Tourmalines are precious stones displaying a unique array of
colors. Tourmaline (Beach) Surfing Park is a precious gem to
surfers and locals who know this spot located on the
northern end of Pacific Beach.
Officially named Tourmaline
Surfing Park, it sits at the base of Tourmaline Street in a
beautiful neighborhood just south of La Jolla. This beach
area north of Crystal Pier extends approximately one mile
from the north to south. There are coastal cliffs up to 75
feet in height creating a natural break that delineates
Pacific Beach and this beach region from La Jolla. A
sidewalk traverses the cliff-top along much of the south end
of the beach. Tourmaline Surfing Park includes a public
parking lot heavily used by surfers and sailboarders year
round.
There are restrooms and
showers at the foot of Diamond Street and Law Street on the
south end and at Tourmaline Surfing Park on the north end.
Alcohol may not be consumed in Pacific Beach Park or on the
walkways above North Pacific Beach. Consumption of alcohol
is permitted on the beach from Noon to 8 p.m., but
prohibited at all times in parking lots, adjacent walkways,
and grassy parks adjacent to the beach. Info: sannet.gov
Tourmaline is accessible from Mission
Boulevard. From La Jolla Boulevard turn left on Tourmaline
Street to the public parking lot or search for limited
on-street parking in residential areas.
Surfers who know the beach topography and
wave action categorize this region as featuring three
sections with different wave characteristics - The Cove, Pump
House and Grimace Rock. Locals and old timers stand in the
parking lot before and after they surf to say hello, answer
tourist questions and even discuss business deals. One a
recent visit, BEACHCALIFORNIA.COM staff received helpful
information from a commercial Real Estate broker and regular
surfer at Tourmaline. He smiled at our query about Skeeter
Malcolm, the face and name on a stone bench overlooking
Tourmaline.
Skeeter Malcolm, a legendary local
waterman surfed throughout his life until shortly before his
death in 1993, at age 70. In his later years he presided
over a group of fellow surfing old-timers at Sunset Cliffs,
a few miles south of Tourmaline.
Malcolm’s memory lives on,
thanks to his friends who sold T-shirts with his picture on
them so that they could pay for the tribute bronze plaque on
a bench overlooking the waves. Skeeter was a lover of sports
and shared a passion for the ocean and waves with other men
his age. He encouraged his friends to dive, go fishing,
boating and surfing. References state he held the career in
education and was a public school principal. The San Diego
Port District provides this list that includes Skeeter's
name: Slough Surfers 1940's: Gard Chapin, Peter Cole,
Richard Davis, Bill "Hadji" Hein, Matt Kivlin, Jack
Lounsberry, Harry "Buck" Millar, Skeeter Malcolm, Preston
"Pete" Peterson, Joe Quigg, Dave Rochlen, Tommy Zahn.
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San Diego, CA
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Pictured is Tourmaline
Surfing Park and Beach and local legend, Skeeter Malcolm
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