Waves beckon local surfers, but harmful pollution stirred up by recent rains wreaks havoc.
By Rosy Banks
Staff Writer
As Santa Ana winds blow bigger, smoother lines onto Malibu’s shores, more surfers are grabbing their boards and hitting the waves. Better surf bring along infamous battling crowds, but with the continuing rain surfers must now be careful of an ever present hazard … pollution and harmful waste draining into the ocean.
The Surfrider Foundation has put out a general rain advisory indicating that with the increased precipitation there is coastal water pollution throughout Los Angeles County. Surfers are advised to stay away from water contact 2 to 3 days after the end of a storm, but because the Santa Anna winds are rolling in better sets, many surfers do not take heed to the warning.
“Right now are the best winds for surfing,” Jeremy Collings, sales rep at Becker Surfboards in Malibu said. “Wind alone sucks period but the Santa Anas push the sand out, building sand bars which is good because the waves break better.”
Polluted runoff and sewage spills continue to plague the waters and Malibu Point is one area surfers should be cautious of when hitting the waves.
“Especially in Malibu people spend so much time at the beach, so much time in the water,” junior Joey Jiminez said. “Surfrider –– one of the most beautiful waves in Southern California can’t even pass a water test. In the past its been rated F.”
Dedicated and addicted to their sport, this worries some surfers and locals who have slowly watched the ocean become more polluted each year. When it rains in Malibu, sewage and waste flows into the runoffs, and in most cases, directly into the ocean in which people surf and play.
“People dump into the ocean thinking, out of sight, out of mind,” said Tim Dion, a professional surfer for 30 years and manager of Becker surfboards. “We need to have more filter houses, no waste should enter the ocean. We should keep waste inland so we can manage it better.”
Water falls from the sky in the form of precipitation, then filters through watersheds into urban and agricultural areas, finally flowing out to sea starting over the constant water cycle. Problems occur when along its way to the ocean-water picks up sewage, contaminants and human waste from Los Angeles and surrounding communities.
So why do surfers continue to brave the waves despite its poor water quality? Those interviewed all had a similar response –– it is addicting.
“When you’re up (on your board) it’s the best feeling, every cutback you do you feel the water spray everywhere … you hear it,” said Diego Vinals. “Once you learn, you’ll never wanna stop because you will fall in love with it.”
How long will surfers be able to safely brave the contaminated waters? Inaction on the part of the government and society angers some international students who come here from crisper, cleaner waters.
“It is not just Surfrider (beach) that is polluted, the whole ocean is … stop all this capitalist consumption.” Santiago Giraldo, a sophomore from Colombia, South America said. “All the waste of the capitalist system ends up in the ocean.”
Others contest that there is not much we can do, but that pollution is as inevitable as the rain.
“It hurts my heart to see the effects of man,” sophomore Peter Farmer said. “I feel like I have no control over it but it hurts because I know we’re responsible for it.”
Environmentalists and those concerned with the ocean set sights on hopefully one day creating cleaner waters for Malibu and California. Jacob Boone, vice president of Pepperdine’s Surf Club, has joined the Surfrider Foundation at www.surfrider.com and encourages those who want to be active in ocean conservation to also join.
Creating a network of surfers on the Pepperdine campus, surf club members have practice twice a week welcoming anyone dedicated to the ocean and their sport. These students hope to continue catching waves at sunrise with their buddies, worry free from the sickness and waste spilling over into their waters. But until the rainstorms end, those playing in the ocean are advised to paddle out wisely.
February 20, 2003