Santa Cruz claims itself to be the US surf capital, which seems to be true. No other place I have seen so far provides a greater number of surf shops and spots. There's the perfect wave for everybody, shortboard, longboard, beginner or professional. Famous Steamer Lane kicks off with powerful waves, for pros only. Pleasure Point was my favorite choice, not as crowded as the other spots but clean and long waves. Don't forget your 5/4 wetsuit, booties and hood, wintertime is indeed very cold, especially the water, with about 12°C. A very relaxed atmosphere and surfable conditions pretty much every day all year round make it an unforgetable journey. For detailed information visit wannasurf or surfline.

Updates on windsurfable conditions in the Santa Cruz area will follow.....

San Diego is mostly beach break with strong currents, not perfect, but rideable almost every day. Pacific Beach, Mission Beach or Ocean Beach are pretty much the same, MB has a slightly longer left wave and is thus more crowded. Most spots are little to non people, at least in winter. The water is quite warm all year.

Sometimes during the winter, spring and fall Westerly winds kick in and provide some on- to sideonshore windsurfing at the Ocean. Mission Bay though offers a perfect freestyle strip with almost glassy water, right off the freeway (I-5).

For detailed information check out wannasurf and surfline!

The river Gorge, located 100km west of Portland OR, is definetely one of the best spots I have ever sailed. 50 spots within a one hour drive provide everything from flatwater to chop or even large swells, from 6.0 conditions more East or 4.0 in the central and Western Gorge. Hood River with its mass amount of surfshops, stores, cafe's and restaurants might be the best place to start your day trips every morning. The Hatchery, where some of the world's best freestylers show off their skills just right in front of the beach, is only within 15min driving distance. Good swells allow you to gain some air and pushing the limits and flat water on the inside makes it easier to pull off all kinds of freestyle tricks.

The best time for the Gorge are indeed the summer months with their stable west winds almost every day, average sails 4.0 to 5.0! Temperatures are about 30° air and 22° water...

More information on forcasts, statistics and spot guides on www.windance.com and www.hatchcam.com, vids under ::gallery::!