Oct 22 2008
Sunday Spot Check: Doheny
Ok, so I realize that today is Tuesday (actually Wednesday now in most parts of the world), but I’m gonna go ahead and do the Sundat Spot Check anyway because it’s fun for me to write and I didn’t have the time to do it this weekend. Also, as what is very possibly the last south swell of the season makes its way to our shores, it’s important for you, my loyal readers, to get out and enjoy today’s featured spot before it shuts down for the winter!
So, without any further adieu, I present to you…drumroll please…Doheny! Yes, the water is a disturbing shade of murky brown. Yes, the line up is always crowded with legions of foam board wielding newbies, and yes, the waves are almost always at least a couple feet smaller than those at nearby Salt Creek. However, Doheny will always hold a special place in my heart as the spot where I learned how to surf. And I don’t mean “learned to surf” as in clumsily hobbled to my feet for the first time in the forgiving backwash of an ankle high wave. I mean really surf. Doheny is where I perfected my style (or lack there of). Doheny is where I first walked to the nose. Heck, Doheny is even where, during a freak south swell in the middle of winter, I got my first legitimate barrel. (Nobody seems to believe this story, but seriously, it’s still one of the top five waves I’ve ever caught to this day).
Today, Doheny is still an important proving ground for young Orange County longboarders, and on any given summer day, you’re sure to see a whole crew of pint-sized groms getting five on ankle-slappers and squeezing into miniature barrels on classic equipment. With its fun, thin-lipped peelers and consistent, if small, summertime surf, Doheny is the perfect place for budding loggers to polish their techniques along with other like-minded, retro enthusiasts. Seriously, apart from the stray shredder who seems to have gotten lost on his way Creek, it’s like the shortboard revolution never happened here–and none of these kids seem to miss it. The boards are heavy, the surfing is stylish, and, most importantly, the vibe is always positive out in the water at Doheny.
To get to Doheny, head south on Golden Lantern until it dead ends at Dana Point Harbor. Turn left on Dana Point Harbor Dr. and then take your second right at Puerto Place. Find parking, have fun!
Local tip: Avoid the exorbitant $10 parking fee charged by the California State Park system by parking in the metered lots closest to the jetty.
