018: Easy Noriega

Posted on September 28, 2008
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After kvetching about how competitive things can get at Kelly’s Cove, my good friend Ben Forsyth, himself a 12-year SF transplant from New England (and a surfer), pointed out that Kelly’s is one of the more localized spots in the area. Which I guess I knew, but still… it’s right here and gets really good.

Anyway he suggested trying Noriega Ave, which is near the middle of Ocean Beach. So I checked it out yesterday and had a blast. The waves weren’t big, probably chest high with some plus sets, but really nice and easy A-frame peaks, rolling in under a bright hazy fog; the sun was trying to poke through, and it finally did. Super clean and super fun, nothing critical, but there were some hollow sections to be found for sure. And a lot more room to stretch out, several times I had a peak to myself, or only had to share with at most a couple people. The talent level was lower, too; which was fine by me. And people were actually friendly. None of the pissed off sneering and constant jockeying for position. Ha. I’ll definitely be heading back to that stretch of beach.

The photo is from a Brazilian festival that was happening down the beach near VFW’s.