You’d think being surrounded by water in the SF Bay Area would = great OWS, but I’m finding that there are only 2 real places to go OWS - Aquatic Park in SF and one in Coyote Point park in San Mateo. Lake Almaden in San Jose is closed due to water quality.
Are there any other places to do OWS in the Bay Area, or is this it? Kind of shocks me, given the super-high density of triathletes in Norcal, especially the Silicon Valley (mountain view / San jose) area as well as all the water in the surrounding areas.
One that isn’t listed is Redwood Shores Lagoon. We have people in our group that go almost weekly.
Directions from San Jose via 101
-Take the 101 North towards San Francisco
-Take the Marine World Parkway Exit. Exit toward the bay.
-Follow Marine World Parkway.
To the swim site:
-At the second light turn right on Twin Dolphin Drive.
-Turn left on: Lagoon Drive.
-Turn Right into the first parking lot.
To the end of the canal and back (from the dock) is about 2.2 miles.
How about the ocean west end of San Francisco? Or are sharks a problem?
Rip tides at Ocean Beach.
Options include:
China Camp in Marin
Paradise Cove in Marin
Lake Del Valle in Livermore
Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton
Chrissy Field in SF
the little beach off of Treasure Island
Lake Berryessa in Napa
How about the ocean west end of San Francisco? Or are sharks a problem?
Rip tides at Ocean Beach.
Options include:
China Camp in Marin
Paradise Cove in Marin
Lake Del Valle in Livermore
Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton
Chrissy Field in SF
the little beach off of Treasure Island
Lake Berryessa in Napa
Honest question, can a rip tide take down someone in a full wetsuit?
One that isn’t listed is Redwood Shores Lagoon. We have people in our group that go almost weekly.
Directions from San Jose via 101
-Take the 101 North towards San Francisco
-Take the Marine World Parkway Exit. Exit toward the bay.
-Follow Marine World Parkway.
To the swim site:
-At the second light turn right on Twin Dolphin Drive.
-Turn left on: Lagoon Drive.
-Turn Right into the first parking lot.
To the end of the canal and back (from the dock) is about 2.2 miles.
Honest question, can a rip tide take down someone in a full wetsuit?
A swimmer who knows what he or she is doing in the water? No. I wouldn’t worry one bit at OBSF. I lived overlooking OBSF at the end of Taraval, and cut my teeth surfing the place. I would actually LOOK for the riptides when it got big to assist me in getting out past the waves. It’s summertime now, so there will be barely any rip tides happening, and even if you get in one, they usually just move out at a few MPH, and not for more than 50-100 yards at the worst. Just swim sideways until you’re out of it, or do what I would do - swim against it, using it like an endless pool until the rip dies out.
I’d be more worried about getting turned into shark fodder swimming there. Too damn cold too. Go swim at USF.