49. Surfing Winter Waves at Point Dume, Malibu

Point Dume (pronounce doo-may) is the western terminus of Santa Monica Bay and has been an important landmark for navigators since 1793, a mere 26 short years after the art of surfing is said to first have been observed by Europeans in Tahiti.

Most likely not one thought remotely related to the above information ran through any of the minds of the many surfers who found them selves enjoying the winter waves off the beach on the east side of Point Dume.

Let me tell you these surfers have at least one thing in common; and that's how bad they want it.

To reach this I've-seen-it-referred-to-as supremo "secret" surfing spot one must find parking, carry their surf board along the Point Dume trail which leads to the stairs one must descend to step foot on the beach.  Of course, you could jump but seriously...DO NOT!

Luckily, once down the stairs the water is only yards (as in three feet to a yard) away.  If it is around low tide time, the surfer may forgo most of the paddling to reach the catch-the-wave area by walking the beach instead.

I was fortunate enough to be at the beach soon after low tide the day I was there.  By standing on one of the huge rocks, I was able to video the surfers closely.  As you watch the video, decide for your self if it looks like it was worth the hike for the winter waves these surfers continued to return to ride again and again.