Tourmaline Surf Forecast

GOOD FOR

• Beginner — suitable
• Intermediate — suitable
• Advanced — not suitable
• Expert — not suitable

Tucked into a cobble cove that only became a rideable wave after years of river sand filled in behind the rocks, Tourmaline breaks slow and rolling, soft shoulders, a wide take-off zone, and plenty of room to work the face. Locals call it Old Man's for a reason: it is a longboarder's wave, and the most forgiving paddle-out in Pacific Beach for anyone still dialing in the timing.

WHEN IT WORKS

Its west-facing angle picks up the summer south and southwest lines that wrap in past PB Point after most of Pacific Beach has flattened out, so June through September tends to be the stretch worth keeping an eye on. Winter northwest swell still slides in, usually smaller and cleaner than the reefs up the coast. Glassy mornings hold until the onshore fills in around midday.

WHAT TO KNOW

Rocks and reef start showing on lower tides toward the north end, so most beginners hang in the sandy middle and south. Stingrays are a real thing here, so shuffle your feet on the walk in. The bigger hazard is traffic: on a summer morning it can be sixty logs deep, half of them rented foamies, so give way on the inside and expect a wait for a set.

GETTING THERE

Less than 5 min walk on average

The lot sits at the end of Tourmaline Street off La Jolla Boulevard, about 100 spaces, free, and usually full by 7am on a good summer weekend. Overflow parks up the boulevard, adding maybe five minutes on foot. From the lot, a short paved ramp drops you right onto the sand, with stairs alongside it, and there are restrooms and outdoor showers at the top.