Belmont Shore
Belmont Shore is kiting central for Southern California, but it is a great place to windsurf as well. The kiters need more space for each other than for windsurfers and the regulars are friendly. Most ocean windsurfers go to Cabrillo Beach or Seal Beach, but you will often see some windsurfers here–especially Christopher and Radko.
Classified as “bump-n-jump”, Belmont Shore is ideal for folks learning ocean windsurfing because the waves are very small (primarily wind-blown chop) with minimal shore-break, both due to a breaker jetty perimeter 2 miles out from the shore.
The prevailing wind is cross-onshore from the WSW. April through August, the wind is driven by the North Pacific High and thermal sea-breeze, mostly force 4 (11-15kn/13-17mph) with occasional days of force 5 (16-20kn/18-23mph). Winter winds only come with the storm fronts and the clearings behind them, but are usually force 6 (21-26kn/24-30mph) or higher, often from the South, turning the usual starboard jumping direction into port jumping.
You can rig on grass next to the Olympic-size indoor swimming pool near the pier. There is a gigantic metered parking lot between it and the Granada street launching ramp further down. Closer to Alamitos Bay is the Claremont ramp, a stretch of concrete running up to the water’s edge, but you’ll have to pay a lot to get vehicle access on it. Parking on Ocean Blvd. is free when you can find a spot.
WORD OF WARNING: Stingrays cruise the sand here, especially when the water is warm. So it is important to do the “Stingray Shuffle”: shuffle/slide your feet in and out of the surf instead of stepping up and down. Stingrays are more likely to swim away when you bump them rather than lash out when you step on them. If you do get nailed, put your foot in really hot water for a couple hours; it will absolutely kill the pain. The lifeguard shack across the street at Alamitos Bay has a hot water spout and bucket that really helps if you get stung.