San Clemente is known for its many surfing locations, which include Trestles, Lowers, Middles & Uppers, Cotton's Point, Calafia Beach Park, Riviera, Lasuens (most often called Lost Winds), The Hole, T-Street, The Pier, Linda Lane, 204, North Beach and Poche Beach. It is also home to Surfing Magazine, The Surfer's Journal, and Longboard Magazine.

The city has a large concentration of surfboard shapers and manufacturers. Additionally, numerous world-renowned surfers were raised in San Clemente or took up long-term residence in town, including, Colin McPhillips(3 x longboard world champion), Matt Archbold, Herbie Fletcher(founder of AstroDeck), Dibi Fletcher (first female CEO of a surf company), Christian Fletcher, Nathan Fletcher, Greyson Flecther, Griffin Colapinto, Crosby Colapinto, Shane Beschen, Gavin Beschen, Chris Ward, Dino Andino, Kolohe Andino, Patrick Gudauskas, Dane Gudauskas, Tanner Gudauskas, Mike Long, Greg Long (Greg Long has dominated the XXL Global Big Wave Awards, winning 2005's 'Biggest Paddle In', 2007's 'Biggest Tow-in', 2009 and 2014's 'Ride of the Year', and the coveted 'Performer of the Year' in 2004, 2008 and 2013), Sawyer Lindblad, Jett Schilling, Kade Matson, Taj Lindblad, Hagan Johnson, Jim Hogan, Mike Parsons, Bobby Freidman, Anna Shisler, Brian Knoblock , Rich Chew, Jonathan Paskowitz, Joyce Hoffman, Bill Stewart, Matt Biolos (founder of Lost surfboards), Anastasia Ashley, Timmy Patterson, Cole Simler (Cole Surfboards), Terry Senate surfboards. Matt "Mayhem" Biolos and Lost Surfboards, Timmy Patterson Surfboards, Cole Simler and Cole Surfboards, Fletcher Surfboards, Terry Senate Surfboards, Jed Noll and Noll Surfboards, Matt Parker and Album Surfboards, Christian Wach and Ryan Engle of Canvas Surfboards and Nation Surfboards, 

San Clemente High School has won 6 out of 7 most recent NSSA national surfing titles and is regarded as consistently one of the top surfing high schools in the world. Shorecliffs Junior High School is also regarded as the top middle school for surfers.
What city in the world is regarded as having the largest number of professional and famous surfers and surfboard shapers?
San Clemente, California in the United States is regarded by many as the top city in the world for surfing, surfboard shapers and surf culture.