You can’t really name the spots because they are on a need-to-know basis.

A native of San Diego, 21-year-old Ryan Filds talks about the surf around Sunset Cliffs. He says he enjoys surfing up and down the coast, and at Sunset Cliffs specifically, but can’t really name the spots because they are on a need-to-know basis. “Couple of the breaks you’re not really supposed to name, so just ‘The Cliffs.’”

According to Filds, the temperament of the local surfers depends on both the size of the swell and where you are in San Diego. “Depends on the break. Everyone from garbage is pretty accepting. The further south you go, it gets a little more hectic. And also, depends on the day — if it’s good or bad.”

Filds hasn’t had many major wipeouts in his two years of surfing, except for a concussion during a session up in Oceanside. “It was pretty average day surfing at Oceanside,” he recalls, “But I took a backside closeout barrel and got domed to the head, actually on that board. Just thankful I didn’t get knocked unconscious or anything”

Since recovering, Filds has spent time recharging on surf trips to Big Sur and continuing his freelance photography work for companies that represent surfing culture.