Best place to live surf and climb

I had the good fortune of going to college in Santa Barbara. I arrived with the intention of surfing every fricken day. Little did I know Santa Barbara doesn't get surf everyday, in fact the ocean is pancake flat for a lot of the year.

A few months into my freshman year I discovered rock climbing and found that I could do that on the sandstone boulders and cliffs in the hills above town a lot more consistently and easily than driving an hour north or south to find surf.

Since then, I've moved back to the SF where I do most of my climbing in the gym and only really surf in the fall when Ocean Beach gets good. I'd love to move somewhere's similar to SB maybe with better rock, more consistent surf and where I could get a job! Sydney, Australia seems to fit the bill, any other ideas?!

If you don't mind going international, then Cape Town, South Africa seems a major contender.

Cape Town is certainly one. Nowra, south of Sydney is another. I think Perth as well. But the hidden gem is northern Spain.

If you don't mind living in a conservative bubble with obnoxiously high cost of living... Orange County fits the surf/ climb bill pretty well. Newport/ Huntington/ San O for surfing, jtree/ tahquitz/ santa Monicas/ SB mountains all under 2hrs from your doorstep.

Orange County has some of the most consistent surf in the US. The closest good sport climbing is 30-45 minutes away (riverside quarry), and theres tons of awesome climbing within a 1-4 hour drive (jtree, bishop, redrocks). There are a few good gyms open already, and Sharma's gym should be open pretty soon. Jobs are easy to come by if your willing to work in the service industry, even better if you're in the tech sector. Unfortunately, rent is expensive, the air is smoggy and the lineup is usually pretty crowded.. But if you can handle that your life is pretty good.

going through this myself,have lived in arcata for 21 years but am ready for the change.
I was raised in berkeley and tripping that I'd consider moving back to the bay. but i'm a dad now, I miss access to the ditch and quick access to mavs when its breaking, plus OB to SC.
alot more culture but way to many people. maybe the santa cruz mtns. I dont know, it's late.
if only kauai and squamish were melted together.

Northern California seems to have a large amount of Surf & Climbing that is alot less crowded than most areas.

New Hampshire & Rhode Island- Top notch East Coast Winter/Fall swell with Bouldering & Trad. But it is East Coast so smaller in surf and stone.

North Shore Oahu- Waves half the year & a growing sport & Bouldering community.

Orange County- brought up already.

New Zealand- Pretty easy if you have a useful degree to get a job & visa. Population is lower than Australia which makes life easier in the water. Safer than South Africa.

I like this post. I wonder if there is anywhere in S. America that could fit the bill? Trying to plan a 3 month getaway with girlfriend, kid, girlfriend's ex (kids dad) and his lady... main concern would be to be able to surf daily, since i live in Boulder throughout the year, but some sport/trad/boulder nearby would be a HUGE bonus.

What about Asia? Thailand,Taiwan, even the Philippines are options. Also it's super cheap to fly from one country to another.

Spain

San Diego!!!

More or less the same reasons people have already said OC. Great year-round surf. Great local climbing if you're willing to put in a little effort. Close enough to major destinations around the state.

germsauce wrote:I like this post. I wonder if there is anywhere in S. America that could fit the bill? Trying to plan a 3 month getaway with girlfriend, kid, girlfriend's ex (kids dad) and his lady... main concern would be to be able to surf daily, since i live in Boulder throughout the year, but some sport/trad/boulder nearby would be a HUGE bonus.

germsauce Epstein wrote: I like this post. I wonder if there is anywhere in S. America that could fit the bill? Trying to plan a 3 month getaway with girlfriend, kid, girlfriend's ex (kids dad) and his lady... main concern would be to be able to surf daily, since i live in Boulder throughout the year, but some sport/trad/boulder nearby would be a HUGE bonus.

I would like to bump this. Thinking about brushing up on my Spanish again and I saw above me someone said Rio. 

Does anyone else have suggestions for this? Seems like Chile might be a contender??

Unless you're Australian already don't expect to be able to work there as immigration into that country is almost impossible.  I've tried it and the company has to prove there are no locals available before they can offer a job to an outsider.  I also have a friend that attended college there and had to come back to America because no one would hire her.

Ok thanks for the heads up man! Im thinking more of staying in a hostel for a few months and just climbing and surfing. 

Oh yeah and Im hoping for a Spanish speaking South American country.

Santa Barbara is 20 minutes from the best righthand point break in the US. There's a reason Patagonia HQ is in Ventura. Most of Malibu was within an hour. You might need to reorient your thinking about proximity and surf--you have to make an effort to drive a little to find surf, much like you would for climbing. I've often thought about the best climbing/surfing/skiing area and Southern Cal is right up there. Jtree, Rincon, Bishop, Needles, Baja Norte are world class destinations not to mention local stuff. 

Not sure if you are responding to me Kyle but i quoted someone that is looking for spots in South America where you can easily surf and climb. I would like a Spanish speaking country. Rio is an obvious choice but since its in Brazil they speak Portuguese.

I appreciate the input though bro! Thanks!

Tyler--I was just advocating So Cal as a spot that fits OPs inquiry, not responding to you specifically. 

Your trip sounds amazing man, enjoy! Maybe consider Peru or Chile for your trip research? N. Peru has some of the longest cleanest sandy-bottomed lefts on the planet ;)

Kyle vH wrote:

Tyler--I was just advocating So Cal as a spot that fits OPs inquiry, not responding to you specifically. 

Your trip sounds amazing man, enjoy! Maybe consider Peru or Chile for your trip research? N. Peru has some of the longest cleanest sandy-bottomed lefts on the planet ;)

Yeah bro! I spent some time in Mancora but am too addicted to climbing to spend that much time on just the beach ahahaha

I grew up in Agoura Hills, CA. where there's plenty of climbing and about 20 minutes from Malibu where soooo many cool beaches are.  I've done both on the same day on multiple occasions.