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June 08, 2005

Comments

Ed Mazzarella

Jim-

Not only are we protecting a surf break, but from an environmental perspective, beaches are among the most dynamic landscapes on the planet and one of our most precious natural resources. Beaches support many species that are important to marine and land-based ecosystems.

Beaches are fun. Fun is not frivolous. Fun is a fundamental value. The United States was founded in part for the pursuit of happiness. The United Nations recognizes the right to play as a fundamental human right. Beaches provide people with a place to be active through surfing, swimming, body boarding, kayaking, jogging, volleyball, walks on the beach, a place to recreate with the family, to vacation or just wading in the surf.

Protecting that surf break has much larger implications for surfers as well as non.

John Weber

Point Breaks for sale? While to some it still seems far-fetched, at least one "visionary" surfer saw it coming. A guy named Glenn Hening wrote a novel, his first, on the subject called "Waves of Warning." I was one of the few who bought it as soon as it was published, I didn't wait for the reveiws. Some might say Hening should stick to rocket science and founding surfing organizations. Admittedly, this book is a little rough around the edges, but he tackles these issues head on, showing he thought this all through long before most of us ever dreamed this would happen. Want to see what the stuggle for surfing's soul will look like in the future? Read this book.

I have to confess here when I first read Surfrider's tag line of ".... Founded by a group of visionary surfers...." I thought it was corny. After meeting Glenn a couple times and especially after the 20th Anniversary Summit, I've realized how true it is. Those guys really were visionaries. It reminds me of meeting Timothy Leary in 1987. He described the future then, a future that I swear we are living every day right now.

So Surfrider might have to decide if private surf camps / spots are OK. Are they OK if the owners donate to Surfrider? Or should surfing remain free to all those who want to invest time in the search?

Bill Rosenblatt

Assessing and determining the value of a surf break is an important exercise. What
a break is worth NOT to us as surfer's but to the local economy could prove to be a very useful figure to have. Municipalities
and businesses love to see real dollar figures for the economic impact of something
i.e. a new stadium, a new housing development, a commercial development etc.
The economic impact of a surf break on a local economy is important for us (surfers)
to know.

In 1975 John Kelly in cooperation with the Univ of Hawaii looked at the economic imopact of surfing on the economy of Oahu. Having that figure was essential in proving to policy makers and descion makers that surfing was more valuable than a parking lot. That data saved surf breaks from destruction.

In NJ we've used that model to begin to establish the economic impact of surfing
in one county. Initial estimates ecxceed
$10 million dollars. That figure is of great interest to county and local government officials. Establish the potential economic impact of surfing was a key tactic used by the Jersey Shore chapter
in convincing the city of Asbury Park to establish dedicated surfing beaches.

We need real data, good research to establish the value of a break. Real data
and information is power.

Bill Rosenblatt

Jake

This is a good time to ask, I guess, what Surfrider National has planned as far as providing grants or guidelines to help us get an econometric model for the "value of a break"? Is there a commonly accepted model that the ACOE, for example, uses to assess the "value" of recreational activity? Isn't this a requirement of their impact studies?

Dave

I'd like to find a way to hike into Martin's just south of Half Moon Bay, CA! To my surprise I found that they had raised their $5 entry fee to $10 I can understand wanting to maintain the road, pay someone to pick up the trash, and keep the toilets functioning but $10! The place was worth $5 most of the time. During the elections there were Bush/Chenney billboards plastered all over the place! If I can find a way to hike down and paddle over to this break I will just for spite! I dare them to paddle out and say something about it too! As long as I've have not crossed private property and don't go above the mean high tide line there's not a thing they can do about it legally! Of course Republicans have rarely worried about legalities since the murder of Abraham Lincoln! I don't care for their summertime tourist gougeing or greedy Republican politics!

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