Surf: Popular, mellow peaks best with SW swells and higher tides. Good spot for longboarders and beginners. Gets crowded during summer. Pacific Beach Point is the sectiony right reef just north that only really works with straight W swells. Worth a look if that is the case. Directions: Park in the free lot at the end of Tourmaline Street. Surf: General: Found at the end of Tourmaline street, Old Man's provides ample parking and gentle waves for a mixed crowd of longboarders and beginners.

As a social gathering place, and center of a community, the parking lot and beach at the end of Tourmaline Street is something to be cherished -- old friends, old stories, old boards, and a brand-new sunset every night. The atmosphere here is the antithesis of the aggro jostling going on just a quarter of a mile away at the Crystal Pier. The people who surf Tourmaline love it. Tides: low to medium Size: waist to head high Wind: NE, E Swell: W, NW, SW Bottom: Sand and rock Paddling: Easy peasy most of the time. Spot Rating: Perfect for longboard cruising. Access: Easy. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Packed. Local Vibe: Mellow. Environment: Typically ok but gets dicey after a rain. Hazards: Attempting to rip mush on a shortboard, getting hit by a loose 12 foot board. Season: Best November-February, but it works year-round.