HB Cliffs Surf Photography

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Tim O'Toole, thirty-five year water veteran and HB local has a

passion for surfing and the history of surfing her in Huntington Beach.  This keeps him close to the HB Cliffs, North side, Taco Bell reef, Golden west Street wear the wave action is.

 

 

Oh, and occasionally he can be seen taking the Trolley or out on South Side of Seal Beach pier in late February if you catch his drift.

He is constantly torn between stopping the action with a click of his shutter or hitting the cove and getting some on his own. 

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Links to find your way...

Find Archived Huntington Cliffs Surf Photos

Latest Surf Photos taken at the Cliffs

Rip Mamma's Surf Photos taken at the Cliffs

Buy your Surf Photos DOT PHOTO

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The HB Cliffs ...

It is not always a good idea to pack the car with a bunch of goofballs and expect to surf this break and make your quota of waves. 

The more you bring the more chance they are going to get on your wave.  The local's have got this place down and you really need to be on "top of your game" to surf the cove, the gap or Trolley's. 

If you do everyone in your car is going to try and catch their quota and that is never a good way to approach surfing here at the HB Cliff's! 

 

SURF TIP: If you are just starting out Give Bolsa Chica state beach a try or do everyone a big favor and go surf north of Tower 26 until you get the hang of surfing. 

 

There is an Ohana that dates back to the early 60's and spans several generations out in the water here! 

 

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Between Tower 22 and Tower 26

This is HB Cliff's and it is an advanced surf break an only the highly experienced surfers should attempt surfing this area! 

• Surfers who know how to get into position not fall on the drop and can control their surfboard with out hitting or running over people should be on a surfboard. 

• You should know how to paddle back out without getting in the way of surfers surfing incoming waves.

Oh!, and give us all a chance to surf by...

• Call yourself off the wave if you do not have it or another surfer has out positioned you and you are not in the best position for the wave.  This gives other surfers a chance to make something out of the wave;)

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Still on other days the HB Cliffs ...

can hold a whole bunch of surfers, butt ski's, water walkers, 1/2 men, sponges, body surfers, air mattresses, the lifeguard boat and even have room for the out of town surfer whose dog doesn't like being left on the beach and decided to go for a paddle out in the line-up!

When the south swells begin in earnest and it is 2' to 4' and consistent, everyone seems to be catching good waves!  The place can take on a St. Simon and Jude's Carnival atmosphere.

 

The cliffs can hold a whole bunch of surfers and even have room for the "Dog People!" too! When the south swells begin in earnest and it is 2' to 4' and consistent, everyone seems to be catching good waves!  The place can take on the atmosphere of a Saint Simon and Jude Fall Carnival.

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HB Cliff's Photography surf story...

While shooting at the HB Cliffs a few weeks ago, I came across this young surfer walking up the beach. 

What drew my attention to this lad was that as he was walking toward me when I saw something swirling around behind him in the stiff off-shore winds.  This thing was swinging back and forth behind him. 

It was something I have not seen easily in thirty plus years. 

This kid was wearing a pair of O'Neill long johns and had a beaver-tail jacket, circa 1974, over it.  I thought I had just been beamed back to 1974 in a time machine or something.  Well, I had to check this out, so I walked over to him and chatted a bit. 

Trevor told me the wetsuit was a "retro" wetsuit which he got at HSS.  I told him thanks for taking me back to my surfing childhood and told him to go catch some waves. 

Wow, I was in hog heaven watching this kid surf in that good o'l beaver tail swinging in the wind behind him.  The kid had a healthy "go for it" attitude and surf pretty well to boot.