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Anyone familiar with the town of Corona, CA?

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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
What up NS, let me start by saying I have never been to the great state of California and I'm looking for some insight.

I'm looking to visit there about 10 months from now, for a week, to check it out.

I'm currently a junior in college in New York state (lived here all my life) and need to start considering places I'd like to live after school.

I've been thinking for a long time that I'd like to live in California and fulfill the dream of "skiing and surfing in the same day". Well...kinda...money doesn't exactly grow on trees so I don't see that happening very often, but you get the point. Also, I'm just kinda tired of the east coast and need to experience something different for a year or 2, or 3.

Corona, CA intrigues me because it appears to be about 40 minutes in one direction from the coast, but about an hour and a half in the other direction to Bear Mountain.

I don't know much about this city other than what I've read on Wikipedia. If anyone is familiar with it, I'd love some insight. Cost of living? A lot of crime? Tons of traffic? Main things I should know?

It looks like the next closes main city is Riverside, CA. How about there?

BUT ALSO, I look to NS to possibly point me to other cities that have a reasonable distance to both skiing and the beach.

What I really want to avoid is a cold climate and living in the country. I like people around me.

Thanks!



Feb 18 2012 11:45AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
just realized i said town haha, my bad. CITY.
Feb 18 2012 11:47AM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
corona is a huge military city.

and are you fucking high? asking members of a skiing website how to avoid a cold climate? seriously? what the fuck?

if i were looking for the same this as you I would take sacramento, 90 minutes from tahoe 2 hours to the coast, and you'll have real mountains to play in, and epic surf spots as well.

nor cal ftw
Feb 19 2012 3:09AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
wow, sorry i'd rather ski in a hoodie in the sunshine than ski on ice while wearing 6 layers with the wind blowing in my face. but thanks for the input.
Feb 19 2012 9:03AM
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shorty_T
Posts: 2725 - Karma: 761
Corona is alright i guess. Don't get me wrong but it takes balls to live there. Riverside is just over and hour from bear, quiet. San diego is about 2 hours from bear and has surfing and jobs. Find a job in ca then a place to live.
Feb 21 2012 2:10AM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
I'm sure I have been there or driven through, but don't remember. I have been to Riverside, don't live in Riverside would be my advice.
I would say live somewhere sort of near LA or San Diego and sacrifice skiing to some point. I am a SoCal person so yes I am a bit biased. Try to get to Big Bear/Mt. High/Baldy when you can and/or take some time off and go to Mammoth for a week or two. Once again just my opinion.
Feb 21 2012 8:30PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
the coldest temps i've ever faced in california while skiing was 15 degrees (early in the morning with wind), significantly warmer than the coldest i've faced in the northeast (-20 with wind chill).

Even in the upper elevations of tahoe and mammoth... and average january temp is a balmy 32 degrees.... many a warm park lap can be had if that's what you're looking for.

and as was said previously, find a job first, then move to that town.
Feb 22 2012 12:41AM
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*valkyrie*
Posts: 229 - Karma: 51
Corona is for the most part is an extremely "bro-ed" city. You are surrounded by bros and their hoes and their lifted trucks. With that being said, it's hot as hell during the summer, rather chilly in the winter (for so cal). There can be cheap housing, but the job market there is currently not so good. Just imagine you are still in southern california, but extremely removed from what most people envision as a california lifestyle. It can be a bitch to get from there to the beaches or anywhere else because the freeways going in and out of the Inland Empire (where corona, fontana, colton etc are) are always f'ed with traffic.

Personally if I was you and wanted to be centrally located to beaches and skiing I would check out the Pomona/Ontario area. You are still about 40 mins from the beach and 40 mins from skiing at mt. high and mt. baldy, and about 1.5 hours from bear. You are also in the middle of many freeways which can help make avoiding traffic easier. I grew up in orange county and spent my college years in pomona, and it was pretty convenient to get anywhere I wanted to go in a relatively reasonable amount of time. The living isn't as expensive as being in the immediate oc/la area as well. Good luck!
Feb 22 2012 2:18PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
thanks a lot for the replies everyone. taking them all into account. anyone else that would like to voice their opinion please do!
Feb 22 2012 4:28PM
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whegrodamus.
Posts: 933 - Karma: 12
if you're down with your surroundings smelling like cows and cow shit then do it
Feb 22 2012 4:39PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
after a little research, i like for the most part what i'm reading here. but can anyone offer an opinion on why Mt. High received "worst vibes" ?

http://www.yobeat.com/2011/11/14/state-of-shred-southern-california/
Feb 22 2012 4:42PM
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*valkyrie*
Posts: 229 - Karma: 51
It's full of inconsiderate park rats for the most part...?

Feb 22 2012 7:34PM
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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
i've heard mt high blows..

this is my first winter season out in CA, and i live in north county of san diego about 8 miles inland.. so its still about 2 or so hours to bear, which i've rode a few times now(wish it could be more but i hurt myself), and bear is pretty chill. always met cool people there when riding. and big bear lake/city area is pretty cool too. doesnt feel like you're in So Cal.

riverside isnt a terrible place. i've been up there quite a few times.. temecula is meh. i wouldnt live there. if you wanted to live on the west side of the 15, you could live in anaheim, santa ana or irvine. closer to the ocean, and prolly an hour and a half to bear or less, depending on traffic of course..

Feb 22 2012 8:01PM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
exactly. and not to be racist but if you have been there on a busy day you know I'm right. There are lots of Asians who are just beginning and don't know to get to the side of the run if they are going to sit/fall down the whole time
Feb 22 2012 9:04PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
interesting interesting
Feb 23 2012 12:19AM
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Karma_Police
Posts: 2655 - Karma: 1,628
I'm quoting this for emphasis.

If you want "real skiing" and real surfing you'll have to choose either the bay or sac.  I laugh in peoples faces in tahoe when they tell me it was a "cold" day, when it got down to like 20 in the morning.  COLD?  Go ski A basin in middle of February when the wind is blowing 40 and wind chill is -40.  That's fucking cold.

Point is you're posting on a ski website and you're going to get ski related answers.  If you really wanna surf, just live in So so cal and deal with the long ass commute to the bunny hills.  As of right now it seems that would suit you as you enjoy skiing in "just a hoody"
Feb 23 2012 11:36AM
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ryano
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 1,535
haha this.

i'm from MN.. so i know cold.

and its funny riding at big bear and people are like, its a cold one today.. and MN regularly is 15 below zero without windchill.

Feb 23 2012 12:46PM
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shorty_T
Posts: 2725 - Karma: 761
Welcome to the world of fair-weather skiers! ;)
Feb 23 2012 12:57PM
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pbandj
Posts: 5610 - Karma: 28
i'm amazed at the amount of people who "don't go out while it's storming" like what the fuck get out of tahoe then.
Feb 23 2012 9:09PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Corona blows, don't live there. It's suburbia hell.

I grew up in Orange County and North County San Diego and now go to school in Riverside.

Riverside is (well was) a fast growing area about an hour to the mountains or beach. Summers are very warm 100+ and it can get "California cold" ~50s/60s during the day in the summer.

If you can afford to live in North County San Diego (NOT Oceanside) or Orange County do it. Proximity to the ocean keeps temps from getting too hot or too cold, there's a lot more to do for younger people (nightclubs, bars, hot girls) and the surf crashes year round (no waiting around for pow).

As for ski options:

Bear is about a 2/2.5 hour drive from most of coastal SoCal and has a great park set-up and sufficient snowmaking ability to be operational November-early April, but there is no night session. As a resort town there are plentiful restaurant/hotel options.

Mountain High is a little closer but full of wannabe park rat snowboard losers and high school kids. Is not a resort town, with maybe 2 sketchy hotels and a handful of crappy restaurants.

Mammoth is a 4-6 hour drive depending on if you want to get a ticket from CHP in Bishop or not (somebody please get this LOL) but has like 3500acres with killer steeps and like "8" parks for all abilities and is a full resort town, but can be expensive.

What field are you studying? And I assume you've looked into career openings for that in the area.
Feb 24 2012 4:24AM
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
Yeah anything below yosemite/mammoth is bullshit
your used to new york so nothing in the state is gonna be cold like that, ive always liked way up north, like Weaverville or Eureka.
 I wouldn't live in corona if you paid me
Feb 24 2012 3:34PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
Weaverville is a pretty weird place.  Mount Shasta is more ideally located, IMO. 
Feb 24 2012 5:52PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
been a long time since i've posted in this thread. really appreciated all the answers. one of my housemates who i'm considering living with decided to talk to his professor who spent a few years in Cali. i guess he said LA (maybe northern los angeles? can't remember) is the place to be for people like us - right out of college and looking for entry level jobs. looks like mt. baldy would be only an hour away and bear would be a little over 2 hours. seems dope. any input? starting to get pretty excited about this idea, and how it could happen in a little over a year.
Apr 14 2012 11:23AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
Communications major, Tourism Management minor.
Apr 14 2012 11:25AM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
I do not know too much about Northern Los Angeles in the city, but if he was referring to Los Angeles county you would be living in Glendale or Burbank possibly Alhambra/Pasadena/Altadena. There are definitely some open job spots. Glendale is like 1/2hr from the beach on a good day and 1.5-2hr from mt high.
Apr 14 2012 1:10PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
If you go to N. LA you will have insta friends! No, seriously. You will.

I know approximately 15 people that live in that area that all go to mt high/bear/mammoth/baldy/wherever on the weekends. Your best bet would be to live closer to the ocean and hit the resorts on the weekend as a carpool rather than trying to get in 2 hours of night skiing.

Pasadena, La Canada/Cresenta, Burbank, Echo Park, Mt. Washington. All very nice areas (although going north or west of Burbank freaks me out a bit cause of all the breast implants).

Back to the surf in the morning thing. If you want an affordable surf community, south bay (Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach) would be a prime area to live. I used to work in Manhattan Beach and I love that area. Furnished bedroom rentals were going around $600, unfurnished around 500/550. The surf isn't quite as great right there, but it is good enough that my boss some how did it every morning. And with Long Beach, there are likely some solid job prospects since that area is being massively rehabilitated right now.

If you want to feel like youre in the california version of NYC (but on a much smaller scale)... Downtown LA is super affordable right now with less time in traffic since you can take a train pretty much anywhere and your commute would likely be leaving LA rather than trying to get into LA. That and a lot of cool things are moving into downtown. The fantasy factory, the berrics, 686 just moved in... Shepard Fairey lives there. Skate shops everywhere. B4BC is there now. Seems the skate seen is slowly shifting into LA. But... you may not be into that at all.

Anyway, lots of good neighborhoods. If you are still thinking about corona, at least go north... Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Clairmont, Montclair, La Verne, Chino Hills (not so much Chino)... lots of lovely places.
Apr 16 2012 4:49AM
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vzdz
Posts: 782 - Karma: 87
sick skatepark in corona...
Apr 16 2012 3:10PM
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shorty_T
Posts: 2725 - Karma: 761
Don't bother with baldy.. no snow, shit resort and hardly ever open. Pretty much like a flashback to 1969.

Southern California is 1 giant city, pick a county and narrow down to your area and how much rent you can afford.
Apr 17 2012 8:08PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
thanks for the answers, a lot. truly appreciated.

anyone else feel free to put in your 2 cents
Apr 17 2012 8:49PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
"All very nice areas (although going north or west of Burbank freaks me out a bit cause of all the breast implants)."

LOL my friend bought his girlfriend implants and she lives in Burbank

I would avoid Glendale, unless you speak Armenian. No, seriously. There are more Armenians living in and around Glendale than in the capitol city of Armenia. Although the Mediterranean food is good.

As for North LA, the "valley" (Van Nuys, Northridge, that area) blows I would never live there. Burbank, La Crescenta, and Pasadena are all nice, Pasadena and Burbank have cool downtown areas with shops, overpriced apartments and condos, and restaurants.

Assuming that the Angeles Crest Highway is open (depends on snowpack and road repairs) Mt High isn't a long drive from Burbank/La Crescenta.


Apr 21 2012 10:47AM
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Fun_dip
Posts: 2623 - Karma: 913
^^words of wisdom.
I live in Glendale(three houses down from La Crescenta) and there are not many Armenians near us. Don't live in lower Glendale because that's where the concentration of Armenians is.
The best place I would say that is a pretty nice area and shouldn't be too expensive is La Crescenta/Montrose
Apr 21 2012 10:57AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
^ ^^ thanks much guys.

thoughts on Anaheim?
Apr 25 2012 2:49AM
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Ribss.
Posts: 3442 - Karma: 3,344
Santa Rosa. 45 minutes to great surfing, 4 hours to tahoe, dreamy fucking weather, wine country, 5 skateparks within 20 minutes, heaven.
Apr 25 2012 3:06AM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Anaheim has some nicer parts and some not so nice parts, avoid the resort area (disneyland). There are decent priced apartments near the downtown area and the east area anaheim hills is middle class suburbs. Close access to 91 freeway and hour and a half to Mt High or 2 to bear. Also look into Cerritos (all nice) or Buena Park (also has hit/miss areas like Anaheim) or Fullerton which has a decent downtown and college town vibe.
May 2 2012 1:54PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
^word, thanks.

can't wait to look at this thread in the future when I'm living in cali.
May 2 2012 3:21PM
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Hard
Posts: 457 - Karma: 653
if you want to party and ski move to santa barbara
May 2 2012 3:32PM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
what skiing is it near? i don't see anything near there
May 2 2012 3:34PM
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Hard
Posts: 457 - Karma: 653

Closest ski resort

Alta Sierra at Shirley Meadows (United States) 109 miles Second closest ski resort Mountain High resort (United States) 116 miles Third closest ski resort Sunrise Ski Area (United States) 116 miles Fourth closest ski resort Mt Baldy (United States) 117 miles Fifth closest ski resort Snow Valley (United States) 154 miles
Surf Beaches close to Santa Barbara: Closest surf break Hendry's Beach Arroyo Burro (United States) 3 miles Second closest surf break Sandspit (United States) 3 miles Third closest surf break Leadbetter (United States) 4 miles Fourth closest surf break Mesa (United States) 4 miles Fifth closest surf break The Pit (United States) 4 miles
May 2 2012 3:49PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Santa Barbara isn't that close to good skiing and too expensive for a new grad, and Isla Vista is just plain dirty
May 2 2012 4:47PM
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Hard
Posts: 457 - Karma: 653
Yea i live in iv now and i feel ya

1. Isla Vista feels like a land fill on sunday

3. but on the other hand every night it feels like project x with the sickest partys and the fires every weekend

4. there is a huge skiing community here with people that go to tahoe mammoth june bear because its such a diverse area with people from all over california its pretty sick

Great place to go to college
May 3 2012 1:24AM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
but if you've already graduated I would say to totally avoid IV, and it's not exactly a bastion of employment
May 3 2012 2:05AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,016
san diego seems dope. the turn off right now is that it's 3 hours from bear.
May 12 2012 12:40PM
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GGitzen
Posts: 475 - Karma: 17
I just moved to SoCal from Oregon and I have yet to be here in the winter seasons. I moved to costa mesa which is fairly close to the ocean and maybe 2 hours to the mountains. I would avoid riverside and corona unless you like living in the desert it is way to hot out there. It seems like everyone hates on mt. High? Is it really as bad as people say it is?
Jul 18 2012 4:14PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
When Baldy has snow, it has some motherfucking siiick terrain. Easily the sickest, gnarliest terrain in Socal. It's all south facing so it doesn't get much snow, or retain it, but it's fucking DOPE.

As for the flashback to 69? What the hell is wrong with that? Who cares if it's some old creaky putt-putt-putt chairlifts... That funkyness is what's great about places like Baldy and Donner Ski Ranch in tahoe or Mt Hood Snow Bowl/Mt. Ashland up here in Oregon... You get to escape the big crowds and tourist bullshit and get to roll with the rad locals who rip.

And I'd agree with the Sacramento vote... Southern California doesn't always have the most consistant snow, so I'd highly consider a place like Sacramento and the surrounding area. The Daytrip to tahoe is easy, and affordable... the season passes are INSANE cheap, and there are TONS of ride shares out of the area...

You could even get a night pass at Boreal and roll up after work on some nights, or up friday night to beat the saturday morning rush. It's like 99$ for a whole season to ski the sickest little midwest style park in the west...

Oh, and it's no colder in Tahoe than it is in SoCal - and the natural snow is way better, and more consistant from season to season. Mammoth is closer to Sacramento than most places in LA... You just have to pass up a bunch of sick Tahoe spots on your way there...
Jul 31 2012 10:25PM
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skiingute
Posts: 630 - Karma: 15
Sac is just as big a pile of shit as Corona and the rest of the IE. You're definitely closer to better skiing, so if you're willing to put up with a hell hole for the commute to skiing I guess it's better. Tahoe is seriously legit and there is no reason if your sole purpose is to ski to live outside of North/South Tahoe/Truckee etc or the Mammoth Lakes area. You can find a seasonal job or something else to cover rent and be a good ski bum. If you're living year round Southern California is much better, although I'd dodge the IE like the plague. You can find a decent place to live in the Valley, OC, or San Diego that would be much better than the IE or Sac. Bear/Mtn High is fine if all you want to do is park. They get crowded and the scene is kinda whack and there is no such things as steeps or powder really but it's not the worse it can get.
Sep 2 2012 4:28AM
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andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
"governor romney, that's not true"
Nov 1 2012 5:19AM
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