Ocean Beach Pier

The break features a left-hand wave peeling off the north side of the pier alongside a separate right-hand break called The Jetty. Both work best during mid to low tide with west-traveling swell and offshore east winds, though the break is temperamental and conditions shift frequently. The sandy bottom accommodates all skill levels, and when swell is large, a channel next to the pier's north edge provides easier paddle-out access.

Ocean Beach's place in surfing history centers on the 1966 World Surfing Championships held here in late September and early October. The contest marked the turning point toward modern shortboard design—Nat Young's Australian team demonstrated how smaller, more maneuverable boards opened up performance possibilities that longer boards could not. The event drew over ten thousand spectators and established both the location and the sport's direction forward. The newly opened municipal fishing pier itself became iconic to the spot's identity.

Access is straightforward—the beach is fully developed with parking and facilities nearby. Hazards include the pier pilings and structural supports, rip currents common to the area, and strong crowds, particularly on weekends and during summer. River runoff from nearby streams after rain is another consideration.