Lower Trestles is the chosen venue to run the surfing program in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The iconic high-performance surf break located three miles (4.8 kilometers) southeast of San Clemente in California will host surfing’s third consecutive appearance in the Olympics after Tokyo 2020 (Tsurigasaki Beach) and Paris 2024 (Teahupoo).

The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee analyzed the options, including Huntington Beach Surf City USA, and reviewed the process.

Once the decision was taken, it was validated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board and the International Surfing Association (ISA).

Lower Trestles is the most consistent wave of San Onofre State Beach, a stretch of coastline that also features Cottons, Uppers, Middles, and Church.

It features hollow bowling left-handers and long steep right-handers on which surfers can unleash their arsenal of tricks and maneuvers.

Lowers is Southern California’s most treasured competitive surfing arena and has been hosting elite contests for several decades.

“This decision furthers the existing trajectory of hosting Olympic Surfing in iconic ocean waves,” noted Fernando Aguerre, the ISA president.

“The perfect peak at Lowers offers a high-performance canvas like no other in Southern California.”

The All-In-One Wave

The official state sport of California will see Olympic surfers competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals in a spot named after an old wooden trestle bridge that used to carry trains across what is today the San Onofre State Park.

The famous local A-frame wave shines with S-SW swells, E-NE winds, and medium-low to medium-high tides.

Spring and summer are the best times of the year to surf Lowers, but the highly competitive and sometimes aggressive lineup makes it hard to get the best rides.

When the conditions align and the shoulder-to-double head-high waves rise, there’s virtually nothing an advanced surfer can’t do at Trestles.

Of all the renowned California waves, Lowers is probably the most reliable option for the Summer Olympics.

Although it is inaccessible by car, it offers outstanding natural grandstands for the public to witness the 2028 Olympic surfing competition.

Interestingly, the Golden State’s legendary cobblestone surf break is mentioned in one of the many The Beach Boys surf-inspired hit songs: “Surfin’ USA.”

Despite the request to include longboard surfing in the official Olympic program, the IOC rejected the possibility.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com