Where else would you surf in SF….

[The Mayor]

but under the Golden Gate bridge!! These surfers were highly skilled as there are huge rocks sticking out of the water in the area they’re surfing.

 

[bcla]

That photo doesn't necessarily do justice to the dangers since it doesn't show the shore. There's no beach there right at Fort Point. The shoreline is all jagged concrete infill. It's there to prevent erosion.

I've seen some pretty crazy surfing too, like people surfing next to our condo rental in Kona, where the shore was all jagged volcanic rock.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Are they regular people or Coast Guard making sure the coast is clear?

People are very much on edge today, not a great day to go lingering under a bridge in a big city like San Fran, it is a good way to get yourself arrested :/

 

[BrianL]

They surfed their way out of Alcatraz!

 

[The Mayor]

That photo doesn't necessarily do justice to the dangers since it doesn't show the shore. There's no beach there right at Fort Point. The shoreline is all jagged concrete infill. It's there to prevent erosion.

I've seen some pretty crazy surfing too, like people surfing next to our condo rental in Kona, where the shore was all jagged volcanic rock.

Very true. All slippery boulders in and out of there. I was trying to catch the surfers and the bridge and missed the shoreline.

 

[bcla]

Very true. All slippery boulders in and out of there. I was trying to catch the surfers and the bridge and missed the shoreline.

I've been there many times and have seen surfers there quite often. It takes a lot of skill, but I believe one of the primary reasons why that spot is used is the ease of parking and then just walking down the rocks to the water. It also has some pretty unique surf characteristics.

 

[bcla]

Are they regular people or Coast Guard making sure the coast is clear?

People are very much on edge today, not a great day to go lingering under a bridge in a big city like San Fran, it is a good way to get yourself arrested :/

Nah - anyone can surf there or even be there under the bridge. The area is all National Park Service including Fort Point, which is operated as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area even though it legally has its own designation. There are paths under the bridge that are mostly part of the National Park Service, but the area around the bridge toll plaza are all Golden Gate Bridge District. They're patrolled mostly by the US Park Police, but sometimes by law enforcement rangers. The bridge district doesn't have its own law enforcement, but they have armed security guards operating as the Golden Gate Bridge Patrol. I believe they're authorized to make arrests by the San Francisco Chief of Police and the Marin County Sheriff. They handle all sorts of things including suicide attempts.

I remember waiting somewhere (might have been on Fort Point) when I saw boat that got stuck on one of the Golden Gate Bridge piers and had a ton of difficulty getting loose because the currents. It was just being pressed against the pier and didn't have enough power to get out, and/or the operator wasn't skilled enough to get loose. Eventually I saw a Coast Guard helicopter there checking out the situation. Eventually they sent out a boat that got there after it was free. I think the boater wanted to decline any help, but after that I believe the Coast Guard was going to board for an inspection and possibly to chew out the boater for for poor boatsmanship. The Coast Guard operates helicopters out of SFO, but they have a small station in Marin County at the former Fort Baker.

https://www.nps.gov/places/000/coast-guard-golden-gate.htm
https://www.pacificarea.uscg.mil/OurOrganization/District11/DistrictUnits/SectorSanFrancisco.aspx

 

[LuvOrlando]

Wasn't yesterday was an elevated threat day? I forget some parts of the US aren't as cautious as NYC and Boston.