If you've got some reading to catch up on or a couple of movies you'd like to see, this might be the weekend to hide out between four walls and avoid the blustery elements. Even though spring has sprung, SoCal is about to get pelted with some wild winds, snow in the mountains, and dangerously high surf at our shores. Be warned! more ›

There will be waves, Southern California. Oh yes, there will be waves. A high surf advisory is in effect through 4pm Sunday along the L.A. County coast. Heavy shredders, start waxing. more ›

High surf swells graced the Southern California coast last week, causing the National Weather Service to issue a high-surf advisory through Saturday. While the waves failed to rival those of Hawaii's Pipeline, they offered radical shredding opportunities and motivated surfers to squeeze into their wetsuits and hit the chilly Pacific. more ›

We knew dogs could surf, but until we witnessed Goatee in action, we had no idea goats were also capable of shredding waves. Female goat Goatee shredded San Luis Obispo County's Grover Beach on November 10. Her proud owner, Dayna McGregor, explains in today's video lunch how Goatee, a gardener, realized her passion for surfing. more ›

If you're not taking advantage of the refreshing Pacific today, you definitely should this Saturday, September 10. The Surfrider Foundation brings the sixth installment of its Celebrity Expression Session to the shores of First Point, Surfrider Beach in Malibu. more ›

Canine surfers have long been underrated for their wave shredding abilities, but this is about to change come September 11. The first surfing dog - Buddy - will be inducted into the Surf Dog Hall of Fame. more ›

A storm system in the South Pacific Ocean will bring high surf and dangerous rip currents to SoCal beaches through Thursday. Local beaches, especially those facing south should see the strongest weather with waves up to 10 feet, notes the National Weather Service. more ›

The world's oceans are home to more than 97 percent of all life on Earth. Those resources are dwindling thanks to over-fishing and pollution— a majority from land-based activities. Activist and Incubus front man Brandon Boyd has partnered with surf brand Hurley to raise funds and awareness about ocean conservation with a limited edition clothing line. more ›

Nothing says "Respect" for the rarely intertwined realms of surf culture and African-American civil rights than a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day-themed sale. Unfortunately, the promotion was a total wipeout at Laguna Beach's Thalia Surf Shop, according to CBS2, and yesterday the business issued an apology for their misguided marketing. more ›

Nike’s latest Southern California foray opened its doors last Friday to the large crowds gathered in Santa Monica for the grand re-opening of the renovated Santa Monica Place shopping center. If you are thinking this is just another Nike store, think again. more ›

Huntington Beach's Brett Simpson, the "hometown favorite," clinched the number one spot and the championship this afternoon in the U.S. Open of Surfing, reports the OC Register. more ›

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has just released their 20th annual beachwater quality report, which shows that there were 2,904 "beach days"* last year when California's beaches were either closed or under advisory due to water pollution. more ›

Just two days after National Park Rangers issued a warning that great white sharks have been feeding on sea lions off Santa Barbara Island, a surfer in Pismo Beach was bitten by a shark, according to KTLA. more ›

If you're heading to the beach this weekend, take note of a warning issued for this weekend from the National Weather Service. more ›

A tsunami advisory has been issued for the California coast this morning following the overnight magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile, according to the LA Times. "An advisory means there may be strong currents, but that widespread inundation is not expected to occur." more ›

It's a storm in the tropics that is reverberating on our SoCal shores in the form of massive--and deadly--surf these days. LAist's Lifestyle Editor Julie Wolfson sent over these shots captured this morning on the shores of Salt Creek Beach in Laguna Niguel, and some of the brave (foolish?) surfers who couldn't turn down an opportunity to hang ten in the huge waves. more ›

Dangerously high surf is still expected today at the beaches, as predicted earlier--all part of the same system of swells that "pounded Orange County beaches on Friday, killing a surfer at the Wedge" according to the OC Register. Massive waves can be awe-inspiring, but the 4-7' swells "and occasional sets up to 9′" and higher in some places mean even the pros should think twice about hitting the water. more ›

It's another typical day in the Los Angeles area--temperature wise at least--but south facing beaches are expected see some of the biggest waves seen in years because of a swell originating in the South-Pacific. "The high surf is a byproduct of 50-knot winds that developed off Tahiti and are blowing toward Southern California, producing 8-to-12-foot swells at some beaches," explains the LA Times. more ›

Lifeguards are cautioning surfers and swimmers alike that a high surf is due to hit the shores of the OC with some pretty serious strength starting tomorrow, according to the OC Register. "The waves are going to be so big from this south swell - the biggest our coast has seen for years - jet-ski assists have been added to this year's Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing so the surfers don't paddle against a raging river all day." more ›

The storm we were anticipating showed up early this morning, and is dumping rain and snow on Southern California. more ›

Two Malibu men were charged yesterday with misdemeanor battery after the June 21 scuffle at Little Dume Beach between Paparazzi and local surfers who were protecting actor Matthew McConaughey from being photographed or approached. Both Skylar Martin Peak, 24, and Philip John Hildebrand, 30 are scheduled to be arraigned at the Malibu courthouse on Oct. 14. Richid Altmbareckouhammou from a French news agency "was allegedly thrown into the water by the two men," according to the Daily Breeze. The incident was the first of two over that weekend with the second taking place at Malibu's Paradise Cove on June 22. more ›

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...and then America pants and wheezes after half a block The state fitness data released yesterday found that LAUSD students "are less physically fit than the state average" (Daily News). There's no surprise in that. But you have to admit, it's really lame. We live in California for heaven sakes! This isn't flatland cornfield Illinois where gym class is a required five days a week, kindergarten through senior year (and that state still has... more ›

"The surf was so big, no one was surfing here and the Pier was closed. Apparently, all the surfers were in Redondo," explains LAist Featured Photos contributer, Jake Rome, about yesterday's surf. LA Times: No big waves yesterday. We beg to differ. [LAist] Lure of waves draws many from workaday world [LA Times] The Day of Waves [Daily Breeze] Photo by jakerome via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr... more ›

Don't forget that umbrella on the way out the door today -- it's gonna rain (yes, that is an intentional Steve Reich reference). Right now, surfers should be enjoying the best swells of the week and skiers can look forward to a nice snowpack of "about 6 inches of snow at elevations of about 6,000 feet," according to the LA Times. As always, with the good, comes the bad. Among the more strenuous commute and... more ›

The LA Times is reporting this morning that "the big waves predicted for Southern California beaches failed to materialize Tuesday afternoon." Photographer Jonathan Alcorn, an LAist Featured Photos contributer on Flickr, shot these large waves yesterday in El Segundo at El Porto. These surfers seem to be riding waves in that 7-12 ft. range the Times predicted yesterday morning. Hrmmmmm? Yes, throughout the region waves were not as high as many hoped to be,... more ›