Fernando Aguerre, president of the International Surfing Association (ISA), confirmed that Lower Trestles or Huntington Beach are the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic surfing program venue options.
The decision to run the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles was the cherry on top of the cake for the sport of surfing.
For surfers worldwide and Californians in particular, it was like the closing of a circle that started with Duke Kahanamoku popularizing board riding in the Golden State from 1913 to 1929.
Therefore, the possibility of surfing competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals in Southern California somehow feels like an emotional homecoming.
Although Hawaii is arguably the spiritual crib of the "sport of kings," it was on the US West Coast that it grew and started its planetary expansion.
The largest hub of the surfboard manufacturing industry is also a long stretch of coastline with diverse and consistent quality waves.
The number of rideable surf breaks spanning the 600-mile (956 kilometers) shore from Santa Cruz to Imperial Beach guarantees the Summer Olympics won't have problems crowning its men's and women's champions.
And let's not forget that surfing is the official sport of California.
But, with so many options to host the show, where exactly should LA 2028 build the scaffolding for the surf judging tower?
After the Paris 2024 experience, where surfers competed in Tahiti 9,765 miles (15,715.37 kilometers) away from the French capital, the ISA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had the opportunity to repeat the success formula.
The fact that the contest ran in the waves of consequence of Teahupoo only made surfing more appealing to TV audiences.
Who will ever forget Gabriel Medina's memorable kick-out captured by the lens of a photographer who happened to be in a boat, pointing his camera at the back of the wave?
So, learning from the positive impact Tahiti had, could LA 2028 mimic the previous Olympic surfing winning formula?
Would it be feasible to set up the Olympic camp in the wave-rich Oahu, 2,560 miles (4,120 kilometers) away from Los Angeles?
Interestingly, the answer is probably not.
The problem with surfing in Hawaii during the summer season is that the large swells only take place on the south shores, for instance, in Oahu.
The famous surf of the North Shore is generally flat or with small waves from May to October.
There would be options near Honolulu, but Southern California might have more chances of delivering the goods in July.
Comparing Ideal Swell and Wind Conditions
The decision to bring down the beach options for surfing in LA 2028 to Lower Trestles and Huntington Beach seems fairly reasonable and understandable.
Interestingly, they're two different surf spots offering distinct wave-riding dynamics.
But first, let's compare their ideal conditions:
Huntington Beach Surf City USA
- Swell Direction: SSE, S, SW with WSW, W, WNW;
- Wind: NE, Santa Ana;
- Wave Direction: 5-to-10 feet;
- Tide: Medium
Lower Trestles
- Swell Direction: S, SW;
- Wind: E, NE;
- Wave Direction: 5-to-12 feet;
- Tide: Medium-low to medium-high;
Despite the subtle differences - HB is more westerly, and Trestles is more southerly - they both welcome similar swell and wind conditions.
The most notable differentiation comes when you take off on a wave.
Huntington Beach: The Surf Stadium
Huntington Beach is the home of the US Open of Surfing. Surfers ride the local waves on the north and south sides of the pier.
The south side works best in winter swells, while the north side is favored during summer swells.
Both sides feature the pier bowl, a unique wave formation created by the pier structure, sandbanks, and currents, forming a fun, bending wave.
One of the most notorious characteristics - when the surf is good, paddling is relentless, with surfers drifting past lifeguard towers in minutes.
The waves here offer a mix of high-performance maneuvers, barreling, and air sections, and for those who dare to do so, you can always shoot the pier.
HB is a beach break with A-frame waves but randomly behaves as a point break.
Thanks to its urban location, it can attract dozens of thousands of spectators, transforming the dry sand space into a natural stadium.
Lower Trestles: The Natural High-Performance Arena
On the other hand, Lower Trestles, near San Clemente and 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Surf City USA, is surrounded by dunes and a railway track.
Lowers is a dream wave known for its near-perfect shape and is synonymous with high-performance surfing.
The cobblestone point break produces a consistently perfect peak with both lefts and rights, resembling an artificial wave.
The playground offers long, open faces for powerful turns, aerials, and endless maneuvers.
Lower Trestles works well on most swells, making it a go-to spot whenever waves are pumping.
Despite the crowd, surfing a wave at Lowers is a magical experience.
The wave quality makes it enjoyable for all types of surfers, from shortboarders to groms who absolutely rip.
Although it can hold fewer people watching from the beach, Lowers' high standards are worth running elite-level surfing contests.
Where to Run LA 2028's Surfing Program?
The decision to pick a site for the LA 2028 Olympic surfing program won't be an easy one.
The ISA and the IOC will have to balance two very even options, both of which have very undistinguishable pros and cons.
It could be wise to leave an open door to a potential backup venue format, though.
Having both waves open for Olympians in case weak swell forces jeopardize one of the surf breaks during summer could eventually minimize the chances of bad fortune taking over such an important moment in surfing history.
Fernando Aguerre and his ISA have been running events in Huntington Beach for a while now, so HB might have a slight lead over Lowers.
The call is tricky but will eventually have to be made - fingers crossed.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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