With rugged beauty and consistent waves, Santa Cruz is a surfer’s paradise. Here’s where and when to get your board in the ocean, and how to respect the marine wildlife.

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum overlooks one of the most renowned surfing spots in Santa Cruz – Steamer Lane. Along with historic surfing photographs and boards, the museum features a bevy of ...

Every time a massive swell is forecast, Santa Cruz’s hard-charging, big wave surfer Alessandro “Alo” Slebir can hardly contain himself.

Far from the best wave in Santa Cruz, unless you are a beginner (in which case this is where you should surf). Gets swell year round, but summer and autumn tend to be best.

Santa Cruz big-wave surfer Alessandro “Alo” Slebir, right, holds hands while praying with tow-in partner Luca Padua before they head out to surf during a historic swell at Mavericks, located ...