Tennis in Los Angeles

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Tennis

L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks (200 N. Main St., Downtown. 213/473-7070. www.laparks.org/dos/sports/tennis.htm) has a complete list of the city's more than 75 public tennis courts. Some are always free, others only weekdays; others charge $5-$10 an hour per court, depending on time of day. Reservations are a must during peak hours at the most popular pay courts; to make them, apply for a reservation card (click on "Permits") at the Web site or call 323/644-3536.

The Poinsettia Tennis Center (7341 Willoughby Ave., Hollywood. 323/512-8234) is a pay-to-play facility with eight lighted courts.

West L.A. has a number of locations with well-maintained, lighted courts: the courts at Westwood Park (1375 Veteran Ave., Westwood. 310/575-8299) are $8 an hour. The four courts at the Barrington Recreational Center (Barrington Ave. south of Sunset Blvd., Brentwood) are always free. And the 14 courts at Cheviot Hills (2551 Motor Ave., just south of 20th Century Fox lot. 310/836-8879) are always pay-to-play.

Griffith Park has a dozen lighted courts at the Griffith-Riverside Pay Tennis Complex (3401 Riverside Dr., at Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz. 323/661-5318). There are a dozen unlighted courts at Griffith Park's Griffith-Vermont Pay Tennis Complex (2715 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 323/664-3521).

La Cienega Tennis Center (325 S. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills. 310/550-4767) has 16 lighted courts available for $7-$9 per hour; you can reserve up to four days in advance if you have a Leisure Services Card ($14.25 for non-Beverly Hills residents), which can be purchased at the center. Those who don't have the card can call ahead to see how busy it is.

If you're interested in watching the pros, the Mercedes Benz Cup (Formerly the Infiniti Open. 310/825-2101 tickets; 310/824-1010 info. www.mercedes-benzcup.com), held in summer at UCLA, usually attracts some of the top-seeded players on the pro tennis circuit.

Surf's Up

Nothing captures the laid-back cool of California quite like surfing. It arrived here in the early 1900s, when land developer Henry Huntington staged a surfing demonstration at Redondo Beach to promote the opening of his Redondo-Los Angeles railroad line. Surf clubs began to form up and down the coast, and Hawaiian legends like Duke Kahanamoku and George Freeth fed the frenzy by settling in Southern California. By the late 1950s, it was officially a California way of life, made even more popular by films such as Gidget and Beach Blanket Bingo and the crooning songs of the Beach Boys. Today, it's still a strong part of the culture, especially in the enclaves of Malibu, Palos Verdes, and Huntington Beach, where you'll find everyone from middle-aged studio executives to local teenagers catching a wave.

Those wanting to sample the surf here should keep a few things in mind before getting wet. First, surfers can be notoriously territorial. Beginners should avoid Palos Verdes and Third Point, at the north end of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, where veterans rule the waves. Once in the water, be as polite and mellow as possible. Give other surfers plenty of space -- do not cut them off -- and avoid swimmers. Beware of rocks and undertows. Surfing calls for caution: that huge piece of flying fiberglass beneath you could kill someone. Also keep in mind that your welcome in the water most likely won't be a shining example of gender equality. Beginning female surfers often get encouragement from local hotshots. A hapless guy, however, should expect a few sneers.

If you're not a strong swimmer, think twice before jumping in; fighting the surf to where the waves break is a strenuous proposition. The best and safest way to learn is by taking a lesson.

A session with Malibu Ocean Sports (29500 PCH. 310/456-6302) will keep you on the sand for at least 30 minutes explaining the basics. Lessons start at $100; if you don't catch a wave, you get your money back. Surf Academy (302 19th St., Hermosa Beach. 310/372-2790. www.surfacademy.org) teaches at El Segundo (Dockweiler), Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach, with lessons starting at $45.

Kanoa Aquatics (302 19th St., Hermosa Beach. 310/374-1994. www.kanoaaquatics.com) teaches individuals and groups at Manhattan Beach, Venice, Santa Monica, and Malibu. They also hold highly regarded one- and two-week surf camps for kids ages 5-17. When you hit the surfing hot spots, surf shops with rentals will be in long supply. Competition keeps prices comparable; most rent long and short boards and miniboards (kid-size surfboards) from $20 per day and wet suits from $10 per day (some give discounts for additional days).

Learners should never surf in a busy area; look for somewhere less crowded where you'll catch more waves anyway. Good beaches for beginners are Malibu Lagoon State Beach and Huntington City Beach north of the pier, but you should always check conditions, which change throughout the day, before heading into the water. L.A. County Lifeguards (310/457-9701) has a prerecorded surf-conditions hotline or go to www.watchthewater.com for beach reports.