Best Beaches & Hangouts for Urban Wave Riders and Wannabes
Photo by Christor Lukasiewicz
December’s storms bring in excellent surf. Check out the best beaches in and around SF.
PACIFICA STATE BEACH: For Newbies
Just getting your sea legs? Join the beginners at Pacifica State Beach’s Linda Mar drag, just 20 minutes south of the city, where manageable waves on high and incoming tides make it easy to test the waters. While many other breaks in town require more experience, this beach draws crowds with favorable conditions and reasonable waves in winter. Splash around on a long board until you learn to shoot the curl with the big kids.
Hang Out: Skip the Taco Bell on the beach, and head to La Playa Taqueria for a burrito mojado or fresh fish tacos and an icy beer. 5460 Coast Highway, Pacifica, 650-738-2247

FORT POINT: For the Committed
While commuters clog the pavement atop the Golden Gate Bridge, the city’s best surfers hit the waves below with picturesque views from the shores of the Presidio. To avoid a gnarly wipeout on rockier bits of beach, make for the break at the end of Marine Drive for a locals-only experience. Winter is prime season to paddle out, but first check the surf report—tides are sometimes unpredictable. Skilled veterans should catch the peak left wave at low and incoming tides, preferably during an easterly wind, for a truly unique ride.
Hang Out: Cut the ocean chill with organic sandwiches and a rich hot chocolate at the Warming Hut, one of SF’s most iconic post-surf pit stops. 983 Marine Drive (at Long), 415-561-3042

OCEAN BEACH: For Strong Swimmers
This three-mile beach has been called the most temperamental stretch of water on the California coast. Pay close attention to this ever-changing playground of breaks, and you may luck out with a sweet swell coming at an easterly wind from the west. Be warned: The tough 200-yard paddle out to the Noriega lineup requires a certain amount of perseverance. Start at Kelly’s Cove on the north end for a slightly more mellow break. While longboards rule for smaller and mid-range waves, break out a shorter fish for heavier stuff.
Hang Out: Beat the Pacific fog at Outerlands with a cup of Sightglass coffee and a brunch of Eggs in Jail or a grilled cheese sandwich with peppery tomato soup. 4001 Judah St. (at 45th), 415-661-6140.
Head to the city’s surf shops for gear that’s perfect for the Bay Area’s icy ocean waters.

MOLLUSK
Best known for its array of retro-style boards, this trendy Outer Sunset shop also outfits wave riders with hoodies and shirts, like the Interval V-neck, designed in house. $24; 4500 Irving St. (at 46th), 415-564-6300

WISE
Call the store for a surf report before taking out a streamlined, three-finned Rusty Jokerr for those big, double overhead days at Ocean Beach. From $599; 800 Great Highway (at Cabrillo), 415-750-9473.

AQUA SURF SHOP
Novices go here to get up to date on all the current conditions, rent winter suits ($15 a day), or buy one like an Isurus wetsuit when they’re ready for their own. From $499; 2830 Sloat Blvd. (at 47th), 415-242-9283.
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All you jackasses that call yourselves "surfer" suck donkey balls. Are you just too cool for school or what? Any real "surfer" would never identify as such...
Whiny Donkeys
Hilariously innacurate attempt at describing SF surf. Wow. WOW!!
This def has to be a joke. Right?
Bring your fish to the beach on big days?
Kooks rule!
7X7 REALLY?! It has all been done before.
@BVD BVD, a chick and hot do not equate in the Bay Area.
I don't know about the article (harmless), but the comments make SF surfers sound like a bunch of assholes. And the correction is right, if you are going to borrow from the culture that brought you surfing...get their words right - its haole, meaning "without breath".
Mollusk and Outerlands? If that's your liking, save some time and just go to the mission with your fixie. You won't like surfing anyway. The best easterlies from the west are at Mavericks. I hear there is even a guy down there who predicts the tide.
Stay downtown 7x7, we don't want you here.
hipsters shouldn't surf. go down south with that mollusk bullshit.
I wonder why surfers get bad raps?
yea, bring your longboard on most mid-range days, in fact why not just bring it all the time!
oh Lauren. This is a joke right?
Hahahahahaah the novices go to aqua!
For a cheap tour of the Farollones, paddle out at Fort Point on the outgoing tide. Don't forget your emergency beacon!
Re the "easterly" question, to be fair the writer might have actually meant a swell from from the west coupled with an easterly wind. But due to ambiguous wording it came out sounding like an easterly comes from the west, which is obviously nonsense.
Dude, a chick wrote this! Give her a break, she's probably hot.
Anyway there's a really good spot called Deadman's just west of China Beach, it breaks all the time in the winter and I definitely recommend that you guys should all go check it out if you haven't yet. It's a really gnarly mellow left reef point with a cool vibe.
Darn these tides that are sometimes unpredictable. Imagine a world in which we could predict tides with accuracy for months or even years in advance - they could put the information into tables and distribute them to interested parties via little booklets or over the internet or even in the daily newspaper! What value this information would provide to surfers, sailors, boaters, fishermen, scientists, nature lovers and all manner of seafaring people. Why Lord do you keep this information from us, your humble servants? WHY!?!?!!?
Wow! I'm headed to Kelly's cove where the waves are mellower... It must be just like the South end of Linda Mar. Kind of like the Kiddie Pool of Ocean Beach!
This is a joke. This guy should be mortified. Obviously not a surfer, you just don't do shit like this if you have any respect for the sport. This guy is exactly why the line ups are packed these day. Thanks, bro.
Although this article a charming piece of the SF surfing culture at best(given the recent world spotlight via RC Search), my take is that there are great places to grab a bite after searching for that easterly wind from the west.
We all need to eat, even the most skilled of this elite sport. The guy is spot on about La Playa. Can't wait to try Outerlands after I persevere the Noriega paddle out.
Word to the wise: only a kook calls someone a kook. Don't be an elitist. It's poor form. BTW Anonymous, you spelled haole wrong.
I'm confused by all of the negative comments. I read this article and it inspired me to become a radical surfer dude. I just went to Wise surf shop and bought a longboard fish for both the smaller days AND the bigger days. They also sold me a spring suit with some gloves and booties just in case it gets a little cool out there with some of those unpredictable easterly tides. See you out there gnarly bros!
Hey 7x7, if i surf will it get me some cougar action at opening night at the opera? I gots to know!
Hey 7x7, If I surf will it get me some cougar action at opening night at the opera? I gots to know!
This articles so haoli, it dont even know its haoli
Give the guy a break, I'm pretty sure this article isn't written for hardcore SF surfers to learn more about surfing in SF. It's all pretty harmless. The easterly wind from the west and unpredictable tide comments are pretty funny but who cares. If you're truly on it and getting yours than you shouldn't be too concerned about a 7x7 article. Also, how come BVB is never around when the middle of the beach is DOH plus?
great article, but what is a fish, Will I need one for the bigger stuff ?
You commenters don't get it. The writer is helping the surf community. What better way to cut down on the number of kooks in the water than by sending them to Fort Point to get beaten or out on a heavy day at OB on a fish?
The part about 'tides are sometimes unpredictable' is a nice touch. If only there was some way to predict tides!!!
nobody goes to lindy anymore... it's too crowded!
7X7 recommending fish boards for big surf -- super KOOKS!
Couldn't you have given this story to Mark L who actually surfs OB? Lord have mercy on the naive soul who reads this article and decides to try getting a "truly unique ride" at FP. It'll be truly unique alright, and in a very unfriendly way.
And 7x7 set a new standard for worst surfing article ever written. Word to the wise... Don't write about surfing when you would drown in a baby pool.
Can someone explain to me why are surfers such whiney babies? I'm all ears!
I'm not usually one to complain about free content but this is possibly the lamest article about surfing I've ever read. 7x7's "journalists" should stick to fashion and food.
Wow, the author of this article should check himself... most hated journalist in SF surfing made effective immediately. KOOK(s) .
"Easterly wind from the west" This article nails both the surfing experience and surf culture. Mysterioso....
This entire thing is complete and utter garbage! "While longboards rule for smaller and mid-range waves, break out a shorter fish for heavier stuff." hahahhahahhhaaa
If you got paid for this, bravo.
Stay away from OB you 7x7 kooks. You'll drown!
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