So what has been lost with the development of the beach in Ventura, or it's actually the redevelopment of the beach?  How has it affected the surf scene?

 

Originally the point had your typical sand and cobbled shore line. Typical for the coastal area from Ventura pier up to Figueroa St on to stables, pipe and the Ventura river.  At low tide it looked similar to the way low tides look now. But at high tide the water line was much more gradual because the shore line was not disturbed by development but was natural. When we had big winter rains sand from the river would spread out from pipe and begin it's migration down the point and on down the coast. 

 

Initially the 7 jetties were installed to hold sand and keep the natural beach erosion at bay. One of the first surf spots to disappear was the San Jon Rd . beach break south of the pier. Because of the jetties bottom sand stopped forming favorably for surf.

 

To stop beach erosion along the point a revetment of large rocks was deposited just inside the high tide line from the pier to Figueroa St.  These rocks are piled from sea level to about 8 feet above sea level. Fill dirt was dumped on top of the rocks and then the area from California St. to Figueroa St. was graded from that level back to Harbor Blvd.

 

Those big rocks under the promenade keep the beach from eroding. As well, combined with the first jetty hold sand from the jetty on up the beach well past "C" St. 

 

The first change to the surf from the revetment was the inside point or old "C" St break.  No more would the south swells peal way down the point but instead began to wall off and close out.

 

The second change was to the south side of the pier. Actually it's the east side but it has always been called the south side.  No longer, or at least very seldom do you see the old south side peak.  Once a regular spot for the local crew. My son surfed there regularly. 

 

Yeah, the pier used to be a regular spot. When all we had was long boards, shooting the pier was a common move. I've shot the pier from the south side and then caught another wave on the west side and gone back through.

 

The old picture below, taken from the pier, shows the south side peak in action.  I'd say on a pretty good sized winter swell.  Back in the early seventies some of the local guys would take their boards and jump off the pier to surf the bigger swells.  As well, there was a rope tied to one of the pilings to hold on to so you could keep your position....the current on big swells is really strong. 

 

D.R.