&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tb
nh=145&tbnw=153&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0
Citations
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http://www.google.com/imgres?q=steamer+lane+santa+cruz+ca+aerial&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1276
&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbnid=jAEMlGWfDDfoPM:&imgrefurl=http://www.shorelinesurf.com/map.ht
m&docid=FrrB2OUoeNBLmM&imgurl=http://www.shorelinesurf.com/mapphotos/steamermap.5.jp
g&w=320&h=406&ei=q2VeT8byE9C30AG6m5TbDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=189&vpy=140&dur=88
9&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=113&ty=170&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=174&tbn
w=137&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0
http://www.surfline.com/surf-report/steamer-lane-central-california_4188/travel/
http://www.surfline.com/travel/spot-check-steamer-lane-santa-cruz--checking-in-at-norcals-mostfamous-pointbreak_41314/1/
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=eastbound+and+down+surf&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1276&bih=706
&tbm=isch&tbnid=o_n1EV32aOFi_M:&imgrefurl=http://www.surfresource.org/2012/02/this-isjust-funny-kenny-powers-out-for-a-sponge/&docid=wW4AmlgVFJMfM&imgurl=http://www.surfresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Screen-Shot-2012-0222-at-5.51.53PM.png&w=1259&h=668&ei=eeNjT_fQJ8Lb0QH91oy2CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=845&vpy=175&d
ur=289&hovh=163&hovw=308&tx=169&ty=96&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=117
&tbnw=221&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA1020