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Where to live in California?

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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
so after college in a couple years i want to move, it's far away but i want to get some ideas flowing through my head.

i wanna start by saying this won't be based on jobs or work at all. that being said:

i've considered living in a few places after college. the usual for a skier. boulder CO, montana, salt lake city, tahoe, etc. however, as much as i love skiing, i would also just love to have some beach living for a few years before getting started with a career and such.

so this brings the main question. is there such a place in california where the weather is always nice, so that i could ski when i feel like it, and go to the beach when i feel like it? essentially what i've heard people talk about before -- the ability to ski and surf in the same day. i would prefer the mountain choices are somewhat good and not 500 foot hills, but if that doesn't exist i'm gonna have to re-think the whole idea.

i would really like it if the beach was close and the mountains were the further drive, rather than the other way around. i'm already used to driving hours to go skiing.

thanks and plus karma


Jan 2 2011 7:22PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
after a little google searching, some appealing ideas look like:

Huntington Beach/Newport Beach --> Big Bear
Seal Beach --> Mt. Baldy



if anybody can give any input, or different ideas that'd be prime
Jan 2 2011 7:33PM
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.[sanhedrin].
Posts: 1654 - Karma: 938

This request isn't all that easy to grant.  Skiing in Southern California is not all that bad, but it's not like CO, UT or even Tahoe.  However, the beaches are great.  Look into Orange County for that desire.  Tahoe is pretty far from the beach and the beaches in Nothern California are much rockier and the water demands a wet suit (or even a dry suit) due to colder temps.  If you live in Orange County and want to travel to Mammoth you are looking at about a 5-6 hour drive to get there. 

If you really want to ski big mountains and surf in the same day you will have to move to New Zealand, or Monaco (apparently).

Jan 2 2011 7:34PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
thanks for the input. +k. it wouldn't really bother me that i wouldn't get to ski huge mountains though. i haven't ever skied out west (except hood), so it's not a demand.
Jan 2 2011 7:39PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
I can't speak much for Southern Califonria, but I grew up in the Northern Bay Area. I lived on Mt. Tamalpais, where I could hike/mtn bike out my back door, I was 25 minutes from Stinson Beach and 3 hours from Northern Lake Tahoe resorts like Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Sugar Bowl.

Northern California beaches are foggy and cold a lot of the year but in late spring and late summer/fall, the weather is amazing. 90% of the year will require a wetsuit if you want to surf. If you just plan on going to the beach/body surfing or whatever, then you'll be fine without it. Just get ready to have your balls shrink up into your stomach if you're not expecting it.

The Bay Area and Monterey Bay are my favorite places so I will suggest those two for you:
-Anywhere in the Bay Area, namely San Francisco or Marin County (good luck affording Marin right out of college though). Surfing is within a half-hour to an hour and skiing within 3-4 (with no traffic).
-Santa Cruz/Monterey. Surfing in 5 minutes and skiing within 4-5 at North Shore Tahoe resorts.
Jan 2 2011 8:32PM
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TheHamburglar
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,317
I go to school in Redlands CA, near Riverside and San Bernadino. It's a 45 minute drive to Bear on good weather days, huntington beach will be a good 1.5 hour drive minimum. The roads are typically closed after any sort of precipitation, because, well, nobody can fucking drive in precipitation out there. My recommendation is stay as far away from socal as possible. Bear is fun, but really gets old after awhile, not to mention the huge abundance of snowboarders, and the fact that it is PACKED on weekends and holidays. The people here are 80% scum, and it gets worse the closer to LA you are. Most people from OC are stuck-up dickheads. Another problem with socal is the ski community is absolutely non-existent. Please take this advice and look up north. There are a lot of good things about California that the north does a whole lot better than the south. It is hugely overcrowded down south, 90% mexicans (no racism), smoggy as shit, and a ton of traffic. I like where my school is, but the rest of socal really disgusts me.

Go north!
Jan 2 2011 8:58PM
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Ski_Punx
Posts: 783 - Karma: 49

If you do move here homie, Go hit Mt. Baldy. You can see the Ocean while you are skiing, Catalina Island too from the top of chair 3. It's got all the steeps and cliff drops you need if you search them out. The snow is stacking right now, and its only an hour and 20 min from the beach. We are in The surf mecca of San Clemente, but can be up ripping the pow in just under an hour and a half. If you live in HB or Newport, you may be able to get there in about an hour. Get stoked. www.mtbaldy.com

pk
Jan 3 2011 3:13AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
a lot of good replies. much appreciated. plus karma to all, but bumping for more replies
Jan 3 2011 9:38AM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
I should start by saying ski for a year or two.  Ski in Tahoe or Utah or wherever, get a 100+ day season, maybe two, THEN look for a real job.

I will echo the sentiment expressed about Orange County.  I live in Newport, and it is a great place to live.  My girlfriend and I have a ski lease at Mammoth, so we drive up there 2-3 weekends a month during the winter.  It is a lot of driving, and pricey, as most ski leases run 200-350 a month, but well worth it.  I tend to leave at 4 am to avoid traffic, at that time it usually takes 5.5 hours.  You get the best of both worlds, with a world class mountain when you want it, AND great surf/beach.  Also, in good years Mt. Baldy rocks.  You would never believe it, but Baldy has some pretty steep terrain, only 1.5 hours from Newport.  Some years Baldy does not get snow, but the last few have been good.  If the runs to the parking lot at Baldy are open, you will be stoked.

Los Angeles has many of the same benefits as Orange County.  You can live in the South Bay, and be right on the beach with a great party/surf scene.  :You are about 30-45 minutes closer to Mammoth, making the drive 4.5-5 hours without traffic.  You are also close to Baldy.

San Diego is great too, with phenomenal beaches and surf.  Mammoth is about 1 hour further than Orange County, and Baldy is about 2.5 hours.  PB/MB/La Jolla are great spots to live.

I went to school in Santa Barbara, so I am partial to it.  You are about 6 hours from Mammoth, and 2.5 from Baldy.  The beaches are great, but the surf is inconsistent.

The thing about most of socal, is that you can have a real job.  The economy is huge, so you don't have to look at it as a timeout from the real world.
Jan 3 2011 1:26PM
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jerad
Posts: 3236 - Karma: 47
I live in Sacramento. It is sunny/warm here pretty much every day. It rained ONE day from April-October, with every day in between being bluebird sunshine without a cloud in the sky. I'm 1.5 hours from North Lake Tahoe or South Lake Tahoe, so can ski whatever side of the lake I want on a whim. I-80 runs straight to North Lake while US-50 runs straight to South Lake. You're also 90 miles from the coast as well, so in the summer can make day trips to pretty much anywhere on the northern coast to surf. A lot of people hate on Sac, but being from the east coast I absolutely love it. There is so much to do all year round... whether you ski, bike, surf, play golf, whatever. The cost of living here is also a FRACTION of what it is in other cities around California (San Fran, LA, whatever).

If you have any questions shoot me a pm!
Jan 3 2011 1:33PM
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bdubs
Posts: 117 - Karma: 28
If you haven't got all your partying out of your system in college, I'd recomend living on the South Shore of Tahoe for the winter and hang on the coast in the summer.

Sounds like southern CA would be a good fit for you if you like beaching it. San Fran is awesome, but doesn't have the warm beaches/water of southern CA.

If you got most of the partying out of your system, live on the North Shore of Tahoe and move to the coast during the summer.

South lake is fun, but unless your willing to travel to Kirkwood or go a bit further north, Heavenly is your only option... Fun mountain, but it can get old 50+ days in... North shore mt's don't get old (Squaw and Alpine), but the night life is a bit more low key.

Living in Tahoe year round can be a blast as well. Beaches all around the lake, but the water can be pretty chilly...

This was my plan when I graduated and it worked well for me. South Shore living was cheap too. We found mtn side lodging up on the nevada side for $300 per-month (if you have roomates.


Jan 3 2011 2:04PM
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jreilly
Posts: 1165 - Karma: 619
Well if your looking for beach and ski oregon is really a great place. Live in portland. 1 hour to the beach. 1.5 hours to mt hood meadows. Hour to ski bowl etc
Jan 3 2011 2:21PM
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Z-Juice
Posts: 3151 - Karma: 1,504
my friend lives near Sacramento. He says he likes it alot and it's accesible to alot of ski areas even though he doesn't ski alot
Jan 3 2011 2:23PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 12021 - Karma: 9,498
chico
Jan 3 2011 2:33PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
No offense but you're on a skiing website with a shit ton of posts.  Which means that southern california should be out of the question.  Yes they have good parks but if you want real skiing you have to ski tahoe.  In which case you should live in the bay if you want surfing as well.  LA is still cold as fuck for surfing too, don't kid yourself and think if you go down there the water will be board shorts weather.  If you live in the east bay (oakland or walnut creek) south lake is pretty close and I can get to kirkwood in under 3hrs if there is no traffic/snow (this year there has been a lot of snow).  That being said ocean beach is REALLY close if you live in san francisco which is amazing surfing and santa cruz is an hour and half ish.  Dude bay area, without a doubt.  Sac would be nice but there job market isn't as big and night life isn't as good.
Jan 3 2011 2:49PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
+karma to all again. really liking the solid answers. im starting to think that living in a ski related part of california for 6 months and living in a sun/beach related part of california for the other 6 months is the way to go. bumping again, maybe the last time
Jan 3 2011 3:01PM
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tandan83
Posts: 2783 - Karma: 141
If that's what you're looking for, do 6 months per year in Mammoth and 6 months down in OC or somewhere in socal. You can't lose with that combo.
Jan 3 2011 3:05PM
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whegrodamus.
Posts: 933 - Karma: 12
Valencia is pretty decent, you got magic mountain right there, mt high which is just one big park altogether is about 1 hour away. Mammoth is 4 and half hours away which isnt too bad. It just snowed here yesterday which is pretty odd but you get that every once in a while, thankfully i had enuf to set up a jib! Baldy is within an hour and a half, bear is about 2-2.5 hours away. Our mall is pretty legit its getting bigger. Our skatepark is hugee!
Jan 3 2011 3:36PM
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whegrodamus.
Posts: 933 - Karma: 12
sorry didnt read original, beaches are w/in hours. Oxnard/Thousand Oaks somewhere in there you could be about 30 mins to the beach, but like 40mins further to mammoth.
Jan 3 2011 3:37PM
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PC.
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 18
I grew up in OC my entire life, living in Irvine/Tustin for 22 years. OC Is great, great atmosphere, lots of fun to be had. However, the ski experience here is unlike any other I've seen. Skiers at Bear are definitely frowned upon by some, and its 95 percent snowboarder. There's a definite bro attitude up there, but its also almost ALWAYS sunny, great park, and TONS of fun can be had every day you go. I love Bear, it is my home mountain and made me into what I am.

Living in OC, especially Huntington, will be lots of fun, the beaches are nice (more specifically the women on the beaches), but you are looking at a hour and a half AT LEAST, probably alot more because of the 91 through Riverside and all the retards that take it everyday to commute to work. The mountain roads get crazy congested, and I always take 38 up, because 330 is a shithole of Asian drivers who don't know what they fuck they're doing, even on dry roads.

You could live somewhere along Chino Hills, which is sort of close to the beaches, but in Riverside county, so sort of near Bear, though I'd rather shoot myself than live in Riverside. I stay in Bear overnight or crash at my place back in Irvine; no in between.

Up North is great, and I love the scene that Redding/Chico has, super relaxed and Tahoe/Shasta isn't crazy far away. But let me assure you, Bear Mountain has a vibe to it that is unlike any other I've seen, and it's probably not for everyone. LA/OC crowds do ruin the place on Saturdays, but what mountain isn't packed on Saturdays?

Go for it, Ski and surf in one day, and if you see a 6'6 skier up on the hill, its probably me. GLuck
Jan 3 2011 5:18PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
i chuckled at some points in your response haha
Jan 3 2011 6:39PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
+k once again
Jan 3 2011 6:39PM
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awesomeness17
Posts: 639 - Karma: 27
I live in the Thousand Oaks area and its really easy to get to the Malibu beaches, which can be pretty good, I wouldn't say that they are that great though. Skiing is about 1 hour and a half a way at Mt. High and less than 6 hours for Mammoth. If you really want good skiing close I wouldn't recommend it though. But it is a nice area, it's more for families though.
Jan 3 2011 6:58PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
Ever heard of a place called Mammoth?  It is 5-6 hours from socal.  Not quite as close as the bay is to Tahoe, but still not too far away.  Mammoth is very doable for weekend trips, much more so than Tahoe.  So no, if you want real skiing you don't have to go to Tahoe.  I think it is a bit silly to recommend the bay because of Tahoe access, but not mention the fact that Mammoth is almost as doable from socal as the tahoe is from norcal.

The water in LA is cold in the winter, but not bad in the summer.  Most of the summer you are talking mid to high 60's, which is spring suit water.  Orange County is similar, maybe slightly warmer.
Jan 3 2011 7:15PM
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SkiThe603
Posts: 5376 - Karma: 498
Just like everyone else i am going to answer with MAMMOTH best place to be
Jan 3 2011 7:17PM
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Panda-Please.
Posts: 179 - Karma: 18
Monterey or Santa cruz, both nice homey feeling towns on the pacific ocean. Its freezing, but its the beach. its about a 5 hour drive to tahoe from each of them, while there is also the option of san Francisco bay area, much more expensive housing, weather is much colder prob 10-20 degrees on any given day, but only a 4 hour drive to tahoe (with about either a 30 minute drive to a colder san Francisco beach vs a 1hr drive to santa cruz)
Jan 3 2011 8:23PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
You're from New Hampshire, wtf do you know about anything?

watch edit online
recommend place I've never been
become tom wallisch?
Jan 4 2011 1:02AM
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ski_ENDUB
Posts: 2535 - Karma: 86
Please, I've skied mt hood in the morning and surfed the Oregon coast in the afternoon before, easily doable and we've got waves
Jan 4 2011 1:07AM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Cons
+ more hours to skiing (he wants a decent sized hill), 13 less resorts. Less snow. More people, a FUCK ton more expensive.

Pros
Supposedly warmer surfing water(I checked the temps in august out of curiousity and they were 4 degrees warmer august 15th from the bay surf spots to LA surf spots), slightly better snow quality, bigger breasts on women

Decide what you want.

Oh mammoth is the same distance for LA people as it is for SF people.


Jan 4 2011 1:18AM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
LOL at people suggesting Southern California
Jan 4 2011 2:57AM
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EClay46
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 69
lol, he mentioned souther california himself..
orange county sounds perfect for you, great beaches, decent bar scene(watch out for yuppy douche bags), mammoth is 5-6 hours away and bear and mt high are from 1-2 hours away from pretty much all of orange county.

i live in huntington, its great. in hb on any given day there are rideable surfing waves and on occasion the place goes off, not only this but trestles is 45 minutes away so you can head down there when hb is maxed out or you just want to go surf a world class break. i know this is a skiing website, but living in california, with an exception to living in the immediate vicinity of a mountain, you cant ski every day.. but you can surf, and thats a good way to pass the time in between ski days.

mt high and bear are far from world class ski resorts but they get the job done in between your trips to mammoth, and if it snows you can head to baldy for some quality skiing(permitting its open of course). while baldy cant compare with the shear vertical you'd get at mammoth, it shits on most mountains back east, hell even though everyone bitches about mt high and bear they really arent that bad compared to the east coast. soft snow, warm weather (girls in bikini's), and a pretty decent park. sure there are a lot of snowboarders, and a lot of them are those "socal" yuppies the true snowboarders have become a lot more receptive to skiers.

Even though mammoth is roughly 6 hours away, the drive really isnt bad at all. The one bit of the drive that is less than favorable is through LA and the inland empire, however all the south land traffic can be avoided. I usually leave about midnight, leaving at midnight you beat the traffic, and you get there a few hours before opening which gives you time for a little nap before you ski. I'm sure i dont need to tell you about skiing at mammoth, bluebird most days, and when it snows, it snows!

Orange county really is a great place to live as a skier.

also, there's mountain biking and hiking all over in and around orange county
Jan 4 2011 3:29AM
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Token
Posts: 41 - Karma: 10
definitely would recommend the bay area or santa cruz. fast and easy to get to the beach. living in sf would be cool too. its only 3 hrs from tahoe to sf, and like 3 1/2 hrs to the south bay when traffic is good. mammoth is sick but there are many more options in tahoe. when squaw and alpine are on wind hold, homewood and flatstar (N*) are usually open top to bottom. or u can go party at the casinos in south lake.

plus sugar bowl and bear valley are even closer to the bay.
Jan 4 2011 3:36AM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
I have a funny story about the water in August.  I went on a vacation, and got back August 12.  Before I left, the water was typical for OC in August, high 60's.  When I cam back, I surfed the first Saturday I could.  My buddies had pulled a Friday dawn patrol in HB.  They told me the water had been 54!!!!  I was glad I asked, and brought my fullsuit, because I almost just assumed the water was fine and brought my spring.

This August/September period was VERY unusual for socal.  Sometimes the temperature will plummet to 60 in the summer, but it will usually warm back up within a day.  This year, we had a month of water temps around 60, which is incredibly rare.  So the day you happened to check, August 15, just happened to be in an incredible cold spell.  Don't take that too seriously, as month long periods of 58-60 water basically don't happen in socal.  Had you checked it before, or after the cold spell, you would have seen a normal 66-69 temp for OC.  So you just happened to check it at a very odd time.  Don't read too much into it, as that is very far from normal.

You can usually count on high 60's or low 70's water in socal from mid June until early October.

I don't know how people from the bay get to Mammoth in 5 hours.  The ways through the mountains are usually not accessible during the winter.  The only winter way I know of is to go to Reno, then south, which takes about 7 hours if the conditions are good.  The problem with that, is that the 395 goes up to about 8600 feet in spots, so it can be very treacherous in the winter.  The nice thing about the drive from socal, is you almost never hit weather until you are very close to Mammoth, like 20 miles past Bishop.  It would be sketchy to do the bay drive to Mammoth on a regular basis.

It really does not matter though:  If you are in the bay, just go to Tahoe.  I actually prefer Tahoe to Mammoth, although both are sick.

I usually leave for Mammoth at 4am.  Like I said, it is a 5:15 to 5:30 trip, driving somewhat cautiously.  The bay to Tahoe is more like 4 hours, although it can be 8 if the traffic is horrible.  If being an hour and a half closer to the mountains is important, choose the bay.  If access to the beach/warmer water is preferable, choose socal.

Whichever you choose, I strongly advise you to do a season at a big, western mountain.


Jan 4 2011 1:12PM
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jimmer
Posts: 3586 - Karma: 80
I grew up in Turlock, which is right in between Sacramento and Fresno. Pretty flat, boring place. Mostly farmland, but since my family farms, it's great. I have been able to surf and ski in the same day, but it was a pain in the ass. I pretty much something you do just to say you did.

One place to look into is Sacramento. I think it's a pretty rad city. It's low key at times, but there is definitely fun to be had. Depending on where you go and how bad the traffic is because of the asians, you can get to some awesome Tahoe resorts within a couple hours, and there is some pretty good surfing over on the coast, although it is a bit of a drive.

San Francisco is my favorite city in the world, but the drive is usually like 2.5-3 hours. But the traffic with all the asians will kill you.

LA area is really cool, but I dunno if I'd live there. Too many people all over the fucking place, it would be a bit overwhelming. I love Northern California, because the balance between big cities and awesome scenery is incredible. I have Yosemite, Tahoe, Big Sur, San Francisco, Big Trees, and a good amount of surf spots within a couple hours. It's awesome here.
Jan 4 2011 1:46PM
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jimmer
Posts: 3586 - Karma: 80
Correction, drive from San Francisco is AT LEAST that long. Usually longer.
Jan 4 2011 1:50PM
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jibnut
Posts: 3038 - Karma: 304
When I used to live in Cali, Mt. High was only like a 2 hour drive and I lived maybe 5 minutes from Disneyland. I never got to any mountains while I was down there because Disney enslaves you, but I had friends who would work nights and go up in the AM on days. I think it's a hell of a lot of driving, since my mountains only like an hour away on busy days. If you want to live the SoCal life, live in orange co or all the surrounding beach towns. Shits expensive though. So be prepared to drop a ton of money once you move there even just on an apartment.
Jan 4 2011 2:10PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
I live in the bay. My drive is 2:15 on a really good day, 2:30 to 2:45 is average. Not a bad drive at all
Jan 4 2011 2:41PM
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*valkyrie*
Posts: 229 - Karma: 51

I can only speak for so cal because that's where I am from but...

What he's saying is pretty spot on. I gerew up in north orange county, but I skied the most when I was in college going to Cal Poly Pomona. Our ski/snowboard club would several times a year do the "perfect day" thing and ride in the morning and go to the beach in the afternoon.  Pomona was 40 mins from Baldy, about and Hour from Mtn. High and 1:45 from Bear and about an hour from Newport so I would say it is one of the more centrally located places in So. Cal to riding and surfing. To be honest though going and doing both activities in one day is tiring and unless you go to mtn. high you have to deal with some degree of mountain driving (and if it snows at all plan on at least doubling you drive time).

My last year in college I did weekend trips to mammoth nearly every weekend from october until august.  If you don't mind driving, the drive isn't bad at all, I would average about 5:15 to 5:30 from my house in Pomona to Mammoth.  To me Tahoe was just a little too far for just a weekend trip (don't get me wrong I love skiing there, but I only go about 3 times a year), not to mention driving around the lake can be slow at times. The only thing is that doing that can be ratehr costly unless you have a place to stay and a very economical car.

Northern and central california (except the coasts) would probably be much more affordable than so cal, but I feel if you really want to ride and get the beach atmosphere that you seem to be looking for so cal might be the answer.

Jan 4 2011 3:03PM
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.[sanhedrin].
Posts: 1654 - Karma: 938
I also want to echo what has been said already: first - the scene at Bear/Snow Summit is almost entirely snowboarders. Second - the "ski" scene in SoCal is almost completely non-existent. Finding a descent shop that carries a variety of twintips is impossible! REI is the only shop in all of Orange County with a selection (and even it blows). I heard Big Bear has a few shops like Getboards, but there isn't anything else. It was maddening to see just how much snowboarding shut there was and nothing for freeskiers. I left Irvine for SLC because I couldn't fuckin take it anymore.
Jan 4 2011 6:18PM
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matthew.
Posts: 879 - Karma: 12
so cal!! used to live there and you cant beat it.

bear- 2 hours away
mammoth- 6 hours
Jan 4 2011 6:31PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
How fast do you drive?  And where do you live?  My friends on the peninsula(south of SF) usually take 3.5 hours without traffic.  That is driving 75 or so, so reasonably safe. 

Also, when you mention 'Tahoe' do you mean Sugar Bowl?  Sugar Bowl is probably 20-30 minutes closer than Squaw/Alpine, so that makes a difference too.

I guess if you live in Berkeley, leave off peak hours, and drive 85 that would make a big difference.


I confess that there are times I would really prefer to be up in the bay.  The 5.5 hour drive to Mammoth is without traffic(at 4 am) and it really does where on you eventually.  Doing that drive 2-3 times a month does get old, but the skiing is worth it so I keep doing it.  Whenever I hit Lone Pine, which is an hour and 45 minutes from Mammoth, I think "man do I wish I were there already."  The extra 1.5-2 hours does make a difference.


Jan 4 2011 6:52PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
profile says lafayette, which is near Berkeley. Still don't know how he does it in under 2:30 though... FASTEST I've ever done the drive from North Bay is right around 2:45 to Sugar Bowl.
Jan 4 2011 6:58PM
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jimmer
Posts: 3586 - Karma: 80
i call bulllshit
Jan 4 2011 7:28PM
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snowbladesforlife
Posts: 2033 - Karma: -3
I don't know where you're getting your water temps from, but you must be retarded if you think there is a 4 degree difference between SF and LA. Yes, the water was cold all summer in Socal, but it is still nowhere close to SF.

If you are going to move to Socal you will not ski. I went from skiing everyday to skiing 4 days a year, it just isn't worth it. Bear's rails are fun, but their jumps suck and you have to deal with all the traffic from the fucking valley folk in Temecula and Riverside. No, the snowboarders don't care about skiers there, at least if you aren't a gaper. Skiing is also expensive if you don't live right by the mountain, skiing up at Mammoth is pretty expensive unless you have a house or are rolling with 5 people every time, even then, I prefer to blow my money at the bar. In order to pay for it you're probably going to be working full time and that makes it that much more difficult/tiring if you're working 50 hours a week. Skiing really just isn't worth it when I can walk a block to beach though.


Also, you guys are telling him to move to the bay area to surf? How many of you people actually surf regularly there? He is not going to have fun surfing in that environment and in Socal the waves are crowded as fuck, so there is no ideal situation. Where did this whole sensationalism for surfing come from where you come from? I've seen people come out the midwest and east coast, realize surfing is much harder than looks, the water is cold or people send them home and are over it for life, I'm assuming that will happen here.

What I would do is move to the mountain for the winter then go to Mexico/Central America to surf for the summer. You can easily make it on 10 dollars a day for food, travel and lodging.


Jan 4 2011 10:23PM
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ThaLorax
Posts: 21083 - Karma: 8,459
i don't personally surf, but i have friends that surf frequently and there's good surfing within an hour of anywhere in the bay area. you just have to know where to go.
Jan 4 2011 10:26PM
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JRath
Posts: 55 - Karma: 22
Mamoth
Jan 4 2011 10:29PM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
Santa cruz is an hour and 15 from the east bay in non peak traffic an hour if you push it. Last time I checked santa cruz was pretty dope for skiing.

Again, you're on a ski website and if its between sf and LA SF wins everytime.
Jan 4 2011 10:37PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7816 - Karma: 1,534
I'd definitely do Santa Cruz/Aptos. You can go to Tahoe fairly easy, and if you feel like getting away from the crowds you can hit China Peak which is the closest resort to Santa Cruz.
Jan 5 2011 12:14AM
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EClay46
Posts: 2499 - Karma: 69
first off, to all you people talking about living in the bay and surfing, saying its only an hour drive, thats not how it works, at least not with surfing. if you surf you live like 20 minutes or less from your local spot. its not something you drive to do, its something that you can go do on a whim. "im bored, wtf am i gonna do? ill surf, its just 4 miles down the street." thats how it works, its not like skiing, its not a trip, unless you want to surf at some coveted break maybe 50-100 miles away.

on the note of surfing in the same day, livng in north oc, its easy to do that, really isnt that exhausting. back in high school, i used to surf, go to school, and ski in the same day, in high school! i was on surf team, so every morning we'd meet at the beach at 6:30, surf till like 8:30, head to school till like 12 or 2 then drive an hour up to mt high and you could put in a good 8 hours of skiing if you want( i'd usually ski about 4). it really wasnt that bad and you got to do two of the most fun things you could do in the same day
Jan 5 2011 1:56AM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
I agree about your comments with surfing needing to be close. Ocean beach is in SF and is really good surfing.

Jan 5 2011 10:27AM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
I too will attest to living in SoCal... I'd say go Laguna, Huntington, Manhattan, or Redondo if you want beach. Manhattan and Redondo are a bit cheaper than OC and its pretty quick to get to the 110 or 710 to get in/out of LA. 405 is a death sentence pretty much any time of the day. Oh, and if you dont live on the beach, parking in Redondo is free and really easy. I lived in Downtown LA and worked in Manhattan beach. We would have lunch at the pier at least once a week and always found parking instantly.

But yeah.. I lived in Mammoth the last 3 years and went down to LA around 3 times a month. Lived in LA before that and worked at MT high for 4 years. Last summer I moved down to LA in April and was in Mammoth pretty much every weekend until my last day which happened to be June 28th.
Jan 5 2011 11:45AM
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