Thorton Shenanigans

[zeo0nie1]

Thorton State Beach is apparently blocked off by a fence. I haven't seen it myself yet. I'm hoping it gets cleared before the winds pick up!

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/convicted-art-swindler-blocked-access-bay-area-21312467.php

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/bay-area-beach-blocked-21314669.php

Beach town in uproar after art swindler builds fence

Locals in Daly City, California, have been left livid after convicted fraudster and art swindler Luke Brugnara, 62, built a massive chain-link fence that blocks access to Thornton State Beach.

www.dailymail.co.uk

San Mateo County supe says fence blocks public access to Thornton State Beach - Local News Matters

A San Mateo County supervisor wants to force a private landowner to remove an 8-foot chain link fence that he says blocks the only public access path to Thornton State Beach in Daly City.

localnewsmatters.org

 

[zeo0nie1]

issue resolved

 

[Chris]

I saw that on the news!

 

[Wayne]

Yeah, was watching that unfold - What a wonderful guy. Looks like he found the perfect girlfriend too.

(For those not following along, some guy that had been thrown in prison for other "business dealings" managed to strong arm a partial ownership of a family property that has been used as a public right for a very long time. He then forged a document to grab a few shares from other family members, and was being a total pain and trying to get the rest of the family to just give up and hand over the property. One of his tactics was to fence off the beach access that instantly pissed off the public and then the threats to shoot people, etc. Wonderful guy. He is now in prison again, felon with a weapon, etc. Will be fun to watch it all stack up against him.

 

[thenated0g]

Oh interesting i had seen the news on this but didnt connect that it was "thorton" flying spot.

 

[OribaSJ88]

Thornton was my go-to slope flying site in the early...ahem...1980s. Not to date myself too much, but I still remember when Thornton Beach was a state park and there was a road down to a parking lot. Rainstorms in 1981/1982 washed out the road and it was never rebuilt. Not the highest slope but it has smooth lift and "softish" ice plant for landings. I don't think I've been there in over 30 years

 

[zeo0nie1]

I went out for a powered session today to break a string of not great outings.

I've been wondering - where do people fly at Thorton? On the top ridge, where I've been going, I've been getting poor lift. My sense is that it's from the little valley between where I am and where there is a smaller cliff along the water. Not sure tho, could just be conditions or (more likely) skill. I spoke with someone there today that said he does DSing down on the cliff by the water on the south side of the beach, it made me wonder if I should set up elsewhere.

 

[Wayne]

Yep, down by the water. That is where the wind hits and lift is clean. Pretty easy landing there too.