Steamer Lane

Corey McGlynnProfessor WernerMarch 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-check-steamer-lane-santa-cruz--checking-in-at-norcals-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

• 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_charges.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=Bg9fS8sZU0o&list=UUJpYAIXW5M_sDR8jvXbrxog&index=40&feature=plcp

Citations• http://www.google.com/imgres?

q=steamer+lane+surfing&hl=en&biw=1276&bih=706&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=p5V08DBd2r04hM:&imgrefurl=http://photo.net/photodb/photo%3Fphoto_id%3D8353287&docid=PmTTVTqCarq8CM&imgurl=http://gallery.photo.net/photo/8353287-lg.jpg&w=648&h=437&ei=lb9mT7-4K_HH0AGIiPHXCg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=376&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=194&start=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&tbnid=jU_Fj37mnK6riM:&imgrefurl=http://beach.orangecounty.com/2012/03/12/surfline-2/55213/&docid=0ql4ngxtjVwqBM&imgurl=http://beach.orangecounty.com/files/2012/03/bags_airport.jpg&w=500&h=375&ei=fcJmT-GiCujh0QGY0tCfCA&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=Sv6W3ROI4JwuNM:&imgrefurl=http://espn.go.com/action/surfing/news/story%3Fid%3D4463940&docid=8iBG25Y1YN5DEM&imgurl=http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2009/0910/as_surf_steamer_lane_576.jpg&w=576&h=324&ei=KcNmT-WBKcq7tweNlqH-DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=187&dur=1218&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=163&ty=126&sig=102636526673938692698&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&tbnid=d1jTfGwi9MA9xM:&imgrefurl=http://www.perlgurl.org/archives/random/&docid=ElP6xb0Nn-bLfM&imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/2499491405_6a8ae88f86.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=rsNmT9_gGInV0QGKwsHTBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=789&vpy=390&dur=1252&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=144&ty=133&sig=102636526673938692698&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• http://www.expedia.com/Flights-Search?trip=roundtrip&leg1=from:Philadelphia,%20PA,%20United%20States%20(PHL-

Philadelphia%20Intl.),to:San%20Francisco,%20CA,%20United%20States%20(QSF%20-%20All%20Airports),departure:05%2F01%2F2012TANYT&leg2=from:San%20Francisco,%20CA,%20United%20States%20(QSF%20-%20All%20Airports),to:Philadelphia,%20PA,%20United%20States%20(PHL-Philadelphia%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&tbnid=8Os1IrhdRQI5lM:&imgrefurl=http://meship.com/Blog/2011/05/12/cloud-computing-is-like-an-airplane/&docid=fsLX4esYkG7TVM&imgurl=http://meship.com/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/airplane-cloud-computing.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&start=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/question-1865077/?link=ibaf&q=sunshine&imgurl=http://flagspot.n

et/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• 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/Steamer-Lane-(Santa-Cruz)--California-satellite-map-print-poster.HTML&docid=E4Rte4S_HuLloM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.satprints.com/ProductImages/Steamers_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&tbnh=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&rls=en&biw=1276&bih=684&tbm=isch&tbnid=lIkgPLfWDOsOiM:&imgrefurl=http://www.surfermag.com/contest-wire/o%25E2%2580%2599neill-cold-water-classic-santa-cruz-confirmed-for-2012-asp-world-title-series/&docid=WRY1nUgDAWMk6M&imgurl=http://www.surfermag.com/files/2011/12/O_Neill_ColdwaterClassic_03.jpeg&w=600&h=400&ei=IAFkT8vJFOfy0gGqp6CPCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=182&vpy=164&dur=4511&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=203&ty=87&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=153&tbnw=198&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Citations• 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=sV-T6E1RGkN0pM&imgurl=http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/images/steamer_lane/loyd_steamer_h.jpg&w=241&h=147&ei=aOVjT6W4Loj30gHsuvHACA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=264&sig=102636526673938692698&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=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&tbnid=JtvHSQAVXCO8pM:&imgrefurl=http://www.onewayboardshop.com/index.cfm/fullsuits/85/fullsuits/540/west_lotus_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&tbnid=AWRM2_Zna27RtM:&imgrefurl=http://www.livetosurf.com/products-page/wetsuits-online-store/%3Fview_type%3Ddefault&docid=PVRCWWhybpV46M&imgurl=http://www.livetosurf.com/2008/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/5mminfinitirt.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=EupjT_H2Oory0gH62JypCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1012&vpy=139&dur=1268&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=140&ty=137&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=145&tbnw=153&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0

Citations• 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.htm&docid=FrrB2OUoeNBLmM&imgurl=http://www.shorelinesurf.com/mapphotos/steamermap.5.jpg&w=320&h=406&ei=q2VeT8byE9C30AG6m5TbDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=189&vpy=140&dur=889&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=113&ty=170&sig=102636526673938692698&page=1&tbnh=174&tbnw=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-most-famous-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-is-just-funny-kenny-powers-out-for-a-sponge/&docid=wW4AmlgVFJ-MfM&imgurl=http://www.surfresource.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Screen-Shot-2012-02-22-at-5.51.53-PM.png&w=1259&h=668&ei=eeNjT_fQJ8Lb0QH91oy2CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=845&vpy=175&dur=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