23. Leo Carrillo Beach / California / United States

This is a spot for both kitesurfing and windsurfing, and is suitable for intermediate levels and above. You might recognise it when you see it – the film Point Break, among others, was shot here.

You’ve got a sandy beach here, pretty much in the middle of nowhere but it has a decent size. Drive along the Pacific Coast highway and you’ll get here eventually, it is due south of Thousand Oaks and west of Malibu. Access is ok for windsurfers but a bit more difficult for kiters, so check in with the lifeguards first. The beach is only a cross the road from the parking lot though, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

Blowing from the west is a good thermal wind, though it is gusty and can range from as low as 10 knots up to about 25 knots. Wave riders like it, and the best time for the winds is in the afternoons between September and December. Although it is pretty remote, it is always extremely crowded even during the week. The water is clear, and the current is pretty light.

Rescue facilities are all you get here. Thousand Oaks is a drive to the north, and has a few inns though it isn’t a party town – in fact, it’s expensive and pretty exclusive, not really a surprise when you consider the fantastic surroundings it has. Alternatively, Santa Monica is a couple of hours drive away.

There are lifeguards here if you screw up badly, and this bit of the coast gets very cold during the winter, so you’ll need the full works – suit, hood, boots and gloves.