About Cowell's Surf Shop
Cowell's Surf Shop sits at 30 Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz, directly across the road from Cowell Beach — one of the most famous beginner surf breaks in California. For over 35 years, the shop has been a cornerstone of the Santa Cruz surf community, serving everyone from tourists renting their first foam board to seasoned locals picking up a new wetsuit for the winter season. The location could not be more convenient: you can walk from the shop to the water's edge in under two minutes, making it the easiest gear-up-and-go rental experience in town.
The rental lineup covers surfboards of all sizes — from soft-top longboards for beginners to high-performance shortboards for experienced riders — plus stand-up paddleboards, boogie boards, skim boards, and full wetsuits in a range of sizes. The shop also carries a curated selection of retail surf gear, apparel, and accessories for purchase. Staff members are active surfers who can recommend the right board for the day's conditions, point you toward the best break for your skill level, and share local knowledge about tides, currents, and crowd patterns at Santa Cruz's dozens of surf spots.
What makes Cowell's Surf Shop a Santa Cruz institution is the unbeatable proximity to the beach and the authentic local surf culture that permeates the place. Unlike big-box rental operations, Cowell's feels like a neighborhood shop where the staff actually surfs the breaks they are sending you to. Combined with competitive rental rates and consistently well-maintained equipment, it is the natural first stop for anyone looking to ride waves in Santa Cruz.
