La Jolla's Dez Dunfee ain't one for commie lockdowns either. | Photo: @derekdunfee

Californian Mayor turns on state’s no-surfing ban: “Since when did catching a wave turn into an illegal activity worthy of a $1,000 fine and a misdemeanor?”

"Enforcement of these prohibitions is not in the public’s interest. These orders are an abuse of power that infringe on basic civil liberties and defy common sense."

Little Coronado, that pretty little quasi-island in San Diego Bay famous for its Navy SEAL training camp, has become ground zero for the surfing-ain’t-a-crime movement.

In a missive released by the town’s mayor, Rich Bailey, and headlined, Can We All Agree That Surfing Should Not Be a Crime, he writes:

A viral video from earlier this week shows a lone surfer, in the ocean near La Jolla, fleeing the water as multiple law enforcement officials chase him down in a powerboat.  As the surfer exits the waves and runs up the sandy bluff, dozens of spectators are seen cheering on his display of civil disobedience.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ELPbMAziT/

Since when did catching a wave turn into an illegal activity worthy of a $1,000 fine and a misdemeanor?

Although state and county health officials have credited social distancing for reducing the spread of Covid-19 in our region, effective April 10, county health officials made it illegal to participate in a variety of activities, regardless of whether social distancing was possible, including surfing.

With rare exception, the public has practiced social distancing as part of the collective effort to protect our most vulnerable population. The success of these efforts is evidenced by the low case and hospitalization rate in San Diego county. However, the latest county health order is unreasonable threatens to erode the public’s trust and compliance.

In addition to turning lone surfers into criminals, the county health order also criminalized fishing alone on your boat, paddle boarding in the bay, and even watching a sunset from your car.

For a policy to be effective, it must be evenly applied, logically sound, and in the public’s best interest.

If social distancing can be maintained, does it really matter if you are social distancing in the ocean or on land? Does it make a difference if you are six feet apart from one another while walking on the sidewalk versus walking on the beach?

If you are catching fish from your boat, are you more of a danger to the public’s health than buying fish at the grocery store?

Of course not. Six feet is six feet.

Enforcement of these prohibitions is not in the public’s interest. These orders are an abuse of power that infringe on basic civil liberties and defy common sense while putting the health of the public and enforcement officers at risk.

The public deserves to be treated with trust and respect. Policies that are arbitrary, inconsistently applied, and criminalize harmless activities erode the public’s trust.

As politicians, economists, and health officials begin to deliberate on how to safely reopen the county and state, many consequential decisions will be made with lives and livelihoods hanging in the balance.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, can we at least agree that surfing should not be a crime?

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_KfzG0Atvx/

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“We are equally as aggressive in the development off-platform space as we are for the on-platform and even social space that you’re seeing,” WSL CEO Erik Logan told Front Office Sports.

#HomeBreakChallenge: Make up to $2500 as WSL casts net for “REAL SURFER WHO IS MAKING ‘SURF’ FILMS AT HOME”

'Looking for REAL surfers who have been getting creative at home while in lockdown and have made films of them 'surfing'"

A few weeks ago, the WSL, a content generation company that was once a front for a world surfing tour, launched an initiative called #HomeBreakChallenge.

If you self-identify as a “surfer” you are encouraged to post videos of you, or kid or pal, pretending to surf.

According to the WSL website, “The WSL Home Break Challenge has been going off! We will be crowning the world’s first 2020 WSL Home Break Challenge champ, so good luck!”

Entries include,

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-uPL0IHBIk/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_D6LnhnqVu/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-19l8bH5uv/

All inspiring, welcoming, inclusive and so on.

But did you know there was a casting call for “real surfer” to star in the making of these little videos, offering up to $2500 for adults, $1500 for kids and a minimum $500, adults, and $250, kids, for a four-hour filming session?

Here’s an email doin’ the rounds.

Project Falconbear

Commercial, Non-Union Posted: 4/6/2020

Union Status Non-Union

Conflicts N/A – but it is for a major social network platform

Run(Usage) 3 months TV North America, and paid online media. 12 months non-broadcast, industrial, unpaid online media, internal, PR.

Rate Adults: $500/4 hr session, $2500 buyout if featured in final edit, Kids: $250/4 hr session, $1500 buyout if featured in final edit

Submissions Due By 4/18/2020

Audition Dates 4/9/2020, 4/10/2020, 4/11/2020, 4/12/2020, 4/13/2020, 4/14/2020, 4/15/2020, 4/16/2020, 4/17/2020

Shoot/Performance Dates 

4/13/2020, 4/14/2020, 4/15/2020, 4/16/2020, 4/17/2020, 4/18/2020, 4/19/2020

Shoot/Performance Dates Note

ALL TALENT WILL SHOOT THEMSELVES IN HOME WITH PHONE/MOBILE DEVICE

Project Notes 

RATES

Adult Session Fee: $500/shoot day || reshoot fee (if required) $250

Child Session Fee: $250/shoot day || reshoot fee (if required) $100

Adult Buyout: $2,500/ 3 months TV North America, and paid online media. 12 months

non-broadcast, industrial, unpaid online media, internal, PR.

Child Buyout: $1,500/ 3 months TV North America, and paid online media. 12 months

non-broadcast, industrial, unpaid online media, internal, PR.

Session:

-Designated as a 4 hr period to be directed from home via laptop or phone/mobile device

Re-Shoot:

-An additional 2 hr period to be directed from home via laptop or phone/mobile device

PR CLAUSE

TERM: In Perpetuity

TERRITORY: Worldwide

Special terms

● The Contributor/Artist waives any right to approve of the Materials, Campaign, Creative, works.

● The Contributor/Artist waives any right to enjoin or impair CLIENT’s use of the Materials Any footage (UGC) shot/supplied/shared by contributors for the purpose of this campaign

is fully cleared for the use on the above Media/Term/Territories and no further fees are applicable.

● The Contributor confirms that they have the absolute right to or permission to grant to us the right to show on film photograph and recordings all or any part of their Property and no further consents are required from any person(s) with respect to them entering into this

Agreement.

Role

submit

Tweet

REAL SURFER WHO IS MAKING “SURF” FILMS AT HOME / Non-Union / Principal / Male or Female / All Ethnicities / 13-99

We will be hosting Skype and FaceTime interviews ONLY – do not submit talent if they do not have access

Looking for REAL surfers who have been getting creative at home while in lockdown and have made films of them “surfing” – please see reference videos:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-19l8bH5uv/

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/homebreakchallenge/

PLEASE INDICATE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE AND YOUR STORY IN SUBMISSION NOTES OR SEND A SUBMISSION EMAIL WITH THE FOLLOWING DETAILS TO:

[email protected]

1. Name, Age

2. Location (city, state)

3. Contact info (cell, email, Skype/FaceTime)

4. Tell us about yourself and your love of surfing. Please include links to your stop motion videos

5. Recent photos

Wardrobe: Surf attire – we will want to see your set up during your interview

Rate: Adults: $500/4 hr session, $2500 buyout if featured in final edit, Kids: $250/4 hr session, $1500 buyout if featured in final edit

As WSL CEO Erik Logan told Front Office Sport, “I’m very bullish that the other side of this is going to be a more robust media property with the World Surf League and a more inclusive media property for our endemic partners, our surfers, and our fans. And, I think, a more widely consumed product than we’ve ever had before because of the platforms, so I’m energized by the opportunity we have to think about the business.”

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Watch: Police storm, forcibly shutter, surf shop as “sport of kings” becomes bigger threat to public than heroin, terrorism, human trafficking!

"Surfing isn't essential."

Who would have ever prognosticated this day, right here, arriving when surfing becomes more deadly, more dangerous, a bigger threat to the general pubic’s well-being than drug smuggling, violent terrorism (all varietals), Ponzi schemes and motorcycle gang shenanigans?

But here we are.

Outlaws.

Rebels.

Ne’er-do-wells.

Finally.

And let us travel to Oceanside, California where an evil surf shop dared to exist in the Time and Coronavirus.

The gall.

Thankfully, SurfRide was stormed, forcibly shuttered by the Gestapo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_JEblEDSQB/

“Surfing isn’t essential” -Oceanside Police Dept.

OPD has officially shut us down from doing appointment based shopping. Apparently surf retail isn’t deemed essential, and 1 person in a 10,000 sqf building doesn’t seem to comply with 6’ social distancing. Our appointment based sales weren’t crushing it by any means, but the extra couple dollars it was bringing in helped us cover basic expenses like electricity, Internet, trash (which we couldn’t temporarily cancel because retail wasn’t required to shut down…) and other basics. Along with the sales we were able to provide the community with Birthday Presents, surf Necessities, an escape from being locked up if only for 15mins, and that glorious smell of wax as you walk in the front door.

There’s never been a time when we need the support from our local community now more than ever! I know we don’t have a ton of stuff online yet, but any sales help. The best thing is to purchase a gift card, that way once this is all over you will be able to come load up on all your surf essentials and finally enjoy the ocean once again. #SurfingIsEssential #SurfingIsNotACrime

But surfing is a crime. A crime worse than human smuggling, serial murder and identity theft.

Should we make leather jackets etc?

More as the story develops.

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Better than actual surfing, yes? | Photo: @raglansurfreport

Listen: Surfer “comedian” Luke Cederman on COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand, “We have people over here with pitchforks and torches. If someone’s doing something wrong, ‘Get ‘em , throw ‘em in jail, fine ‘em!’ It’s turned everyone against each other!”

Neighbour against neighbour on Dirty Water, episode four.

Today on Dirty Water, Chas and I talk about many exciting things with the pro-ish surfer, comedian, creator of the YouTube series One And a Half Men and the star of our Once Upon a Time in New Zealand wetsuit film last year, Luke Cederman.

Luke is anti-camper, pro-lockdown, the screw-footed king of NZ’s most famous lefthand point and proprietor of the Instagram account @raglandsurfreport.

We talk,

Why the he took the anti-surfing side during New Zealand’s level four lockdown, how the lockdown “has turned everyone against each other”, his remarkable COVID-19 proof t-shirts, whether or not surfing makes him happy or if he surfs out of habit and maybe indignity, if kooks have equal rights, like, no, if he had to surf one wave for the rest of his life what would it be and what does it take to qualify as a surfer.

Chas, meanwhile, waxes with typical eloquence on the joys of being a lower intermediate surfer and pumping down the line, missing section after section.

 

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Man runs straight into machine-gun fire while pal cowers in trench.

Hand of God: Bondi Surfers almost killed flouting COVID-19 beach lockdown!

"Funniest thing I’ve seen this swell but also the most dangerous."

The lord, oh don’t he move in mysterious ways.

A few day ago, at a swinging lefthander very close to Bondi, a bay closed, fenced off, and with rangers in yellow vests patrolling the surrounding pathways, but with a sort of tacit agreement that it’s ok to surf if you don’t access the joint via the beach, unlike Bondi where lifeguard and cops threaten fines, two surfers were very nearly gifted a free pass to heaven.

In a video reposted by Bondi photographer Bill Morris, a surfer who is familiar with the little bay featured, we see two visitors to the joint attempt to enter the water from a rarely used southern access point.

“Funniest thing I’ve seen this swell but also the most dangerous,” says Bill. “Why tf would you go off there when there’s a perfectly good rip that takes you straight to the take off zone. Dumb asses!”

It makes for outstanding viewing of course.

The pair are like soldiers trapped in no man’s land, one climbing out of his trench and running straight into a machine gun, the other blown back by enemy fire.

The icing on this particular cake, howevs, is the happy dance performed by man blown back as he watches friend take a fifty-foot ride over barnacled rock on his back.

Glory days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GcZVyjhmO/

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