Surfing in Northern California
Part III
Surf review: Ocean Beach. Ratings include Kook factor, Hostility, Shark Alert, and a bonus etiquette tip.
| Move your body |
| Yoga For the Cynics |
| Martial Arts on Polk Street |
| Market Street Gym |
| Windsurfing at Crissy Field |
| Local Swimming Pools |
Well, some of you might have noticed that summer’s almost over and I’ve lagged on more surf spots. Sorry. Work's been a bitch and, hey, I’ve got to surf too! So onwards:
3-Rockaway Beach:
Go down 1 through Daly City and as you come down the huge hill overlooking the ocean and are coming into Pacifica, you'll come to a stop light (there should be a sign for the motel). Go right to the end of the cul de sac and turn left into the parking lot. Good rights, but rather hostile environment and the peaks shift a lot. Good for aerobics as well as surfing.
Kook factor: Low-gnarly paddle, lots of rocks, angry crackheads/adulterers slinking around sleazy motel.
Hostility: mid/high-Avoid most people.
Shark factor: minimal-no rivers, no seals makes for poor hunting.
4-Pacifica:
Pretty random crowd ranging from angry drug riddled locals to mini-van driving moms learning on slabs. Try to avoid the far north and south ends of the beach and you’re usually safe. Weekends are a nightmare, unless you enjoy party waves, getting dropped in on every wave and really frightening people trying to sunbath.
Kook Factor: Low to extremely high-Avoid weekends and anyone taking pictures of themselves/friends in the parking lot.
Hostility: Varies but can be extremely high. Avoid locals crawling out of their cars/homes.
Shark factor: Low/moderate some claimed sightings on far south end by the docks.
5-Montara:
Over Devils slide, first beach you come to (by the charthouse). Really good powerful waves. Extremely deep bottom, with huge drop-off makes hollow, shifty, big waves. Very powerful currents and the paddle out can really suck. However, once you get out, it’s great. I suggest kicking out early and not riding out the wave to avoid unnecessary paddling. Used to be nobody surfed there except for locals but now it seems to be a valley haven. They also added the parking and beach access on the north side. Not a good thing.
Kook factor: Low-High-Much too easy access, avoid people setting up umbrellas/playpens.
Hostility: Low-high-Screw-em, Odds are they’re transplants/valleys anyway.
Shark factor: med-high-Deep bottom, good visibility. Surf in pack and if sighting occurs, push nearest person into water.
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