SUP Surfing Outlawed in New Jersy Surf Zones

[river]

Don't plan any trips to NJ anytime soon to go SUP Surfing. Take your tourist dollars to other states is what I say.   
distressedmullet.com/new-jersey-town-ban...when-surfers-present

[SeaMe]

Think about how those of us who are stuck here feel.  

For a place that's desperately trying to get tourists to come back (i.e. revive the economy) NJ seems to be going out of its way to drive people away.

Check out this gem from Spring Lake. It's non-SUP but it really gives you an idea of the mindset of the people in charge:
http://newjersey.news12.com/news/police-called-on-naked-toddlers-in-spring-lake-1.5665558

Jeff Edelstein's personal write-up of how his toddlers were almost arrested:
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_23620180/my-naked-toddlers-almost-got-arrested-down-jersey

[Caribsurf]

no page comes up, but I would imagine it is in the surf zone during lifeguard hours at the surf beach. I can't imagine they would ban SUPs off hours ..

Where I grew in Ocean City, NJ they had only a couple of designated surf beaches where you could surf all day.  All the other beaches were swimmers only during lifeguard hours.  The surfing only beaches were rather small and tight and I think SUPs could wreak havoc when crowded which was most of the time in peak summer and a good swell.

This was years ago and moved away so a lot may have changed since then

[JerseySUP]

It's so inconsistent in NJ. Some beaches let you launch literally anywhere at any time. Others (such as Cape May where I spend most of my summer) strictly prohibit SUP during lifeguard hours.

I often wonder why it's totally cool for boogie boarders and skimmer boarders to routinely mow over women and small children but if you show up with a SUP you'll get chased away by every lifeguard on the beach. I can't even launch from the surfing beach when there aren't any surfers!

[pdxmike]

Here's a better link:
http://distressedmullet.com/new-jersey-town-bans-sups-surf-zones-when-surfers-present

[excav8ter sup]

The regulation nation rolls on....

[Caribsurf]

think about it though, a 3 ft soft boogie board and a skim board in toe deep water don't threaten swimmers and beach goers like an 11 ft sup board do.  Sup is a growing sport and attracting so many people from various backgrounds and athletic ability, and from what I see here up in Maine and  in the summer it's probably a good idea SUPs are banned during lifeguard hours or restricted to surf only areas. 

My relatives live in Cape May Point, and if you really want to find a place to SUP during lifeguard hours there are plenty of unguarded spots with access although maybe not the "in spots"

It's so inconsistent in NJ. Some beaches let you launch literally anywhere at any time. Others (such as Cape May where I spend most of my summer) strictly prohibit SUP during lifeguard hours.

I often wonder why it's totally cool for boogie boarders and skimmer boarders to routinely mow over women and small children but if you show up with a SUP you'll get chased away by every lifeguard on the beach. I can't even launch from the surfing beach when there aren't any surfers!

[trashinwb]

In Belmar (NJ) we're relegated to an area for the kayakers in the south end of town. Most of us are okay with it because the surfing beach is jam packed with morons any way. I can deal with it for 3 months a year.  I usually surf before or after beach hours any way. LBI is 18 miles long and has different municipalities. I'm sure the rules vary by town, with the exception of the towns served by Long Beach Township Beach Patrol.  My biggest concern is when one of us actually hurts a tourist accidentally, of course. I could easily see towns citing the accident as grounds for a full on ban during summer.

[Bean]

The prone surfers have a bigger voice in the lifeguard community and the towns blindly follow the advice of the lifeguards under the guise of safety.

My work does not allow me to surf too much during guard hours so I'm not heavely affected by this movement now.  But, once segregation is in place during guard hours, I'm concerned that it may spill over into off hours.

[JimK]

We are getting along fine here in Ventnor NJ (Ventnor Pier) Prone surfers, Fishermen and SUP's If it gets crowded we can go to our designated area (fine spot a few yards north of the Pier) We (SUS) migrate that way any way we get longer rides and leave the pier for proners (short steep waves into the pier & fishermans hooks)

All good here on Absecon Island (and Ocean City for that matter)

JimK
www.extremewindsurfing

[Caribsurf]

Hey Jim thanks, I wondered about OC its been 33 years since my family lived there and it was such a cool surf town.  I wonder has SUP has been accepted there.  Good thing is before and after the lifeguards are on duty, the are more than 60 blocks of surf breaks so plenty of room for everyone

[Cardiff Sweeper]

Question:

What is actually banned?
The paddle or the board?

Can I prone surf a SUP board?

Can I SUP surf a normal longboard?

What does the law state?


As I've said this before, kids are small enough to use longboards as SUPS.

And my 7'7" is semi-surfable sans paddle.

So, if I paddle out prone on my SUP, then just stand around on it, will they arrest me?   


Yes, I'm bring critical here. 

[Bean]

Specifically for Spring Lake, NJ, when i asked the lifeguard, who whistled me in, he said, I couldn't even prone surf my SUP.  i was on my 10 footer  so i followed up with, what about my 7'10"?  his simple answer was if its an SUP you can't use it in the surf.  I asked how the rule came about.  He replied, that was the responsibility of the beach supervisor. 

I took a walk to the beach supervisors office and asked him the same general questions, he explained that it was his decision (based upon his 28 years of experience) but then passed the buck by stating water safety is always at the discression of the lifeguards.  I was told by him, that I could SUS at Pier Beach, but the lifeguards there were totaly unsure...

[iopsailor]

I was  in Ocean  City last summer, usually got off the water by the time the lifeguards showed up.  I did ask them what the rules were and they wanted SUPs, proners and swimmers all  within their flags designating a guarded area.  Exactly the opposite of what I  would consider  common sense.

[supthecreek]

Peon bureaucrat's don't make laws... they make rules
If their arbitrary rules threaten your liberties, don't accept them...challenge them

If you give up and comply, they will take more.