Manhattan Beach Pier

The break at Manhattan Beach Pier is a beach break with a sandy bottom that responds to southwest swell paired with easterly winds. Wave quality is highly dependent on sandbar development and swell direction—the spot tends toward closeouts and is less responsive to pure south swells, which are increasingly blocked by geographic shadowing. Winter brings more consistent groundswell in the 2- to 6-foot range, while summer typically offers smaller, gentler waves from one to three feet. The spot functions across all tide levels, though low to mid tide is generally preferred. Rip currents are a regular hazard, and the area draws crowds that can add to the challenges.

The Manhattan Beach Pier became a surfing destination in the 1940s during the early years of modern surfing. The pier itself, completed in 1920, provided a prominent local landmark. In the late 1940s, Dale Velzy, a pioneering surfboard shaper, began hand-crafting boards beneath the pier before opening a nearby shop around 1949 or 1950—an operation widely recognized as the first commercial surf shop. The South Bay Boardriders Club established its Summer Surf Off competition at the pier as part of the broader International Surf Festival, which began in 1962 and continues as a major summer event drawing organized competition.

Parking is readily available in city-managed lots at the pier, with metered spaces near the Upper and Lower Pier lots charging $2.50 per hour with a five-hour limit. Over 450 public parking spaces exist throughout the beach area. Public transit serves the location via Commuter Express and Beach Cities Transit routes. The pier sits at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and features accessible parking for disabled visitors.