Does anyone know anything about the history of PB point, events, people, swells ect… I’ve heard a few stories, but I’m curious, I bet a lot of noseriding went down there in the 60s, and some nice down the line surfing in the 70s
That would be Pacific Beach Point in San Diego.
For those that were left without appropriate clues.
PB point. Looks like it would produce a classic peeling wave. It doesn’t. I’m sure it has it’s day now and then,but for the most part it’s a shitty little wave. I’ve had a few fun days there in my youth,but never an A+ day. I’m sure it has it’s defenders. Skip surfs around there I think, or anyplace he wants. He’s a SD icon and were proud of him. Most of the Skip Frye long board guys surf Tourmaline,a mushy long board wave for the most part, or a good begginners wave. I always wondered of a few carefully placed explosives would turn it into Rincon. Mike
Crystal Pier to the Point has always been a core area for surfing in SD. Skip Frye at one time called it his favorite spot. I know that the couple of years that I was around there ('69-70), it was classic. Especially in the winter on sunny days with a strong swell. Not super challenging, but lots of fun. We used to call that outside break “Hairmo”. Anybody remember that? Dobson, Frye and Warner could tell you all about it. Select Surf Shop, Maynards, Tugs Tavern, girls vacationing from Arizona, man those were the days . McDing
From Malcolm Gault-Williams “Legendary Surfers” site. (See Resources section)
Woody “Spider” Brown:
Woody recalled the first La Jolla surfers. “Towny Cromwell, Don Okey – they all started cuz’a me, you know. They saw me out there and wanted to surf, too. I’ve seen 20 foot waves in California; Bird Rock, Windansea,” Woody said of big California conditions. “The biggest place was down at PB – Pacific Beach; that point there where the sand beach comes up to that rock point, where La Jolla starts, you know? There’s houses there, now, but it used to be all bare. We built a shack there and you climbed down the cliffs to go out. They form out there off the rock point and then swing in. But, the point would make 'em break way out and they’d have a nice shoulder going in. You’d pull out before you got to the regular break. I’ve seen that 20-25 feet. Being a point, I’m sure it was 25 feet.”
Really good place on the right winter swell to surf. Not any where a beginers point when its on. But, have to when though…
I’ve surfed it big this winter & past winters before…
so just some decent point surf but nothing major happened. i thought the locals were pretty crazy down there
In years past, I would spend January’s in the Ocean Beach
area and check out Tourmaline and PB Point on my
way to Blacks,So.Mission Jetty.
Never saw Tourmaline or PB Point worth my time and
this was during the Middle of Winter during many significant
storms.
More precisely, it always had the “Old Fart and Beginners Longboard Crew” there
which speaks volumes to the kind of waves there.
I haven’t surfed PB Point in probably 15+ years. It definitely was an easier wave to ride in general, but it could get good…like most breaks…under the right conditions. What I most remember was in the 60’s there were point boards that you could use, they were left there and seemed to be replenished as they essentially wore out. It was great for me, probably in 3rd grade or so, when my uncle was out surfing my cousins and I would contribute to the demise of these beater boards. They’d probably be classics now, but instead they provided countless hours of surfing for kids coming up.
Dooch
Loved to ride the point in the late 60,s earlry 70,s and still now, not so often.
It was a mellow break most of the time, had some knarly winter power too.
used to surf all the spots around there Hairmos, Hanamans, Sewerline and V-tures. The point was always the mellowist. Some locals on the rocks would kook out every once in while in the 70’s and throw rocks at you if they didn’t know you or steal your board. Thoughs were the 70’s
Mark
I’ve been off Island for a few months. but saw Woody out at Launiupoko(Maui) this past year. I say “out” but don’t mean in the water. He was sitting at a picnic table talkin’ story with a friend. Though I don’t know him real well , I said Hi! and we chatted for awile. I think he said he was in his 90"s and had only quit surfing the year before. Great guy. I’m glad that you brought that up, about him having frequented PB point in the old days. I had heard it before but forgot. I ‘ve (off and on) been a housepainter over the years and have a pretty strong grip. But woodys’ handshake blew me away, like a vise. McDing
PB point can still be a force to reckon with. When the Cliffs are closing out at the kelp line, Hairmos conects to PB point and wraps all the way into the bay. 8-15ft, 200 yard rides. On the right tide and swell you’ll be hard pressed to keep up with the wave…but those days are few and far between. I grew up eating Coco Puffs, staring out my parents kitchen window at Hairmos, Hennemans, Sewers, Ziggies,Bird Rock, Avalanche, North Bird and Hogins. All those breaks on the right swell can pound the sh&t out of you.
-Jay
I’m with Jay. With the right conditions PB Point can really come alive. But, it’s rare.
McDing -
I’ve never met the guy but would like to. After seeing “Surfing For Life” and reading the complete bio on “Legendary Surfers” website, I came away impressed beyond words.
John---------- What’s cool about Woody is that he is totally approachable. If you visit Maui and ask around, you can usually find him. He used to frequent the westside(Lahaina). The first time I saw him he was in line in front of me at a local drive-in ordering something cool to drink. I looked at my daughter with a puzzled look and she says “Yeh, thats him.” I got all excited like I had just met a rock star. He was friendly and we started talking surf (of course). He doesn’t look any differant than he did in “Surfing For life”. McDing