Every year Southern California’s nomadic pro surfers pack up their trucks for a long drive north. The draw is the prestigious “Cold Water Classic� crown at Santa Cruz’s legendary competition proving grounds of Steamers Lane.

However many of the surfers design the drive into more than getting to another comp. Instead it becomes a road trip, with the contest only a small carrot in the salad of possibilities. We leave early and stay late, surfing every wave possible along the way. We pack a complete quiver of boards as well as our favorite toys for the flat days: Skateboards, mountain bikes, cameras, camping gear and anything they can fit will go.

Here is a bit of the surf I stumbled upon during this year’s road trip to the ‘other’ California. Hope you enjoy. -- Eli Mirandon