SUP Surfing Outlawed in New Jersy Surf Zones

[trashinwb]

I had the "at the beach captain or beach managers discretion" pulled on me yesterday . It's easier to corale 3 SUP's than it is for the guards to get in and force the kids to stay in their zone against the rip. Lazy.

[newton333]

where was that? at kayak beach? 20th?

[ilmsup]

I guess I can add one more thing to my list of why moving from NJ to NC was a good idea.
I do feel for you folks that are there and have to put up with this crap. Come on down to NC, the pizza sucks, but the water and weather are great.

From a lifeguard's point, I guess it is hard to draw the line between those that can handle a sup and some fist pumping Benny that rented a SUP and is looking to cause chaos. It's just easier to ban the SUP.

It sucks when a regulation is implemented based on ease of implementation and not common sense.

Not entirely correct.  Durham has three places downtown that has real Italian pizza that is as good as any I had in the many years I spent in Manhattan.  Check out El Toro and 604 west village and Pop's.  But if you're looking for the NYC street pizza,  I was never a fan of that style so I can't comment.

But back to the topic, as much as I feel the ocean is everyone's, I understand why some breaks should be off limits for beginners.  That being said, if you have control of your craft and respect the etiquette it shouldn't matter what you surf.  The problem is a lifeguard can't enforce a policy based on skill or even propper etiquette.  So we get this.  It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend from NJ, who was railing about the macho swimmers at his pool that pissed him off by passing him.  I asked him if he followed the etiquette of keeping right when you reach the wall so they can flip turn left to pass.  "You're one of those macho swimmers!" He yells.  So I replied, if it really bothers you, move to a slower lane.  "But I'm not a slow swimme!" He insists.  And there you have it. 

When I'm learning a new sport I want to be in my own kook world.  I stay away from everyone, but some people insist in being part of the big boy's club.  Here in NC we have a lot of SUPs and some outstanding surfers on them but we also have a rental shop right by one of the few crowded breaks in the state.   One day a guy was trying to learn to surf a sup on the break dominated by the local surf team.   Another highly skilled SUP/lifelong surfer paddled over and gently explained that he didn't choose the best break to learn on.  He invited him to the break we were using and offered to give him some pointers.  Problem solved with no rule or regulations needed!

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

I agree -- the ocean is for everybody. I can understand designating an area for just swimmers. Especially when there are kids noodling around in the water, there should be a space for that without big boards flying by. On the other hand, designating spaces for just one kind of watersport? That's just stupid.

Okay, we've got the kayakers over here, that standup paddlers in that zone, prone surfers can go there... Why can't we share the beach? Please? It's big enough.

[pdxmike]

Ichabod--good points.  The obvious thing that comes to mind for me is that in almost all bodies of water outside NJ surf zones, vessels of all types share the water.  I paddle amidst not just other SUPs, kayaks, canoes, etc. but also sailboats, power boats, jetboats, jetskis, cruise ships, barges, and other large commercial vessels.  99% of water traffic worldwide is not in segregated areas, and there's a lot more difference among vessels there than there is between a SUP and a prone board or kayak in NJ. 

[trashinwb]

Yes, Newton. Kayak beach.