What San Franciscans' do at the beach

I know all you Europeans think that beaches are for swimming. But in San Francisco Ocean Beach, the main Beach to the Pacific Ocean, is usually freezing (rip tides don't help induce swimming either. Unless you're a very experienced surfer. Then you put on a wetsuit and wade out into the water looking like a misshapen seal.). So San Franciscans usually :::gasp::: walk on the beach, have bonfires... and sometimes spell out oversized political statements. By the way this is a great view of Golden Gate Park.