In SoCal, it’s not a matter of picking your poison; it’s a question of how you want to take it. We’re talking, of course, about a well-worn promise made by the uncompromising denizens of the City of Angels, namely that you can “surf in the morning and ski in the afternoon.”
“That’s definitely something that you say when you’re from here,” said Stephanie Conchuratt, a luxury travel advisor with Vibe Travel Co. and a Virtuoso member. “But, realistically…”
That’s the rub. Mammoth Mountain, the most popular ski resort for Southern Californians, is about a six-hour drive from the rolling breaks in Malibu.
“Big Bear is closer, but it’s not really known for good skiing,” she said. “So, if you want the classic palm tree beach in Malibu and to end the day on the slopes in Mammoth, it would be tricky.”
Sunrise in Malibu is about 6:30 a.m. this time of year; the slopes on Mammoth Mountain close at 4 p.m. Assume you surf for an hour, skip lunch and actually do the drive in six hours. Assume you’re geared up and on the lift in a flash. You might get two hours of skiing. Maybe.
Conchuratt said that she would encourage anyone with dough to get real and charter a flight.
With that in mind, we’ve given you a choice: the high road or the low road. Choose wisely.
Whether you ride the waves at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, El Porto at Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach, you’ll want to be paddling out early, but you won’t have much time to Zen out or hang ten; you need to hit the road pronto and maybe even compromise on your destination.
“Your goal is to be out there when the sun is rising. The waves are at their peak, and the wind is light,” said Logan Johnson, a travel advisor with Coastline Travel, who grew up surfing in SoCal. “Then in the early morning, you head out. I tend to prefer going to Mammoth; I think the runs are better. But you can always go to Big Bear. That is a great option, and you’ll be skiing that afternoon.”
Big Bear Mountain and neighboring Snow Summit are both within a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Malibu.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
