Finally! Surf Clubs Hit the West

When former pro surfer Julie Cox moved up to the Bay Area from Southern California, she quickly became a regular in the lineup at Pacifica’s Linda Mar Beach, just south of San Francisco. “On my drive back into the city for work I’d be schlepping a frozen wetsuit and board dreaming about a hot shower,” she says. Born out of her own personal needs, she launched Traveler Surf Club & Coastal Outpost in 2016 with clothing designer Rel Lavizzo-Mourey. The 1,200-square-foot space, located steps from Linda Mar, offers members board storage, lockers, showers, and a sauna. There’s also a retail component stocked with apparel and surfboards from California shapers, and rentals and lessons are available even to nonmembers. “We originally imagined this as a place to rinse off, store your board, check your email in the backyard,” says Cox. “But it’s evolved into a real community.” The popularity of the concept led to a second location in Malibu that debuted this March at Surfrider Beach, just out in front of the popular surf break First Point. Day pass from $25; Pacifica membership from $75/month, plus $150 for storage; Malibu membership from $90/month, plus $175 for storage.

3 More Clubs to Try

1. Cosube, Portland

More hangout than membership club, Cosube rents boards online or via your phone. Pick up a coffee and surf wax when you collect your gear, and grab a growler of craft beer when you return. 

2. Long Beach Lodge Surf Club, Tofino

Both members ($100/month) and guests ($20/day) can use the lockers and sauna at this club on Cox Bay Beach. Newbies can book lessons and rent wetsuits and surfboards.

3. Up North Surf Club and Beer Garden, Portland

This hip surf shop pours craft brews, including its own signature lager, and its surf cams stream the swell at local spots. Film screenings and tap bring the urban surf community together.