Los Angeles - Santa Monica
United States
Los Angeles
Santa Monica is an iconic spot on the beach of Los Angeles, with its famous pier dominating the horizon. It is a very popular place for tourists and locals, perfect for combining a kite session and a stroll along the waterfront.
The beach stretches for several kilometers of fine sand, lined with a lively promenade. Riders come here for its accessibility in the heart of the city, even if the wind is not always present.
The atmosphere is relaxed during the week, but it gets crowded on weekends.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
- 🟢 10–16 nds : vent faible mais navigable (notamment en foil).
- 🟡 16–22 nds : plage idéale, conditions confortables pour la majorité.
- 🔴 22–28 nds : vent fort, réservé aux riders expérimentés.
- 🟣 28+ nds : conditions extrêmes, navigation engagée.
Localisation & Points d'intérêt
Informations utiles
chopchopThe spot of Santa Monica is oriented westward, making it sensitive to onshore or side-on winds coming from the southwest to west. The wind typically blows 8-10 knots all year round, but it is often onshore, making launching difficult with chop right from the shore.
The navigation area extends along the beach, but you must stay away from the pier and swimming zones. Launching is done directly from the sand, easily accessible with nearby parking. Favor areas north or south of the pier to take off, where the space is more open. Be cautious of the swell from the west-southwest that creates waist high to overhead waves, best at low tide.
The water surface is generally choppy due to side-on wind and offshore boat traffic. In summer, south swells bring more consistency, but the spot remains irregular. Tides have little influence, but mid to high tide is preferable to avoid close outs near the shore.
Ideal conditions are a light NE offshore wind at 10-15 knots with WSW swell. Favor mid to high tide for a cleaner water surface.
The water surface is often choppy with soft waves and closing out, especially in winter. In summer, south swells bring cleaner waves waist high.
Best at low tide for beach breaks that peel to the right.
The currents are moderate with possible rips near the pier and jetties. The tides are low, with an amplitude of around 1-2m, having little impact on navigation.
Be cautious of rips after swells.
Opt for sizes 9 to 12m² given the light winds 8-15 knots. Go up to 12-14m on calm days, down to 7-9m if gusty.
The wind is onshore most of the time, coming from the southwest or west, with average speeds of 8-10 knots. It gains strength in spring and autumn, sometimes up to 15 knots offshore from the northeast, ideal but rare.
No specific local name, but thermal winds pick up in the afternoon during summer.
The climate of Santa Monica is Mediterranean, with hot summers around 25-30°C and mild winters around 15-20°C. Rainfall is rare, concentrated in winter, but bacteria levels rise after rain due to storm drains.
It is navigable all year round, but summer offers the best chances with south swells.
The depth is gradual with a sandy bottom. You can stand a good distance from the shore, ideal for launching.
The water is at 16-18°C in winter and spring, rising to 18-22°C in summer. A shorty or 3/2mm wetsuit is sufficient all year round.