Surfing legends not stoked about Tourmaline Surf Park in San Diego 1963 

wow ,, this tourmaline story was mind blowing to come up on u-tube by surprise.... i lived in la jolla for 40 years. first third, a half a block from beautiful windn'sea beach, then the second third, right up the street from south bird, then the last third,, back to a half a block from windn'sea beach again..... my first year or so of learning how to surf was me and juan gamboa would walk from south bird to tourmaline, about 2 miles,, i would carry the 2 front noses of our 9'6" longboards, and Juan would carry the 2 tails,, tourmaline canyon was pure nature, no roads, nothing. there was a trail we walked down through the valley to the surf.... junk surf, but thats where we learned.... you could find giant fossilized shark teeth in that canyon. it was so beautiful.... just like la canada canyon in la jolla was before it was developed/ruined..... then we learned how to ride waves good enough to ride beautiful sungold point,, i remember we were still major groms,, and when we walked down to the beach at the point, all the older surfers and their gals would all be naked on the beach to the left.... we were like, omg,, keep walking....lol then we mastered the point, hair-mo's, hanomands, sewerline, south bird, huge north bird, and secret spots..... so after we got surfing dialed.... there were days when i would catch the biggest sets at outside hair-mo's, and get incredible down the line rides all the way to tourmaline....!!!! which is easily over a mile....!!!! so it was weird to kick out at tourmaline as a pro,, when that was where it all started for me..... then many years later, la jolla got ruined with to many rules and regulations, crowds, etc...... so me and my dog entered the time machine,, and moved 31 years ago to a very remote, lonely, coastline in northern California to a place like la jolla was in the 1800's and still is.... thank you all you beautiful surfers that showed me how beautiful surfing is with all of you beautiful different styles...... i love you all and miss you...... sincerely, roy stockton.....☮💜🙂

The driving forces for building this park didn't relate to the quality of the surf. It was creating bathroom facilities and places for surfers to change. There was decent surf to the north, off Sun Gold Point. Surfers would park in the residential areas off Sea Ridge Drive, change in their cars, or semi-hidden behind car doors, which wasn't thought of highly by the residents. Nor was occasional public urination. The police were called regularly. There were threats at City Hall to ban surfing in the area. This lead to efforts by a coalition of surf clubs and senior life guards to request public investment in facilities. I was there. The campaign included a march down broadway to City Hall to present the case. There was a photo of the marchers with signs on the front page of the Evening Tribune. This photo is memorialized on a wall mural in the O.B. Surf Lodge.

reporter should get credit here as well for asking constructive and meaningful questions amongst everyone, allowing them to speak and converse back to their points

"Because the surfer is one of the few individuals left." Well said, Mike.

I love reading all of your comments. Thanks for providing background information.

It amazes me how well spoken young people were back in the day.

Wish it still looked that way.

So fun to see this before the ramp/parking lot. Didn’t realize that Tourmaline dead-ended at the canyon, but it makes sense. It must have been before LJ Blvd cut through to Loring. I’m gonna have to go look up some Historical Society photos now. I was born in Dec ‘63 - right around when this was filmed. I’m posting this from my native childhood home, where I now live again - on Chelsea at Southbird. I was at Bird Rock Elementary during the Rasmussen years. My Dad took us to the Shores in those early years to surf, but once we were old enough to get around on bikes- we were at Law St or Old Man’s/Cove. Over time, we got more picky and I remember bravely paddling out at Southbird for the first time at 9 and getting acquainted with finger reef. After that, our playground became Windansea to PB point - whatever was walkable or bikeable. Every day, I am pleasantly reminded of how fortunate we are to be connected with this amazing stretch of coastline - a beautiful surfing playground. Of course, with that comes a sense of custodianship, especially with so many visitors nowadays. Special aloha to our PB/LJ family of local old timers, including these early legends and those who continue to carry the torch of preserving and maintaining beach access. We may or may not know each other, but we are bonded through our local history that transcends time. See you in the water. 🌊

i grew up surfing tourmaline canyon , from archer st. loring st, the cove, false point hermos,i loved the park close to home for alot of us groms, following guys like skip frye, bruce enns, margo, sandera, dale dobson ,what beautiful memories, bird rock elementary alumni,,we just to skateboard down that hill awsome memories,,,,,its good they put that park,,,

I was surfing this area during the early 60s and don't remember this city fiasco. The Tourmaline canyon was never good but just south at Law street we had OK surf. They went ahead and built Tourmaline Surf Park but we never went there and I don't think anyone ever did. I think the city caved to the property owners who did not want to provide lawful access to the beach. That has been a problem since Balsa boards were used.

Used to frequent this beach when I moved here in 1981. Beautiful.

Lol I love how he says it’s flat but there’s plenty of runners coming through hahah. All I know is I could go out in that ANY DAY OF THE WEEK AND HAVE A BLAST!!! At 1:09 look above the blonde hair dude above his head lol there’s a perfect right just peeling with no one in sight trying to jam

PB Point can be good when it is really big. I got to surf with Mike Hynson there once about 20 years ago. ❤

The year Surfin USA came out, which mentions La Jolla.

Great! Keep posting old news stories!!

That house in the background would be worth $15 million today

Well spoken chaps with very reasonable perspectives.

Mike Diffenderfer one of the All Time Great shapers breaks down a San Diego cluster

CASTOR,HYNSON and DIFFENDERFED,Legends

Thoughtful, articulate responses from Bill Caster. Hyson is vague when naming spots. Dif is correct; surfers go where the waves are best. Was San Diego really ever going to limit surfing? The video shows empty crap waves. Same conditions today, attracts hundreds from team Costco.

Haha! This is great! I learned to surf at Tourmaline, surfed there and hung out with my friends there for years.

Wow I was 13 then and vaguely remember this huge debate. My mom took up surfing in the 50’s surfing Malibu lots … where there was a tough bunch of extremely territorial guys. They had razor blades inserted into the tips of their boards with a point system … with kicking out at someone’s head (who had taken off in front of them) scored the highest points. But no idea how they dressed or spoke 😂 We moved to the North Shore Oahu ‘64 so lost track of how this all turned out. As a 13 year old never forget going to Santa Monica Auditorium to see Endless Summer … so much wonderful dreamy innocence … however, NS had it’s dark side back then too.

Young Mike Hynson… what a ledge

Grew up surfing Crystal Pier and Law street as a kid… Tourmaline was always for beginners

The most crowded spot in San Diego.

Tourmaline has become a nice spot down here as longboarding gains interest, it also became the spot for everyone and their momma to learn. I love surfing here when the waves are big or small, super chill. However I do like the idea of them building a bunch of smaller access points along the coast instead

Those waves look fun for a groveler and I would take it any day on the East Coast :)

I used to live right across the street from this beach.

Mike Hynson and Bill Caster,…. and Mike Diffenderfer.

Imagine if people communicated like this today.

These lucky kids, at the time, could buy a house near by just waiting tables or pumping gas.

Amazing places

Wow...constructive open dialogue without interruption. They even stayed on topic. Surfers wearing normal clothes, forming complete sentences without playing up stereotypes! Well done random people from the past. Sorry we have let you down hahaha!

North county rules. Swami’s.🤙

I stayed there for a month in a breadbox motorhome...june july 74....buddy broke his arm skateboarding down ramp....surf was soso....but plenty spots close by.....like the cat said.wind and sea was wild....wipe outs brutal....happy 2023....old guys rule

Almost sixty years ago . . . Pretty cool!

Epic...

My dad bodysurfed the pier mid-late ‘50’s, no fins no wetsuit, and always said only kooks need boards to surf haha.

Tourmaline 1969: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZUNaC7pcHbM.html

In the background is an actual point, PB point lol. Also, just the beach of tourmaline can get long rides. I'm afraid he's incorrect. :P

Good comments

Classic 💙

Loved walking out and still only knee depth and that wave just kept rolling, and rolling. Board would chatter too

Epic

Hermos looks good

Wow Mike was wrong Casper had it right, tourmaline is a good learning ground for surfers, and PB point is a good wave !!

Interesting how this surfer/swimmer conflict played out back then. Crazy local lawmakers coming up with such a draconian idea. Australian beaches have surfer zones and swimming zones - though swimmers aren't discouraged from surf zones, it's further from the flagged lifeguarded area. Some beaches do ban hard boards(Tamarama), but it's rare and time restricted so you can still surf there early. Classic breaks would never be affected and beach access is sacrosanct in Oz. Impressed how articulate those boys were, You would be lucky to get a proper sentence from many of the surfers I knew.

Hynson!

Please note that there is no sound for the first 24 seconds, at least on my side.

Surfers should be allowed to take a public pathway between the houses. 👍👍👍👍 🏄🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️🏄🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️

Nice up

I grew up on Alison Street in Pb before the canyon parking lot the surf school is right there now 100s a day I stand on this very inch everyday have of and on for 63 years

Tourmaline point was pumping I th background.. who else has rode a wave from the point to the steps ?

I'm looking for Gidget

Not a homeless person in site and people were respectful. AKA the good old days.

It's nice to see what Tourmaline looked like before the parking lot, bathrooms, and road down the hill. I know that the fear was that Tourmaline would be the ONLY place surfers were allowed, which would have been a true travesty, considering how much good surf San Diego has to offer. It is also hilarious to say that surfers wouldn't surf Tourmaline. Clearly, that is not the case. I love that spot and PB Point on the outside. They get crowded like bonkers these days, but this is the way of things. In hindsight, I'm proud to have surfed and competed at Tourmaline and that it's a bona fide "surfing park."

Lived on Law street at this time, just a kid with a heavy, clunky log, good fun,

3 legends right here. I grew up just down the road. Couldnt surf a lick but sure was fun trying.

Incredible. Who found this...

Surfers then we’re very wise.

so coool, alohaaaaa

I like how well-mannered and dressed these young men are, unlike today's surfers who are rude, snotty and aggressive

California is so much better now with all the progress. No diversity back in the 1960's either. I hope Channel 8 has hired a diversity and inclusion manager by now to help correct the errors of the past.

In the mid and late 70's myself and a few bro's would be ripping pump house and no one around , Now , turmo parking lot is full of kooks.. Long live JR and Hawaiian Mike . RIP. my brother's

Main reason miss the 50’s / 60’s….. best surfers in the county speaking the truth and being badassas, while wearing cardigan and v-neck sweaters. Smart guys!

when he asked about the property owners i expected them to reply that they should move their homes back inland.

1963. Yay

All beaches should have public access and facilities. Private property owners would still be able to see the ocean while they drink their martinis.

Wow so even in 1963 it didnt have a surfable wave

Mike " Ocean Beach " Before the Jetty

Marine St.

Wow Mike looked like a kid then.........oh wait this was 60 years ago. This problem very rarely happens in Hawaii except when mainland transplants (Californians) complain about access trails the surfers use.

Sadly, there is no Surf Club in the town of Chillingbourne.

Better times.

At the time, I was still an infant crawling around...👶(GOO)

1:06 haha, pls ignore what is going on behind his head. really this was a great thing for SD surf, great place for beginners and such. it has its days

epic

😮

Can all men go back to dressing like this everyday? They all look so handsome

i love when the news guys is asking him where the best surf is, how hard he is trying to not ACTUALLY name the best spots. haha

We are still getting screwed on the spots and time of day where we can go out and surf , I go out till I’m told to move, cop life GAURD’s ahhhhhh😢

This is where the surf rebellion began

Is Mike Hynson still alive? I remember him from the Endless summer. Some old timer told me that the film made tens of millions and he never received any money for co-starring in film?

Imagine interviewing people their same age today. It would be unintelligible garbage lol.

Got my clothes and shoes stolen from my truck at Tourmaline. Drove home in my wetsuit.

Common sense from intelligent young men.Surfers were too free for the starched shirts.

Funny how the city is willing to bend over backwards when it wants something done, but when "residents" call for action they put the brakes on hard.....

Great place to be a kook, where I learned to surf.

LJUKNOW!!!!!!

Lived right off Sapphire Street, Longboarders dominated the surf there. Usually small or flat. Great history 🤙🏽🤙🏽

Why does everyone back then sound more articulate?

Isn't that where Walter and the Dude scattered Donnys ashes!?

Unintentionally dissing long-boarders

Shhh don't tell everyone

The best spots don't have passage ways

Haha this city thought there were going to make a surfing reservation, concentrate the surfers, hahaha!😂

Everyone knows turmo sucks this is so great

Cart .

Community guidelines....f Community globes and golf course. Good 💡 ⛳️ 🏌️‍♀️ ⛳️

Rad Tourmaline One of San Diego's worst waves!