SURF ZONE NEWS

DANA POINT, CA. U.S.A.

NO MORE BANS – SUP’s not “Vessels” in Surf Zone – The Human Powered Watercraft Association has received a letter of clarification from the United States Coast Guard stating “If a paddleboard is used within a designated swimming, surfing or bathing area, the Coast Guard does not consider it to be a vessel.”

HPWA Director Steven Alan Fry explains the importance of this distinction: “State and local agencies have long been using “vessel” status to segregate or ban the use of small watercraft such as wave skis, outriggers and canoes from popular swimming beaches and surf breaks. When the USCG applied vessel status to SUP’s it resulted in an unintended consequence where surfers carrying paddles were banned or restricted from many popular surfing locations.”

The HPWA took the initiative to inform the Coast Guard of the problem and was successful in gaining this critical clarification. Now, paddle surfing cannot be banned or regulated in any way different from other kinds of surfing, and equal access must be provided.

Fry continues“We are now contacting the various state and local agencies who currently regulate paddle surfing to inform them of the need to eliminate any and all bans or restrictions on paddle surfing in designated surfing areas.” Fry explains further “The surfing community must self-regulate SUP’s in the same manner as is done between short and long board surfers. Each and every wave is a public resource that has to be reasonably shared by all surfers regardless of how long their board is or whether they use a paddle.”

Mickey Munoz, HPWA’s surf industry advisor adds his conclusion. “Paddle surfing is here to stay and everyone has to learn to share. SUP’s have to spread the aloha spirit and yield a reasonable balance of waves to the inner lineups. Nothing but common sense will prevail.”

The Human Powered Watercraft Association is free to join and helps to support their efforts to protect, educate and promote all forms of human powered watercraft. Meet them on Facebook or join up at www.LetsPaddle.org.