Shifty sandbars

This World Junior Surfing Championship, back in California for the first time since 2005, will host competition October 11–18 south of the Oceanside Pier in four divisions: under-18 boys, under-16 boys, under-18 girls, and under-16 girls. Last year’s championships took place at La Lobería, Ecuador. Against 32 national teams competing, team Hawaii took home the overall win in both of the girl’s divisions.

Seeking to retain her under-16 crown, Mahina Maeda will lead team Hawaii to one of the most consistent beach breaks in Southern California. The surf in this stretch of North County features sandbars that move and shift. There are consistent breaks on the north end at the harbor’s north and south jetties and on both sides of the pier where the gradual bottom absorbs west and northwest swells and is angled to receive southwest swells.

Spectators free.