San Francisco Surfing

This 3 mile long stretch of beach along the Great Highway is home one of the best beach breaks in the world. First surfed in the 1940s when Playland-at-the-beach still had a pier near Kelly’s cove, OB has continued to deliver consistent waves through the Fall and Winter seasons.

Despite the occasional small and friendly days, OB is not a spot for beginner surfers. With strong riptides and powerful currents, it may take surfers over 30 minutes to paddle out if they make it out at all. With strong currents often taking you north or south, you’ll find yourself paddling against the current most of your session or end up a mile away from where you parked. Most of the summer is foggy with onshore winds and the winter season can often have weeks without conditions smaller that 10ft.

The surf is generally smaller and breaks closer to shore in front of the Beach Chalet and generally larger and breaks further out between Noriega and Sloat. If you’re new to the break, check the conditions and current before paddling out.