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Mitchell's Cove 89.1

#851 of 5753 surf spots in the world · 🇺🇸 United States of America · California · near Santa Cruz

Works almost every day, clean mornings are the norm, no off season.

Works all yearIntermediate
Surf score89.1 /100
Surfable days100% of the year
Clean days60% groundswell + friendly wind
Groundswell62% period 11 s+
Typical size1.6 m 5.1 ft median
Water14°C a 4/3 with boots

Best time to surf Mitchell's Cove

The best time to surf Mitchell's Cove is January, March, November. The season runs Sep to May. In January the water sits around 14°C, so pack a 4/3 with boots, and the typical wave is 2.2 m. The nearest airport is SJC (48 km) and the nearest town is Santa Cruz (3 km).

MonthSurfableCleanSizeWaterSuit
Jan98%83%2.2 m14°C4/3
Feb99%68%1.8 m14°C4/3
Mar100%75%1.8 m13°C4/3
Apr100%69%1.6 m14°C4/3
May100%48%1.7 m12°C5/4
Jun100%30%1.5 m12°C5/4
Jul100%32%1.3 m13°C4/3
Aug100%38%1.2 m15°C4/3
Sep100%57%1.3 m16°C4/3
Oct99%70%1.5 m15°C4/3
Nov99%75%1.6 m14°C4/3
Dec99%66%2.1 m14°C4/3

Why 89.1

Seven parts, each normalised 0 to 1 and weighted; the sum is scaled so the best spot in the world is 100.

Consistency 26%
26.0
Clean days 24%
24.0
Groundswell 12%
12.0
Season spread 10%
10.0
Wave size 8%
4.5
Water comfort 10%
0.6
Access 10%
9.8

The detail

Faces 165° with 42% open water around it. Friendly morning wind 96% of days. Mean peak period 12.0 s. Days over 3 m: 4%. Mellow days (0.4 to 1.2 m): 18%. Months that work: 12 of 12. Coordinates 36.950, -122.043 (OpenStreetMap).

Spots nearby

The Wedge🇺🇸 United States of America · score 88.8Steamer Lane🇺🇸 United States of America · score 88.8Natural Bridges🇺🇸 United States of America · score 89.3Cowells cove🇺🇸 United States of America · score 87.8
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