Surfing under the Golden Gate Bridge

San Francisco got world recognition as a surfing city when Rip Curl chose Ocean Beach to hold the Pro Search back in 2011. It was in its cold waters were Kelly Slater got his 11th World Title.

However, even though Ocean Beach is the main spot in the city, there is another break, right where one of the icons of San Francisco sits. Fort Point is located just under the South tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Even though it's not one of the best waves in California, its unique environment and rarity, makes this wave an entry in the bucket list of most of the surfers in the world, both pros and intermediate. It's also, one of the few left-handed point breaks in California.

You must take into account that, even though it might look like an easy wave, it is not a spot for beginners. There are many hazards to consider, starting with local surfers. Fort Point breaks really infrequently, ant it only works with low tide and strong W or NW swells (common during the winter). As a rule of thumb, if Ocean Beach is huge and maxed out, Fort Point might be worth checking out. All of this creates a pretty big crowd, congregated in a tiny take off zone. Therefore, you must respect the lineup.

Rocks create another danger, both the ones that show up in the lineup and the ones closer to the wall. Sometimes, it's paddling out or in can become a real challenge. Some locals even wear helmets!

Finally, something you should never underestimate is the amount of water flowing around the San Francisco Bay. The current is particularly strong when the tide goes out.