Malibu vs. Doheny: Which Is More Crowded?
Crowds are the eternal bane of surfers.
More people = less waves. And when it comes to southern California, there’s two spots that top the charts when it comes to most notoriously crowded: Doheny and Malibu.
But which is more crowded? LA-based surf filmer Brad Jacobson investigates.
Although there’s no statistical formula for deciphering which spot is more crowded, or which has the worst crowd, the investigation does conclude with some insights.
Malibu:
“In Malibu, you’ll find a variety of humans spanning from hippies to yuppies," says Jacobson. "Malibu isn’t known for beach volleyball or barbecues, but rather, simply hanging out in the sand with a group of friends, telling stories about how much better it used to be when [Miki] Dora patrolled the lineup.”
Doheny:
“Doheny’s gentle waves, and shallow areas near the shore, make it super family-friendly. Doheny also has picnic and barbecue areas, making it the ideal place for a family day at the beach.”
Bottom line: both are crowded; both are more akin to an amusement park or a zoo or rush hour on the 405 freeway, than a surf spot. But there’s a couple caveats – for one, they attract different crowds: Malibu, generally more “advanced” surfers, since the wave is higher quality, but that doesn’t account for the entire lineup; Doheny, generally more geared towards beginners as its gentle waves suit that type of surfing.
Also, etiquette. Malibu has none, and surfers know when they are breaching it. Doheny, perhaps a little more etiquette? And if it’s broken – i.e. people snaking people – maybe the surfers are beginners and therefore less aware? Perhaps?
Different strokes.
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