Vortex Guide to Crushing the California Double

What would you do with more hours in a day? Pick up a new sport? Immerse yourself in the fresh morning air? Spend more boarding with friends?

In the Golden State, you don’t need extra hours. The legendary California Double lets you enjoy it all before the sun goes down.

The Double refers to the practice of snowboarding and surfing in the same day. But more generally, it can be used to refer to any snow-and-splash combination: If you’re donning a wetsuit and ski jacket in the same day, pat yourself on the back and call it a Double.

How do you do it? With a few simple tips, you’ll be ready to tackle both swells and slopes in the same day. Just read on for our quick Vortex guide.

Plan out your day

The California Double begins before you’re actually ready to hit either water or slopes. Start now by charting out your course (and be sure to factor traffic times into your estimation! The California Double would be significantly improved if we could simply teleport from ocean to mountain, but until technology catches up, you’ll be using your car to make the trip).

Popular on-the-water spots worth exploring include Newport Beach and San Diego Bay, two destinations where water sports and easygoing cruising opportunities abound. Big Bear is one of the most popular destinations for fun in the snow, and is a little more than two hours away from Los Angeles-adjacent spots. Snow Valley in Running Springs is about an hour-and-a-half’s drive to Newport Beach, and about two hours from San Diego. These are just a few popular spots, of course—find the route that works best for you!

That leaves one big decision: Where do you start? While it’s completely possible to opt for either order, we recommend starting by the water for a few reasons. First, SoCal sunrises are a seriously underrated phenomenon. While sunsets are naturally beloved here, sunrises over shoreline features (like the San Diego skyline or the coastal foothills) are certainly worth seeing, too. Plus, by the time you’ve gone snowboarding or skiing on the cold, powdery mountains, you’re likely to prefer warming up fireside to slipping into your swim gear! The snow naturally puts us into a cozy, relaxed sort of daze, so consider saving on-the-water fun for early in the day.

Begin with a wholesome breakfast

No matter what you have scheduled for the day, it’s sure to be a long (and thrilling!) one. Opt for a wholesome breakfast including slow-burning carbohydrates, such as steel-cut oatmeal, with protein in the form of eggs, veggies or breakfast meats to fuel your adventure. While prepping breakfast, you can even put together a quick trail mix to snack on throughout your day.

Hit the water

If you’re following our surf-first plan, you’ll want to get on the water as soon as the sun rises. This is when many on-the-water facilities open, and you will be able to enjoy some of the best, smoothest water of the day depending on where you go.

What you do next is up to you and your on-the-water style! If you’re looking for a leisurely cruise along the coast, you can’t go wrong with a brisk journey along famous surf sites (Huntington Beach and its famous pier, harbor and inland mountains, for example). For water sports action, aim for protected bays where you can work up a serious wake. San Diego’s Mission Bay has designated spots for wake sports, and the surrounding lush coastal hills provide the perfect backdrop to your ride. Just throw on a wetsuit for thermal protection, since the waters here can be chillier than the palm tree-lined shores would suggest.

By getting on the water early, you can enjoy a solid two to three hours on the water before moving onto the next leg of your journey! Be sure to bring along plenty of dry towels so that you can get warm and dry before, later, switching into your snow gear.

Grab a SoCal lunch

Find yourself with some time to spare? You can’t beat an early waterfront lunch at your chosen SoCal spot to fuel your crew for the snow fun ahead. Seafood tacos pair deliciously with a sea breeze and sense of adventure…

Hit the slopes

Once you’ve had the chance to thoroughly dry off and slip into your snow gear, it’s time to hit the slopes! You can go snowboarding or skiing, or opt for smaller hills where tubing fun abounds. Others will be content to simply play around in the snow! There’s no wrong way to enjoy the frosty escape.

As you have fun in the snow, you’ll love watching the ways that your favorite wake and snow sports are, in the end, not all that different from one another! Snap photos of epic snowboard moves and marvel at how the snow fans out below the board, just like water sprays around during every aerial skip or turn.

Cap off your day warm and cozy

Like we mentioned earlier, a couple of hours in the snow is sure to work up your appetite for a warm, cozy evening in. Satisfy your craving with a well-earned dinner at one of your chosen ski spot’s cafés, then kick back by the fire with some hot cocoa. We call it the perfect ending to a perfect, thrilling, wildly fun day.

Whether you’re a Golden State local or a traveler seeking out the perfect blend of summer-winter fun, the California Double is a thrill worth riding this season. Be sure to share your own tips and success stories with us!