MALIBU

Malibu was selected as the first World Surfing Reserve because of the stellar quality of its waves, the seminal role it played in the birth of modern surf culture, the rich biological characteristics of its besieged inland wetlands, and the protective galaxy of locals caught in its gravitational field.

Gidget, the book and movie that helped lure hordes of newcomers to the sport, was set here. The shapers who designed the first high-performance surfboards (Bob Simmons, Joe Quigg, and Matt Kevlin, among others) conceived their revolutionary prototypes here. Miki Dora, the mid-century icon who still stands as surfing’s preeminent anti-establishment hero, learned to walk the nose here, and other legends like Lance Carson, Dewey Weber and Dale Velzy made Malibu their home.

Surfrider Beach at Malibu and the surrounding area is part of a complex ecosystem that includes the Malibu Creek watershed and Malibu Lagoon—the sediment from which created the point that sculpts Malibu’s machine-like waves. The entire area—from the surfline to the shore to the lagoon to the creek’s inland reaches—is rich in flora and fauna. Dolphins play in the surf. Pickleweed blossoms in the brackish wetlands. Black-necked stilts feed in the mudflats. Endangered southern steelhead spawn in the lagoon. Chaparral and sage scrub thrive upstream.

The community surrounding Malibu and the surf break is active and engaged, comprised of recreational and professional surfers, surf clubs, environmental groups, and other community organizations. The break is a source of pride and identity for locals, and the beach there serves as a de facto town hall for residents and visitors alike.