Being in Southern California during a quarantine means being surrounded by very pissed surfers.
In the wake of COVID-19 we have seen a nation united to defeat this disease, workers staying home, families separated, and universities adjusting all in hopes to overcome. However, one group refuses to allow national law to keep them from what they love. Surfers. Almost a month ago beaches throughout California and Florida have been closed to the public. No walking, no tanning, no wading, and NO SURFING.
We all have to do our part, it’s necessary to shut down these parks in order to maintain social distancing. Unfortunately, surfers are not seeing it this way. Braving $1000 fines, surfers continue to make the exception for themselves charging into the water in hopes for a few waves. As seen in this clip…
Does this really matter? Surfing isn’t a very social environment, everyone naturally socially distances in the water. While there may not be any real consequence to a few surfers breaking the rules, the significance lies in the mindset of these individuals who selfishly decide to possibly expose themselves and others to the disease while everyone else stays home.
While many beaches up and down the coast of California have been closed due to COVID-19, a few have stayed open which is causing more damage than hoped. Sure, it is helping many people by closing down beaches for health reasons, but the few beaches and surf spots that remain open are more crowded than ever. Many Orange County beaches are attracting surfers from far and wide, simply because they are the only ones open. Closing almost every other beach does nothing if everyone is migrating to these few spots.
“San Diego Lifeguard Chief James Gartland, in an article published on Surfline on Wednesday April 1, said: “By going out and surfing, you’re putting the lifeguard at risk, you’re putting the firemen at risk if you get injured, you’re putting the police officer who has to come and enforce it at risk. And then if you end up in the hospital, you’re taking a bed away from someone who might need it more than you.”
Although surfing is a sport many people use for stress relief, it is ultimately not worth it to put your own health, and others’ at risk for a couple seshes. Personally, I have gone to the ocean for stress relief and happiness for almost all of my life and it is awful that I am unable to surf during these tough times, however I know it socially irresponsible. If we all do our part and stay inside, we will be able to get back in the water in no time.
Check out this page for ideas on how to #shredathome.
my thoughts & some mumbo jumbo 
4 replies on “Surfing During a Pandemic”
Molly, I can imagine this being frustrating and unideal to someone whose sport, biggest stress-reliever, or even career is in the water. However, in these unprecedented time, quite literally nothing about our “new normal” is ideal for anyone. I agree in that defying the orders to stay off of the beaches, even if surfers are six feet away, is an act of disrespect and selfishness. I appreciate you giving up this pleasure of yours for the time being in order to keep others safe and to respect what needs to happen in order to hopefully go back soon to our daily lives and habits.
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Instagram accounts of relevant surf community members have recently provided a great forum for surfers to discuss this issue (@joeljitsu @ocinstanews). Within these comments is a very, very strong divide and an inability to see the other side.
One of the more common arguments is that surfers already social distance while they’re in the water. I can confidently say that this is just not true. While in the water, there is always a battle for positioning which often involves paddling right next to another surfer in order to improve one’s positioning.
Surfing isn’t “social” per-say but it possesses the same sort of non-verbal competition and interaction as a variety of other sports.
I also think you’re spot on about people swarming to one beach because its the only one open. This produces many different problems. If all beaches are open, will people spread out and go to local beaches? Or will this cause non-surfing, non-local beachgoers to climb off their couch and go to the beach more than usual?
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I think this epidemic has caused a lot of stress and anxiety to everyone, especially those who are use to being with people and during outdoor activities. I am friends with a lot of surfer friends that have been experiencing this ‘heartbreak’ of not being able to go out into the waves. I really liked how you highlighted this topic because I find it very interesting how even when people are alone, in the middle of the ocean, it is illegal to surf. It technically is ‘social distancing’ because they are not around other people. Something that I feel that could bend the rule is if surfers wear a mask… obviously that is ridiculous, but if we are allowed to exercise in the streets wearing a mask, why can we not surf alone wearing a mask. Even though surfing is not legal right now and there is a fine attached to it, I still know a lot of people who risk it every day to get out into the ocean. I think that people have to stay sane and physically healthy, and if they are respecting the social distancing regulations, then I see no harm in surfing!
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I see both sides of the coin here. I get it, people are bored or whatever and want to get out and do activities they enjoy such as surfing. Look, we all want to get back to normality. However, why can’t we just wait out this month or two-month long break and let it get back to reality as soon as possible. If we all just did our part for this short time it will go by much quicker than if we all decide to break the rules and do whatever we want. Let’s just obey the regulations for this short period, let the virus cool down, and get back to shredding the gnar. yew
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