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January 7, 2008 -

Surf School Regulation or Elimination of Competition?

Santa Monica is considering an ordinance to limit surf classes at Santa Monica State Beach. According to the LookOut News:

“Surfing has long been an integral part of the Santa Monica lifestyle,” staff wrote in its report. “Recently, however, there has been a significant rise in the number of commercial surf schools operating on Santa Monica State Beach.”

Unlike the County of Los Angeles and California State Parks, which strictly limit all surfing school activities, Santa Monica’s liberal surf instruction policies do not regulate most surfing instruction.

Under the current municipal code, groups of less than 20 children or any number of adults can operate a surfing school without a permit or contract, although limited number of permits are available for larger groups on a first come, first served basis through the City’s Open Space Management Division.

The City also contracts with surf instructors to offer surfing lessons through the City’s Community Programs Division.

Interesting to note that priority for the permits will go to the City’s Community Programs Division, meaning that if the ordinance passes the only spaces cut will be those offered by the private sector.

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Interesting Sites

70 Percent Good site focusing on reporting and documenting break conditions for waveriders
Coastal Marine Resource Center Non-profit from the New York-New Jersey Harbor Bight
Free PB Opposition to additional beach regulations at San Diego’s Pacific Beach
Race for the Oceans A forum for swimmers and swimming fans to dive in to ocean conservation.
Surfrider Foundation Activities and campaigns for clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places.