"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/

'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.”