Since I am obliged to stay out of the water, recovering from shoulder surgery, I had not been to the beach in weeks. On Monday I couldn't take it anymore and decided to check out the swell in person.  I took some pix to share. These are my local breaks, Topanga and Sunset,  looking pretty good.

Man, why weren't you there Sunday? I would have loved the pics. Here's a Surfline replay of my session when it was macking.

That's me making it over one in the box.

hey, so tapango and sunset are SUP friendly, i m coming over from France in March to SUP surf, I normally go to bolsa chica and San ofre, but fancy trying somethign different next visit...

If you are allowed to reveal where is sunset? let me know if you want any tips for Brittany in France, and lucky for all of us, every break is SUP friendly... wave and people wise...

Yes both Topanga and Sunset are SUP tolerant (I would not go so far as SUP friendly) as long as certain rules are followed.

Topanga has two distinct sections, the point and the cove; SUPs are OK in the cove at all times, but not at the point. The only times you can SUP at the point is when there are only a few (4-6max) prone surfers, otherwise it becomes too crowded and you will be told in no uncertain terms to leave. Of course the only time there are that few surfers is when there are practically no waves. The cove only works when there is a good swell, and it gets fewer waves than the point, but SUPs pretty much own it when it is going off.

Sunset is really an ideal break for SUS. There is a point break at the far end and a series of beach breaks below that, so there is a lot of room, and SUPs are accepted everywhere, although the point is sensitive. I try to move around and not stay in any area too long, so as to not wear out my welcome. The waves, even when big, are user friendly. Double overhead at Sunset is not that threatening. When not big, the waves can be a little mushy and slow, making a SUP the ideal way to catch them.

Of course, normal surf etiquette should be observed at all times, in addition to an awareness of not being a dick by abusing the advantages of being on a SUP.

Neither spot is secret by any means, I am not revealing anything here.

Do you ever get  up to County Line?  That's where I always surfed when I was a teenager.

I surf County Line often. When the swell is from the west or northwest most of north Santa Monica Bay is blocked. I have to go past Point Dume to get to good surf, that means County Line. Either that or go south to El Porto, which I also do occasionally, although I prefer County. That happens often during the winter, which is when I am in my house in Santa Monica.

Does Sunset take a West, NW swell? Thought it was mostly a South swell spot
Those pics above of the recent swell was a N/NW swell, i believe.
I remember long boarding there years ago, I believe summertime (South swell).

Thanks fo the info, i want to go up to north LA and its important i chose wisely for my husband and I, we are low key SUP surfers....rather be on the shoulder having fun than in the pack....

yeah i m one for practicisng etiquette, tbh by time i manage to get the kids looked after and get in the water i want to be left alone, so i don t go actively looking for crowds, or trouble, if it means getting up early i d rather do that, if it means going on the shoulder or paddling a bit further i ll do that, believe as an harrased mother of 2 kids the last thing i want in the water is another toddler like interaction.....

I would recommend going out at Sunset and staying in front of the stairs, that is the most  appropriate spot for someone new.

Thanks for the tip. Do you mean the stairs just south of Gladstones?