Mavericks to Allow Tow-In Surfing
The surfing community may be split but the new rule is clear: as of March 1, 2009, tow-in surfing will be allowed during high surf advisory days at Mavericks, California’s most famous big-wave spot, just off the coast of Half Moon Bay.
Finally, a Compromise
The Los Angeles Times reports that surf traditionalists, who prefer to paddle on boards to catch waves, object to the noise, polluting exhaust, and surf-chopping wakes that personal motorized watercraft create. (It’s worth noting that the craft disturb marine wildlife, too.) But a new generation of big wave surfers depend on the crafts to take them to catch enormous waves that surf photographers and spectators love. It’s taken seven years for federal officials, after listening to extensive public comments, to reach a compromise that will satisfy both camps, at least some of the time.
The new rules ban personal motorized watercraft — lifeguards excepted — from three designated and newly expanded marine sanctuaries along California’s northern and central coasts. The vehicles will be allowed high surf advisory days, so that tow in surfers can take advantage of the coast’s highest waves, typically December through March.
No More Chumming and Dumping Untreated Sewage
Additional new rules include a ban on chumming for great white sharks around San Francisco’s Farallon Islands so that tourists in dive cages can get up close to the fish (yikes!), and a ban in protected areas on dumping partially treated sewage water from ocean liners.
Read the plans in full at: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/jointplan/
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Here’s what people are saying on the Surfrider Foundation website. A lot of paddlers are understandably upset that personal watercraft will be used at all:
http://www.surfrider.org/blogger/2008/11/surfrider-celebrates-increased.asp
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Is this for the competition itself or just the surf spot? I thought there were already tow-in surfers who have hit Mavericks on occasion. There was even an article a few years back about a jet ski nearly escaping a 40 or so foot face right around Thanksgiving. But I could be mixing up details.
It would be a shame for the competition to have tow-in. Paddling into that break is part of the tradition–and the well-deserved respect that comes with it.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
These are federal rules that govern three marine sanctuaries along the central and northern coasts. Pillar Point, more popularly known as Mavericks, is part one of the sanctuaries.
The Mavericks surf contest, which happens once a year when surf conditions are right, has its own rules, and it will be up to organizers to decide if they want to allow personal watercraft. Participants still have to follow federal rules, too. For some cool pics, videos, and more on the contest:
http://www.maverickssurf.com/home/
November 10th, 2009 at 4:58 am
Believe you have to consider all aspects in the current economic climate - personally do no think we have seen the full extent of the recesssion, so would be cautious in considering.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Surfing is one of my favorite sports eventhough i got a bad accident last year because of very high surfs.;;’
May 21st, 2010 at 12:09 am
Surfing is really the best sport out there, i love the adrenaline rush when surfing on big waves.::’
August 1st, 2010 at 12:10 pm
i broke my arm on a freak surfing accident but hey, surfing is a nice sport:-~
September 28th, 2010 at 1:41 am
oh i would love to surf everyday out in the open sun:*’
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