Ok so it's nothing new that surfing is not permitted by piers but will we ever stop doing it anyways? http://luminanews.com/article.asp?aid=7656&iid=258&sud=43 Who cares if it's dangerous? Surfing is dangerous. I can understand if fishermen are using the water in the summer but in the winter with not a soul in sight? silly if you ask me.
yea its pretty ridiculous. why are surfers not as important as fishermen anyway. We use the pier for similar reasons as fishermen. We catch better waves while they catch more fish. So why are surfers on the bottom of the chain? It's really dumb in my opinion. Yea summer is different but the other 9 months shouldn't be.
The Pier Ok, I will play the devil's advocate here. Not that I do not wish that it was different, the fact of the matter is though-it's not. In WB, we have two piers. One, nobody cares how close you surf to it unless there are surf zones. However, at the other, not only will you get a ticket, but you also put our surfing and many people's hard work into jeopardy. How.....? Well, do you know how crowded it does get in the summer in our surf zones? Yeah, it stinks really....BUT, They are ALOT better than what used to be afforded to surfers. I am not saying that I agree , just stating the facts. There are many people who have worked hard to get surfing where it is at in WB, and I can sure as heck know that everyone will hate life if those current surf zones were made to be even more strict, or if we couldn't surf at all. "If you are new to town come by Sweetwater sometime and I will tell you the story of what the zones use to be and how good everyone has it now. Educate yourself about the history of Wrightsville Beach surfing if you don't know it." Do you think that Tony likes to have to post things like this on WBlive? Ask yourself- Is that one session worth ruining it all?
Sunset Beach Pier Some years back a bone headed surfer was upset that a fisherman tossed his line/sinker near where the surfer was. This ended with a beach fight surfer verses fisherman and finally pier surfing closure. Both were probably at fault, but had the surfer been smart instead of smart butted, it might still be open. Point is, we surfers think too much of our 'rights' and not the concerns of others. Sure many see both pov's but I've seen aggressive surfers that just are jerks. Look, the waves will be here again, those that think they own the beach/waves should remember who holds the rule books.
It's Wrightsville Beach, and that sums it up. Surfers must stay out of swim zones, but swimmers don't get yelled at for being in surf zones. Don't surf near piers, even if there are no fishermen and it's the dead of winter. No Beer, No Dogs, Most expensive parking you'll find anywhere. When it comes down to it, Wrightsville Beach isn't pro-surfer, pro-kiteboarder, or pro-sup. They are pro revenue, and tickets help that, even if it doesn't make any sense. You just gotta accept it for what it is, and deal with it. In the summer, of course we can't surf near the piers. The fishermen have that area. It's theirs. But if there's no one fishing, then why should we be kept out of that area of the ocean? And why can't people surf near broken down Crystal Pier?? Dangerous? Really???? I used to live in WB back in the 90s when things were still small town. It was before most of the big money moved into town. Things have changed a lot since then.
Surf Zones The one thing that really gets on my nerves at times is swimmers in the surf zones. We have surf zones for safety right? Well, if it is a surf zone, swimmers really should not be allowed in that particular zone. That is really unfair if you ask me. However, I am sure it all comes down to revenue somehow, that people would complain if they were asked not to swim somewhere. All is good though when the pesky surfers SAVE lives while lifeguards are texting their friends. It is always a few that ruin things for the rest really. AND it is not always kooks or weekend warriors who do the damage. Last summer My wife and I were swimming and waiting for the tide to turn. We were next to a surf zone. So I look up to see this guy pumping down the line straight towards this swimmer guy, who yes, should really pay attention to his surroundings. Now the surfer saw the guy, had plenty of time to adjust or kick out, but did not. He completely runs over this guy and I thought his fins went right on top of this guys back-thankfully they didn't. However, the guy got hit pretty bad and came up freaking out and obviously in pain. Now, this was an experienced LOCAL surfer who should have known better. The waves were not even that good. Those times could really turn into ugly situations for surfers.....Now, the swimmer should clearly be aware of his surroundings, but the surfer should not have kept on that path and ran the guy over. I heard the guy, oh I'm sorry, it was an accident-then paddled off. I made sure the guy was ok. This clearly could and should have been prevented. Luckily, the surfer nor the swimmer was seriously hurt. It could also have been prevented if swimmers were not allowed in surf zones! When it comes down to it, I am just glad to be healthy and able to surf! We just have to deal with things we cannot change.....
it is "silly." but it is against the law, for right now. i dont know if you remember what it was like surfing wrightsville beach with the old surf zone laws. the old surf ones consisted of a two block area. now imagine packing 100 surfers in that small area. hell even 50 surfer is too much. i much rather not surf around the peirs than have the old surf zones again. just respect the what we have. now on the other hand they should ticket the swimmers for swimming too closes. just like us surfer there should be a zero tolerance law for them. no warning fine them. SAFTEY FIRST right wb
Never mind the piers for a moment, enforcement on that is obvious....What is the law regarding swimmers in surf zones?... I ask because last year I came pretty close to some swimmers inside the surf zone and luckily did not hit them...when I got out I asked one of the lifegaurds if they were allowed to be swimming there, and he just shrugged his shoulders at me. If the town is going to enforce these laws, then they should be fair and equal. Safety first.
good thing you brought this up cuz it was 2 summers ago i was surfing in the surf zone and there was a swimmer with his kids pushing them into waves on their boogie boards in the surf zone. well i took off on a wave and he didnt move and i yelled and yelled well i hit him and i appologized but i guess it wasnt enough, cuz he told the lifeguards on the atv. now grant it im a local i live here in wb year round i surf year round all the lifeguards know me basically. and the lifeguard told me that the surf zone is actually a "multi purpose zone" which means anyone can be in there. i told him it wasnt fair that we surfers are put into a spot but swimmers arent and that if a swimmer is in our territory we have free reign to hit them and not be held responisble, since the swimmer is in our territory.
the double standard as far as swimmers in the surf zones is quite annoying. although in the summer it can get crowded to the point where surfing would be dangerous, on one specific crowded weekend day last summer, surfers made thirty something saves. i bet for some of these saves surfers paddled into a "no surf zone"...the horror i guess what im trying to say is; yeah, if you swim near a someone surfing you/your kid/your friend might catch a surfboard to the face or body, but if you float too far out and fall off your boogie board a surfer will not hesitate to make sure you're ok. therefore, not allowing surfers in certain areas is not only counterintuitive, but dangerous as well. if someone drowns in wb this year, im blaming the town of wb for not allowing a surfer to be there.
