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Surf's Up in Santa Monica: there's more to Venice Beach than Dogtown

Santa Monica is a city with an impressive surfing heritage. The 2001 film "Dogtown and Z boys" documented the vital part that Santa Monica and Venice Beach played in the lives of young drop out surfers, who later went on to revolutionise skateboarding and become world dominators of the sport. This small group of renegade skate punks used the surf skills they'd learnt in the waves to create an entirely new style of skateboarding that moved away from the 1960s style of nose wheelies and handstands, and took skateboarding into the world of aerial trickery.

Perhaps the most famous, though possibly least glamorous, surf spots in Santa Monica is the now legendary "Cove". Positioned in the once glorious but long since abandoned Pacific Ocean Park Pier (termed P.O.P by the locals), the Cove was a short break, hidden in between rickety rusting piers and spiky concrete pilings. The cove was an extremely dangerous place to surf due to decaying infrastructure lying just under the surface of the water, or in some cases breaking the surface, which presented a genuine danger of impalement to those brave enough to ride the waves.

In addition to the "natural" dangers of surfing the Cove, there was a fierce 'locals only' mentality that meant that surfers from outside the area were not exactly welcomed with open arms. With more surfers than there were waves, only the most respected locals would be granted access, and anyone else was forced out of the water, normally by aggressive means.

If a non-local was seen to be in or approaching the Cove, locals would bombard the invaders with whatever was to hand: rocks, bottles or rotten fruit. Simply put, if you weren't a Dogtowner who had proved themselves - you weren't welcome. The Dogtown surf spots have since mellowed somewhat due to the redevelopment of the area, but there are still many locals who guard their surf spots, though events such as throwing rocks or slashing car tyres are much rarer now than fifteen years ago.

These days, there is a very different side to Santa Monica: Golden beaches, the sultry Pacific Ocean coastline, urban walkways, gourmet cuisine, world-class dining and upscale boutiques. It’s a quintessential urban beach community and it's easy to see why Santa Monica is considered the first choice for a Southern California beach vacation. This seaside city blends the charm and appeal of a coastal getaway with an unforgettable beach and the sophistication of an urban center.

There are a number of luxury hotels in Santa Monica that offer 'learn to surf' packages and even multi-day surf camps, that include accommodation, rental of wetsuit, rash guard, surfboard and of course the all important instructor, who will teach you to catch waves yourself.

So if your looking for a surf trip in Santa Monica, avoid the Cove, but head on down to one of Santa Monica's other friendly and stunning beaches to enjoy the hospitable reception, golden sands, and consistent waves.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Elisha Burberry is a freelance online journalist

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