Anyone that
has been to a coast knows that beaches are getting more crowded. Surfing is
becoming more popular. Signs of these are everywhere; MTV has made the “beach
house” an icon, there is a plethora of surf camps dotting the globe, media
coverage has gone mainstream and the retail industry has embraced the ocean
sports as a core marketing vehicle for soft goods.
This photo
sums it all up for me.
Photo: Marcus Sanders
The photo
is from the US Open pro
contest that took place this past weekend. 100,000 beach goers came to the
event. As you might guess, it’s a world record.
The photo is a metaphor for the impact we’re
collectively making in coastal regions. That impact is large and it’s growing.
If the above photo tells you part of the story, here’s another piece of
information that positions coastal challenges.
More people on the coast. More people on waves. Can waves
with more than a few people on them be far off?
Photo: Hayne Palmour IV
The photo happens to be from the San Diego Surfing Academy
It’s summer. Go ahead, grab all your friends and paddle out.
Better yet, just paddle out as your friends are probably already there.
Jim Moriarty
Executive Director
Comments