San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

NEIGHBORHOODS: Local surfing spots, from the point to the pier

Copyright Jeff Lewis / Staff Photographer

By Sydnee Brooker, Staff Writer

The various waves of Pacific Beach tumble with an interesting assortment of characters. Locals, tourists, beginners, experts, party animals and real animals can be seen riding atop the San Diego surf.

What makes these waves different is not their quality, but who they draw in. Most of the waves are mild beach breaks — but there are some exceptions.

PB Point is certainly not one of the best waves in Southern California, but because of its uniqueness, it has the most outstanding waves in PB. Journalism and English senior Bobby Oliver, who has been surfing the waves of PB for five years, refers to it as a “mock-point” because it is the closest thing to a point break wave in San Diego County. It’s a right wave that is less gradual than other point breaks because it quickly rolls into the reefs off of north PB. According to wannasurf.com, the wave is between 3’ and 12’. One tip for new kids on the wave is to be respectful of veterans such as the guys of Old Man’s, including board designers Rusty Preisendorfer and Skip Frye. Some of these surfers have been riding the wave for nearly half a century.

“PB Point is kind of my home spot,” Frye said. “It’s a wintertime break. Actually that’s just where I came from today. That’s kind of my favorite spot in PB. I don’t surf the break point anymore, it’s too crowded and the parking is bad. I caught my first swell between Tourmaline and PB Point. Now I surf in the soup out in the broken waves.”

Tourmaline is the surf spot south of the point. According to wannasurf.com, it is a crowded, powerless wave with a rocky-reef bottom that ranges between 3’ and 6’. Oliver claims this slow crumbling wave beckons both experienced long boarders and beginners with a clue, creating a crowd of various levels.

Law Street is the next wave down the beach. It is in fact a 3’ beach break that draws the short boarders and beginners.

“It’s simple and not quite as tide sensitive as Tourmaline,” Oliver said. A few streets south is Diamond. This beach break is a more powerful wave that can reach 10’.

Finally the pier pops up separating north and south PB. This normal-powered beach break will usually reach 5’.

“People surf in the north side more than the south, especially in the summer when the south is black-balled,” Oliver said. “A sand bar is set up around the pier and waves will hit but they usually close out immediately. The 100 percent sand bottom makes the spot a little shifty.”

Although the surf spots are not as diverse as the crowd that actually surfs them, PB surf is definitely a type of its own.

“I like PB because it’s kind of got an edge to it,” Surfindian owner Chris A. Rule said. “It keeps me on my toes. You have everyone from European tourists to fresh 21-year-olds and that whole thing spills over into the surf culture. You go to Tourmaline and you can see some of the best surfers in the world but you can also see the biggest beginners. Down here, man, we just have this melting pot of surfers, styles, boards and culture.”

Frye has some extra words of wisdom for PB surfers of all kinds.

“Surfing is just viewed so competitively now,” Frye said. “That whole kind of competitiveness is engrained in the sport. It’s like you’re in a contest every time you’re in the water. Just go out and have fun with your friends, be in a sharing spirit and keep it clean.”

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San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
NEIGHBORHOODS: Local surfing spots, from the point to the pier