Overview
T-Street is a quirky, endlessly consistent break in downtown San Clemente, and it doubles as the central hub for the town's best surfers. When the rest of the coast goes flat, it still manages to cough up a rideable wave or two. A mix of sandbars, reefs, rocks and odd seaweed gardens gives the wave its shifting, unpredictable character, and it can transform from a mellow roller to a punchy barrel in the time it takes to do a bottom turn. Locals split it into three main zones: the Reef, Cropley's and the Beach House. It has long been a haven for bodyboarders as well as San Clemente's top pros.
When It Works
The spot draws swell from south through west-southwest to west-northwest (S-WSW-WNW) and works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 1.8 m / 6 ft, breaking over a mix of sand and rock to serve up both rights and lefts. On a strong south swell, lefts hit the outside reef, break slowly, then peel fast down the line over the inside rock shelf. Winter swells flip the script, offering long, workable rights off the reef that end in a collapsing shorebreak. Cropley's is strictly a winter wave, firing fast, zippy righthand peaks just north of the snack bar when the northwest direction lines up just right -- some swear it's T-Street's best wave, though it rarely comes together. South of the overpass, the Beach House sandbar throws wedgy lefts and rights on medium swells, usually less crowded and better suited to shortboards and bodyboards. It is a rare all-season spot, working spring through winter.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind, with a workable wind window running from north through east-northeast to east-southeast (N-ENE-ESE). It breaks across low, mid and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
T-Street suits just about everyone, from beginners to experts, and handles any board from shortboards and fish to funboards, longboards and bodyboards. Expect a moderately busy lineup when it works. The vibe is mostly friendly, though it can get competitive when the surf is on, and paddling out stays pretty mellow most days.
Access
The spot sits off Trafalgar Street in downtown San Clemente. There are about a dozen free parking spots close to the walkway, but once those fill up, metered parking is your only option.
