Kelvin waves are subsurface warm water flows, that create an El Niño, so they can help us out, here in (Southern) California, particularly. They can't be ridden, themselves, but increased surf in El Niño years certainly can.
Currently the talk is that the emerging Kelvin wave(s) are moving up the coast to California, from Mexico, and the equator. As this occurs it will theoretically raise the water levels, ~ 6" - 1' above normal tidals ranges. So that may affect wave shape at spots that need lower tides to break, and spots affected by high tides, too. So it may be hard to nail down whether this an unequivocally positive or negative event.
