Wakeboarding in So Cal?

[strohlde]

We're possibly moving to the San Diego area for at least 15 months and if there are good spots to board will likely drag the boat with us from Austin....so that's my question...anyone in that area have any suggestions? I've not been able to track down much, people suggest going to Mead?

[TeamAllen]

You're right there is not much. One of the best reservoirs (San Vicente) has closed to boating for years to come. I am no expert in the SD area, but I would suggest Lake Havasu and/or Mead myself.

[TonyTheTige]

I've lived in San Diego for most of my life and grew up skiing and wakeboarding the local lakes. It's a great place to live, but the 'fresh water' boating scene is a little bleak. With San V closed, El Capitan Reservoir is the only fresh water option within 45 mins. of San Diego that allows water contact. I hit El Cap pretty regularly. It's nice early, but gets blown out by noon. To offset the loss of San V, they opened up more of El Cap to water sports. It's helped, but certainly not a great solution.

I've been to Lake Mead (near Vegas), Lake Mohave (near Laughlin), and Lake Havasu, which are all about a 5-6 hour drive. You can find good water at each, but would require a hotel or some form of overnight stay.

There are also some lakes north of San Diego, near Riverside or Los Angeles. Lake Elsinore, Castaic and Pyramid come to mind. A guy over on wakeword put together a pretty good write up of some of the lakes / waterways in and around LA. I saved it as a word file, but it's too large to upload here. I'll try to PM you with it.

Let me know if you have any other questions or if you decide to bring the boat. Maybe we can meet up at El Cap.

[jake's02-22i]

Blythe and Parker are down river from Havasu but blythe doesnt really have any nice places to stay. I only go to Blythe becaue I have a buddy with a house on the river. I have rented houses before in Parker and that is a great time but you are going to pay a lot.

[D&P Powell]

One other thing to keep in mind for Southern California that is unlike many other boating areas... Most local lakes prohibit tubes, and have counter-clockwise driving only. Best bet IMO as others have stated - make the longer trek to the Colorado River (Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, or Lake Havasu). As a native Texan, let me warn you, you've been spoiled with the likes of P.K. and Lake Texoma... sorry!

[Tige Addict]

What my family and I do for day trips is go to Lake elsinore. Get there early for skiing and then later in the day the lake is better for wakeboarding. Theres a nice beach you can set up on and the ramp is great. The lake isnt the cleanest in the world but its much better than it used to be, just make sure to rinse out your boats engine afterward with fakealake. Another good place to go is lake pyramind or castaic. If your looking for somewhere that isnt a terribly far drive and you wouldnt mind spending the night, maybe two at one of their campgrounds. Also look at lake Buena Vista. It gets mighty crazy around holidays but you might also like that as well!

[Jeffe]

Lake Elsinore is great if you want to leave with a VD...better take your penicillin :-)

[G-MONEY]

Lake Elsinore is great if you want to leave with a VD...better take your penicillin :-)

you would know.....

[Jeffe]

It always burns when I pee after Elsinore...just like when I leave your house.

[strohlde]

Hmmm... I'm not a fan of burning pee...

[kx250frider617]

Wow I can't believe no one has said Carlsbad lagoon which is basically the birthplace of wakeboarding. ITs right off the 5 freeway in carlsbad.

[TeamAllen]

I think the brackish water keeps most of us out of there?