Malibu (Surfrider) Surf Season
California, USA · part of the Malibu (Surfrider) spot guide
Malibu is a summer spot. The prime window is April through October, driven by Southern Ocean groundswell — long-period south-to-southwest energy from Southern Hemisphere winter storms — and by eastern Pacific tropical systems off Baja and Mexico that swing far enough north to throw south swell into the window in late summer. Winter northwest swell largely marches past the shadowed point.
It is the birthplace of modern surf culture: first ridden in 1927, the crucible of 1950s and 60s longboarding, and the beach whose mid-1950s summers inspired "Gidget" and detonated surfing into American pop culture. Surfrider Beach was dedicated the first World Surfing Reserve in 2010.
Where the swell comes from
The two engines are Southern Ocean groundswell — long-period south to south-southwest energy from Southern Hemisphere winter storms, arriving in our summer — and eastern Pacific tropical systems off Baja and Mexico that throw south-to-southeast swell into the Southern California window in late summer and early fall.
Historic swells at Malibu (Surfrider)
Hurricane Marie
A Category-5 eastern Pacific hurricane parked in the swell window drove the biggest south swell in about two decades; Malibu saw faces around 15 ft with the points connecting top to bottom, and the pier was damaged and closed.
A Fourth-of-July south swell
A train of storms below New Zealand fired strong long-period south swell into Southern California over the holiday, Malibu among the marquee spots that lit up.
Hurricane Dolores
An eastern Pacific tropical system pushed a notable south-southwest swell into Southern California, and Malibu delivered long walling rights.