Manhattan Beach was also the center of controversy in 2021. On Presidents Day that year, an older white surfer shouted a racial slur at young Black surfers, sparking a surf activism movement.
Expert tip: “The South Bay is somewhat of a weird zone in that it’s bad when a lot of other spots are good, meaning it can be clean, sunny and beautiful, but closed out and just not that great for surfing. But when a lot of other spots are bad and other spots are stormy, the South Bay is pretty good,” said Wallis. “I think to be a South Bay surfer, it takes patience and a willingness to put up with bad surf [conditions] a lot. There’s always something to ride, but then you get these days that are freaky, weird and [there] can be really good [waves].”
Local vibes: “You’ve got a huge parking lot that services the beach … so expect a lot of people from all places and all levels there,” said Tyler Wilde, a Manhattan Beach local and surfer. “Suffice it to say that with El Porto, you’ve got such a wide range of people at a pretty challenging beach break, all scrapping for a rare corner or at least an exciting closeout. Because of the lack of waves and the perceived ‘right’ to them, you get the sense that you’re going to have to be aggressive to catch anything, even if that means rudely snaking someone, but doing it with a smile.”
When to surf this spot: Early morning hours in the wintertime. El Porto in the winter is best for advanced surfers; Manhattan Beach waves can break in the summer as long as the swell comes straight from the southerly direction.
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers.
Parking: Parking is available within 12 city lots at $2 per hour.