The July 2009 issue of Surfer Magazine ranks the top ten surf towns in the United States; number one on the list is Santa Cruz. There are a total of four west coast towns on the list, four east coast towns, and two in Hawaii.

The complete list of surf town rankings is:

1. Santa Cruz, CA
2. Haleiwa, HI
3. Encinitas, CA
4. Paia, HI
5. San Clemente, CA
6. Kill Devil Hills, NC
7. Malibu, CA
8. Montauk, NY
9. New Smyrna Beach, FL
10. Ocean City, NJ

Why is Santa Cruz number 1? These lists are certainly subjective, and year-to-year the rankings can be expected to shuffle and rotate. But this year Santa Cruz holds the prime position for a variety of reasons.

– The first waves surfed on the USA mainland were surfed in Santa Cruz.
– The number and variety of surf breaks in the area is unsurpassed by any other town.
– The coast of Santa Cruz curves from the Pacific Ocean into the Monterey Bay. This gives it exposure to almost any swell angle. About the only swells that miss are those spawned by hurricanes off the Baja coast.

– There are as many or more rideable days in the calendar year as anywhere else. For example, the north shores of Hawaii, generally go dead silent during the summer months.
– Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point are just two examples of first-class point breaks in Santa Cruz.
– The largely undeveloped coast of north county hides multiple “secret” spots, with beach breaks, reef breaks, and point breaks all in abundance.
– The south county is home to wide expanses of sandy beaches, with shifty bars that make for rideable waves.

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