HELP ME FIGHT RULES BANNING SUP'S FROM ALL OF ORANGE COUNTY

[Strand Leper]

Now I am not some sponsored guy or anything... I just like to ride SUP's.  I can turn on a dime... throw the occastional fin free slide... closeout off the lip... I haven't pulled the carving 360, but I am working on it...  I enjoy myself and push myself... always trying to ride a smaller board, always trying to get better.  I NEVER EVER TAKE WAVES FROM SURFERS... AND WHEN SURFERS ARE AROUND ME, I LET THEM KNOW THAT IF THEY WANT A WAVE THAT I AM PADDLING FOR, JUST CALL ME OFF AND I WILL PASS.

I got chased out of the water twice this weekend even though I was the only guy out... and I was SUP'ing a boulder field that is closed to swimmers, (even waders), and there were no surfers out within two hundred yards, (Dana Strand, North).  I was told to call US Ocean Safety for rule clarification... I did.  They told me that they were sorry but were just doing what the County Parks Department told them to do (Leslie Ray 714 973-6863.)  They also told me that the County has concluded that it is illegal to SUP anywhere in Orange County other than Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor.  You heard that correctly.

I will be working with the County to bring sanity to their position, or I will sue to enjoin them from operating without the necessary regulatory authority.  The regulations cited by the County do not allow them to ban SUP's.  Under the current regulatory structure, SUP's could only be banned if they banned surfboards.

Please e-mail me your contact information and I will let you know if and when we have a public hearing... tryan@theryanfirm.com.

If you think I am a jerk for doing this, let me know that too.  I just want to be able to ride my 7'6" paddleboard at the same place that some kook on a 10'0 longboard can ride.  I want the LG's to be able to make an independent assessment on whether or not a beach is too crowded for an SUP, and not reflexively say, "NO SUP's." 

Thanks,

Tim

[PonoBill]

Well you certainly have my support. Someone is overstepping. You are certainly NOT a jerk for sticking up for your rights to use a reasonable piece of equipment in the surf.

[Strand Leper]

Thanks Pono...
the classic part is that a guy was learning to surf on a longboard in the blackball area (super crowded with kids and swimmers) ... and when I packed it in and paddled back outside of the reef on my 6'8" shortboard, I was surfing leashless in front of the boulder field... But SUP's are dangerous.... classic.

Tim (I mean Strand Leper)

[Tom]

Scary stuff. Please keep everyone here informed and let us know what we can do. I don't like to see any precedentlike this  being set.

[kurtr]

Count me in for the long haul, Tim.  I do most of my SUP surfing in O.C., and my friends and I have always made every effort to conduct ourselves respectfully and courteously among regular surfers.  I'm always up for a good righteous battle. 
  

[MichaelF]

strange the difference between the LA / OC lifeguard vibe Vs. San Diego lifeguards. 

[snappyhead]

Wow this sux - i suggest everyone call Leslie and voice their concern , its not a solution but its a start ....

[Strand Leper]

Michael F,

I think that it shows that SD TRULY is a surf town and that OC and LA are just pretenders because the surf culture permeates decision-making at the county level... whereas in OC, the lady in charge of enforcing the county regulations... and who is supposedly formulating the regulations right now... does not even know that people actually surf on paddleboards...

Ventura seems to be more like San Diego...as the weekend before last, I was paddling Silver Strand in Oxnard... I went to the lifeguards before I paddled out and asked what the etiquetter was (as it was afternoon) they said, essentially, be safe, stay away from swimmers and don't be a kook.

On my way out of the water, the LG in the tower yelled down at me that I ripped.  I am not sure that I do... but I know that I have fun.  That is a surf stoked culture!

Tim

[Big Island Mike]

Tim,  GOOD FOR YOU!!!!  We need more guys like you not only in the SUP world, but in the US in general. Things are getting WAY out of hand.

BTW, I am in Australia now, Hows that whole HOPEy CHANGEy thing working out...   

[Mauiguy]

I'm fully on board with Tim who makes a very sound argument advocating the rights of SUP'ers in O.C.  However, I sense that other jurisdictions will soon be taking similar positions, imposing draconian bans on the use of SUPs that is, if communities don't start policing themselves and doing so fast.   For example, Tim makes the conscientious and respectful decision not to interfere with prone surfers at popular spots (even then still catches flack), but how many others do the same?   Shops need to educate people new to the sport - even more importantly, new to surfing and tell them to stay away.   The problem is, newbies see a few experienced SUP'ers in the lineup and they assume it's okay to go out there.   I can't tell you how terrible the situation was at Kanaha last winter trying to surf lay down and having to navigate around so many inexperienced SUP'ers with their boards perpendicular everywhere.   It was absolute insanity and chaos out there.  A friend of mine cried foul when a SUP'er came at him swinging his paddle as a weapon.   I'm friends with several lifeguards who told me they're getting nearly a constant stream of impassioned complaints from surfers.   I'm afraid what's going to happen is the authorities will try and classify SUPs as small craft and begin requiring registrations, PFD's, Etc.   Critical mass is approaching the hammer is going to come down hard.  Just my two cents.

Aloha,

Gary

[Tom]

There are a vocal group of surfers that are threatened by anything new and using logic to explain why SUPing is on just won't get you very far. I would suggest we find out what is behind the ruling. If they are sainging it is too dangerous to otheres, where did they get that opnion? has anone actually been hurt?

Another idea is to stage a protest rally and have a hundred SUPers show up.  Try to get some positve press coverage of how it's a fun and safe activity.

[Shawn]

I spoke with her late yesterday.   She had alot of questions, one big one was that the issue of 'launching'   and the use of a paddle.  She stated that they are right now reviewing the issue.  She was nice and polite but didnt seem to fully comprehend the surfing thing.  She mentioned the USCG ruling and we dicussed that in relation to the surf zone in relation to open water / outside of surf zone.  Sounded like her concern is how do THEY categorize a new sport.
Looks like time to organize an association to represent issues and rights in relation to addressing this issue and whatever else is to follow from unfounded and over generalized unsubstantiated claims of grief.    

[outcast]

I surf.
I carry my surfboard like everyone does.
I enter  the water with my surfboard like every one else.
Sometimes I paddle lying down, sometimes on my knees.
I use a leash and obey surfing ettiquite
I use a paddle occasionaly.

i dunno, seems like a natural progression of events in another ocean sport.
just gotta keep breathing aloha into it

Had a prone guy ask me the other day "Is this a paddleboard only spot?"
...said "Not at all!" 
(winced a tiny bit when i said it though....) 

Hope you can work it out in OC...i gotta think that some of the guards won't mind having a lookout around

[CT]

"County Regulations?"  

I'll be the first to admit I don't know much about the law, but I can't believe the county has that much power.  It's not against state or federal law to use a SUP in the surf zone.  Period.  So what leg do they have to stand on?  They can't arrest you.... what would they charge you with?

For what it's worth, I think this whole "surf vs. sup" thing is just ridiculous.  If a surfer has a problem with a guy on a sup or vice versa just work it out amongst yourselves.  No reason to go running to the teacher.  But I guess that's too much to ask.  Better get the government involved.  

[Strand Leper]

Control of the county parks, shoreline and surf zone is vested in the County.  While I am not a specialist in municipal law, it appears that the County Board of Supervisors create regulations governing these specific areas.  They likely do not give fine distinctions much thought, delegate review to the Supervisor of the Parks Department, and just pass whatever new regulations that she comes up with, (in this case it is a she).  As Shawn from Maxfield says, the lady reviewing the regulations has no idea what this sport is all about and is just following the Coast Guard classification of the SUP as a vessel.

I was specifically told by the LG's that it was not just the prohibition on launching, but also the prohibition on SUP in the surf zone... it appears that the latter prohibition may not exist.  We will see.

I called Ms. Ray a number of times yesterday, leaving several messages.  I will call her today, let her know that I need a call back, or my firm will be moving ex parte on Thursday of this week to enjoin the County from instructing the lifeguards to acting to enforce regulations that do not exist.

As to the comment on the Hopey Changey thing... I choose to pretend to be apolitical on these forums as I do not with to alienate SUP'ers who may believe that Hopey Changey is groovy rather than a sad march towards Eurosocial stagnation.

Tim