Knob Hill

Knob Hill features a fast, steep beach break with numerous sand-bar-dependent peaks running south from the jetty. A clean left peels off the jetty itself where most paddlers enter, while the beach breaks to the south offer shifting takeoff points that tend to close out quickly, particularly on the low tide when the bar pushes waves tight to shore. The spot works exclusively on northwest and westerly swell with shorter to medium periods; summer south swells are entirely blocked by the headland. East and southeast winds groom the face in early morning hours, making the windless dawn patrol the most consistent window.

The South Bay region including Redondo saw rapid surf culture development in the 1950s and beyond, with the area becoming a proving ground for established chargers like Greg Noll, Dewey Weber, and Mike Purpus throughout the 1960s. The broader Redondo Beach area holds significance in mainland American surf history dating back to 1907, when Hawaiian surfer George Freeth gave the first known wave-riding demonstration on U.S. shores.

Access to Knob Hill is straightforward via dedicated beach stairs on Knob Hill Avenue or Avenue C, both within a quarter-mile of the main parking zones. Metered street parking lines the Esplanade directly above the break, with additional paid public lots at nearby Miramar Park; true free parking is sparse and inconsistent. Once on the beach, the jetty's rip current simplifies paddling out compared to paddling through the shifting sand-bar zones to the south.