Tourmaline Surfing Park

Tourmaline Surfing Park is a beach access point and surfing spot in North Pacific Beach, a community of San Diego, California. The park is situated at the northern end of Pacific Beach, a short distance south of where the sand beach ends and the rocky promontory of La Jolla begins. There are cliffs to the north and south of Tourmaline Surfing Park, but the park itself lies in Tourmaline Canyon, which cuts down through the cliffs to the beach. Tourmaline Surfing Park is also known locally as Old Man's and is a known for its more gentle waves. It attracts surfers of all kinds but is known as a great spot for longboarders and beginners.

Tourmaline Surfing Park is less than 1000 feet west of the point where Tourmaline Street crosses La Jolla Boulevard. Reaching the park involves a steep, palm-lined descent through Tourmaline Canyon to a fairly large parking lot, which is slightly elevated but situated right beside the beach. There are showers and restrooms, as well as railings and places to sit.^[1]

History

In the 1960s, the beach was a popular surfing spot, but ocean side property owners complained about the "rowdy" presence of the surfers. A town council tried to reconcile the parties by setting up a set of rules regarding surfing on the beach. The decision to create a delimited surf park finally made its way and was completed in 1965 (inaugural date May 25th, 1965). Surf clubs also emerged in the area with members encouraging other surfers to respect the beaches and their surroundings.^[2]

The view looking inland from the parking lot at Tourmaline Surf Park. August, 2007

Tourmaline Memorial

Tourmaline Surfing Park also features "Tourmaline Memorial" a monument celebrating surfers who have enjoyed the surf at Tourmaline, in the past and the present, including Skeeter Malcolm.

Although surfers have surfed the area since the 1930s, Tourmaline Surfing Park first opened in May 1963; the idea for the memorial was conceived in 2006, and the memorial itself was completed in 2008. The motto is "Surf Well, Spread Aloha, Share Waves Without Judgment".^[3]

Tourmaline was the country's first surf park.^[4]

List of honorees

The list of honorees on the memorial is as follows:

Individual surfers

Larry Gordon
Floyd Smith
Bobby "Challenger" Thomas
Mike Hynson
Skip Frye
William " Hadji" Hein
Emil Sigler
Doc Paskowitz
Woody Brown
Don Okey
Skeeter Malcolm
Norm Polonski
Ralph Dawson
Doc Blankenship
Bo Smith
"Captain" Dan O'Connell
Alexander "Bud" Caldwell
Billie "Goldie" Goldsmith
Ralph Barber
Joe Gann
Robert "Black mac" Mc Clendon
Holly "Papa Smurf" Jones
Ron St. John

Surfing clubs

Kanakas Surf Club
Windansea Surf Club
Pacific Beach Surf Club
Tourmaline Tailgater's Surfing Association

Filmography

A Line In The Sand: The Story Of America's First Surfing Park, 2023, KPBS

References

^ sandiego.gov website Lifeguards, Beaches, North Pacific Beach [1] Accessed 2014-5-3
^ "Tourmaline Surf Park – A History Lesson on the founding of America's First Surf Park". da Surf Engine. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
^ tourmaline memorial.com website, Tourmaline Surfer Memorial, San Diego, California [2] Accessed 2014-5-3
^ "A Line In The Sand: The Story Of America's First Surfing Park". KPBS Public Media. 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2024-04-14.

To the North: Windansea Beach	California beaches	To the South Pacific Beach

32°48′17″N 117°15′44″W / 32.80472°N 117.26222°W / 32.80472; -117.26222

[1] sandiego.gov website Lifeguards, Beaches, North Pacific Beach [1] Accessed 2014-5-3

[2] "Tourmaline Surf Park – A History Lesson on the founding of America's First Surf Park". da Surf Engine. Retrieved 2024-04-14.

[3] tourmaline memorial.com website, Tourmaline Surfer Memorial, San Diego, California [2] Accessed 2014-5-3

[4] "A Line In The Sand: The Story Of America's First Surfing Park". KPBS Public Media. 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2024-04-14.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]