Prone spot in SANTA CRUZ ???
hey guys, I’m going to visit friends for a month in Santa Cruz. I know seaweeds are a problem. Any suggestions on where I could prone any kind of crappy wave not too far ( 1 h max drive ) from town???
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The beaches south of town usually have some good sandbars this time of year and there are a few spots north of town that can be foiled on the right days. In town Cowells is the main spot to foil but there isn’t much sand this year so it only works on lower tides and larger swells. It will also be mobbed with longboarders and beginners any time it is breaking so tread lightly if you go there.
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Manresa was the place I first learned to foil. Had some fun mushy days there on the high tide.
I’ve also seen a few fun waves while I was paragliding off Sand City down near Monterey - but never actually paddled out.
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What about Pajaro river mouth?
Ok thanks! About the beaches south of town any particular segment with more probable outside bank or literally anywhere along the all beach south?
Manresa is a good place to start
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Cali is sharky enough…. No need to tempt fate by surfing near a river mouth 
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Got it! And what about if I drive 1 or 2h any good option?
Davenport Landing 20 minutes north of town. Lookers right from beach “Vivian’s” can be foiled at certain tides/swells. Probably better suited to supfoil. It’s a crap wave for surfing, so you won’t be putting any salty longboarders out. Gets windy AF there in afternoon which is why its the go to winging spot. Has a nice easy channel to come in and out. Whitey will be circling you the entire time.
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Davenport is an option, but certainly not an ideal prone foil wave. Cowells on the right tide and swell is your best bet but tensions with surfers come and go there. Please stay off the longboarding peak and don’t ride close to the surfers. Secondly, just up the cliff the dog beach past the lighthouse can go off perfect for prone and rarely has surfers at the reef west end of the beach. Wadell can work amazing, but please please please stay away from the surfing peaks - some of the surfers there are not too happy about foilers and really there is no need to be near them. I’m talking about the surfing peak just in front of the parking lot and the reef south of the beach - just stay at least 100 meters away from surfers please.
A secret spot I don’t feel too bad about blowing up because I’ve never ever seen anyone there is just north of Greyhound Rock. Depends on conditions, can get blown out or crossed up with the wrong swell or tides. But it can also be epic foiling spot and absolutely nobody will bother you.
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Not a secret spot anymore, FUCK! 
ok, I hope to see you out there someday.
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The foil drives in cowells are wild!! Bobbing and weaving through the surf lineup 
Don’t forget to bring your Rottweiler to protect your car if you park in the lot!
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I was following this thread because I coincidentally was also traveling through Santa Cruz this week. Made it out to Cowell’s (midlength board, AFS 850, no foil drive) and it was insanely good. Didn’t get anywhere near the few long boarders that were out. Met the local foil drive crew who were so friendly and helpful - even got an ankle tow from one of them. Longest rides of my life - indicators to Cowells steps - and ended up being out there for four hours. Amazing spot, friendly folks, super easy to be respectful and keep plenty of distance from the long boarders. Arms and legs absolutely toast afterwards haha
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Already mentioned here, cowells or manresa are really fun. Check the cams. Wanted to add that the beaches south from Aptos (platform) through Sand Dollar are really fun, which includes Manresa. Also, moss landing could work if it’s not too big. Maybe Carmel beach if you are going that way.
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Worth noting that Asilomar can be really quite nice for foiling and in my opinion is one of the most beautiful beaches in California. But I’ve had more than one run-in with locals that think they own the spot even though I was far from anyone else.
Was the Local carrying a Toy Poodle under his arm while dressing you down!?
Promising lumps out back there, but crazy amount of kelp and seaweed in the shore dump breaks there and Spanish Bay. Beautiful blue water helps keep an eye out for large shadows.