It's been my dream since I started surfing to visit Southern California. Although surfing is of Polynesian origin, it was certainly in this part of the States that the surf culture we enjoy and endure today was born. And so it was that I decided to treat myself to a long weekend in SoCal for my 40th birthday (yes I'm an old gimmer!).

I got a cheap flight (£175 rtn) on American Airlines (no charge for boards) through www.priceline.co.uk , and luckily I have a friend who lives right near Manhattan Beach so I was pretty much sorted.

This was my first surf in the Pacific Ocean and I found the waves at Manhattan Beach Pier pretty juicy. Fast, sucky waves that often barrelled on take-off. I lucked into what the locals said was their best swell of the year at the time. Overhead, lined up and beefy.

I'd ordered a new longboard from Harbour Surfboards and collected it on my first day in SoCal. I got to meet Rich Harbour and have a personal guided tour of his shaping bay at Seal beach. This guy has been making surfboards since 1959 and is still stoked with the whole business and still surfs regularly. A true gentleman and a true craftsman - his boards rock! The board I picked up is a 9'0" Wing Pin single fin - without a doubt the best turning longboard I've ever ridden.His shop is like a museum - with loads of vintage Harbour longboards hanging from the ceiling.

You can't go to SoCal without visiting Malibu. I decided to hit it for a dawn raid as the swell was coming out of the south-west and the wind light. The traffic at 5.30a.m (yes, A.M) was ridiculous. Five lanes solid of gas guzzling monsters. However, my heart warmed when I pulled into the car park at Malibu. Clean waist to chest high swell and no more than 10 guys out - makes you wonder why Shoreham gets so crowded on a sloppy one foot day.

The sign on the beach at Malibu shows that they've got their priorities right - stay out of the water unless you can surf standing up!

And check this longboard fin
- pure Malibu!

As I was travelling alone I hit as many beaches as possible in the short time I was there. Up to three different spots a day and as much as seven hours surfing! This place is a right point near Malibu - again waist to chest high and clean and only three other guys out. Stoked!

The paddle out at Swamis (Encinitas) can look pretty daunting. The small dot on the right is a surfer paddling out just before I hit the water myself.

But the rides, were long, long, long. Hang five, cutback, hang five, cutback etc etc.

It was a superb trip that pushed my surfing to another level. The standard of wave riding from longboarders like myself, shortboarders and boogie boarders, was incredibly high everywhere I went. I found a generally friendly vibe, with most people stoked to meet a surfer from England. They tend to take the quality and consistency of their waves for granted - so you can score a good surf with just a few other guys out. If you ever get the chance to go.. TAKE IT!