There is a diversity of terrain under the water at Pipes. From large boulders in the line up to soft sand, this lineup seems to capture it all. A lot of the terrain differs from season to season. In our Summer cycle, the beach is almost all sand with little to no rocks in the water. Because the sand is brought in, it fills in the little holes and reefs that usually are exposed in Winter time. In the Winter season, much more of the reefs and rocks are exposed and while sand will still be present, the rocks are much more noticeable. The reefs are nothing to be scared of, they consist of large rocks that are all mostly rounded and smooth on the edges. Some rocks have barnacles growing on them which can cause a cut or two on your feet but for the most part, the reefs at San Elijo are fairly subtle and calm. There is one aspect that I'd like to note. After or during larger sized swells, the inside section of San Elijo can create a sort of canyon about half way out in the water. While walking in the water on your way out to the outside, there can often be holes or small drop offs that you can easily fall into. These holes or canyons shouldn't be considered dangerous, but caution should be taken while walking out, so just lean on your board - that way you can just transfer weight if you step into one. It might save a turned ankle. The Surf: Best Tide: Low to Medium Best Swell Directing: West and Northwest swells are fun and usually very clean but a South swell can also provide for a very fun day of surf at Pipes Best Winds: No wind is best but if any, a East wind will do wonders. Best Size: Anywhere from 2 - 8 feet. At around 8 feet, the waves begin to close out and it becomes near impossible to get a decent ride. Best Months to Catch it Going Off: Because of the direction of this spot, it's surfable year around but best in the Winter months.

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