Ocean Beach, San Francisco
Ocean Beach is a
During the late spring and summer, San Francisco's characteristic foggy weather frequently envelops the beach. The average temperature for the last 5 years has been 13.2 °C (55.8 °F)[1] Most of the beach-friendly weather occurs in the fall (usually mid to late September) and early in the spring when fog and strong sea breezes are less prevalent. Dry winter days also tend to provide excellent weather at Ocean Beach (especially in drought years).
The water at Ocean Beach is noteworthy for its strong, dangerous currents and powerful waves, which make it popular among serious surfers. The water is cold, due in part to a process known as
Surfing
The beach is one of the Bay Area's top surfing spots and — when breaking well — can be world class, especially during large swells in the winter months. Surfers and other swimmers have died at Ocean Beach; one example occurred in May 2006,[5] with the next-previous death taking place in January 2006.[6] Prior to that, it had been about five years since a death at Ocean Beach. In 1998, a record seven people lost their lives there.[7]
The Ocean Beach surfing community is served by four surf shops and several popular beach-themed cafes.
On November 6, 2011, Ocean Beach hosted the Rip Curl Pro surfing competition, in which Kelly Slater won his 11th ASP world championship at the age of 39. This was the only one of his championships won in the continental United States.[8]
History
Due in part to its sometimes inhospitable weather (high winds, cold weather and fog), the area was largely undeveloped throughout most of San Francisco's early history, when it was known as part of the "
Railroads
The Park and Ocean Railroad ran along Lincoln Way on the south edge of Golden Gate Park and then turned north into the western end of the Park along La Playa Street. This
The Park and Cliff House Railroad ran west along California Street and then along the coast to turn south on 48th Avenue. This 36-inch (91 cm)
Resort era
Following a brief stint as a refugee camp after the 1906 earthquake, the area was touted as a resort. A small amusement park, Playland at the Beach, was built where Cabrillo and Balboa streets now end. Major development occurred in the 1920s and 1930s with construction of the Great Highway and housing in the adjacent Sunset and Richmond Districts. After the destruction of the Sutro Baths in 1966, the neighborhood lost its resort appeal; the amusement park was also torn down in 1972, to be replaced by apartment blocks and a supermarket in the 1990s.
On January 25, 1878, the King Philip, a three-masted
See also
References
- ^ "Ocean Beach GGNRA Weather | Personal Weather Station: KCASANFR107 by Wunderground.com | Weather Underground". www.wunderground.com. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ Ted Andersen (September 28, 2018). "California's deadliest beach is in the Bay Area". SFGATE. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ "Two Teen Boys, In A Group Of Five Friends, Swept Out To Sea At Ocean Beach, Presumed Dead". Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ Carolyn Jones (May 27, 2010). "Bay Area beaches grade well for safe swimming". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Davidson, Keay; Rubenstein, Steve (May 16, 2006). "Ocean Beach rip currents lethal". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ Sturrock, Carrie (January 23, 2006). "Surfer dies off Ocean Beach". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ Herel, Suzanne; Finz, Stacy (January 24, 2006). "Taste of surfing proves fatal". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ^ Almond, Elliott (November 2, 2011). "Kelly Slater wins title No. 11 at Ocean Beach". The Mercury News. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ Amusing America, San Francisco Public Library online exhibit, Sept 2006. Accessed 7 August 2007.
- ^ Beldner, Ray Public Art: Playland Revisited Archived 2007-08-17 at the Wayback Machine. Access 7 August 2007.
- ^ a b Borden, Stanley T. (1971). "San Francisco Steam Dummies". The Western Railroader. 34 (376). Francis A. Guido: 9.
- ^ Mark Lukach. "The Return of the King Philip Shipwreck". oceanbeachbulletin.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.