Council may wave off added surf contests

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- After years of riding its reputation as a prime surf

spot, this tony seaside community will consider limiting the number of

surf contests held here before beaches are wiped out by traffic, crowds

and trash.

“This is not in response to complaints,” said Melissa Adams of Newport

Beach Community Services. “It’s because of an increase in applications

from seven in 1997 to 13 this year.”

The measure, which will be put before the City Council tonight, aims

at preventing a potential increase in traffic and noise problems that

would bother local residents.

The changes would limit the number of surf contests along the city’s

most popular stretch of beach -- between 54th and 58th streets -- to

eight a year. It would also ban them on Memorial Day and from June 15

through Sept. 10.

Some residents who live along the shoreline, however, feel the

controls are long overdue.

“I’ve been here 40 years and can’t believe the city gets anything out

of it, apart from the trash,” said surfer and 54th Street resident Pete

Hoffman. “It’s disturbing to the people that pay taxes. This used to be a

nice community.”

But for younger surfers, the contests are a prime opportunity to hone

their skills.

Local surfer Patrick Towersey got his start at local contests when he

was 9 and is now competing semiprofessionally around the world.

“Surfing is such a popular sport and Newport Beach needs to step up to

the plate,” said his mother, Marianne Towersey. “I think Patrick’s seen

the benefit of having local contests. I really think surfing gets a bad

rap. It keeps the kids focused.”

Bill Sharp, resident and publisher of Costa Mesa-based magazine Surf

News, said he wasn’t surprised by the city wanting to reign in the number

of contests. Until the mid-1980s, surf competitions were not allowed in

Newport Beach, he said.

Even now, most of the contests are small and don’t bring the same

amount of money or media attention as they do in other surf hot spots.

“At some point, things evolved and they began allowing them. But

there’s been a proliferation since then,” Sharp said. “It’s a fun thing

for the kids, but it’s not like it’s bringing in millions of tax dollars

like Huntington. It wears on the patience of local surfers.”

Sharp predicts there will be little opposition to the move --, beyond

the contest promoters, like Volcom Board Wear, whose business would be

infringed upon by the limits.

Based on what’s happened in other popular surf cities like San

Clemente, Scott Hulet, editor of San Clemente-based Surfer’s Journal,

said the council should limit the competitions.

Like Sharp, Hulet believes the contests limit public access to the

beaches.

“In general, it’s a good idea to limit it,” Hulet said. “In San

Clemente, there is a contest sitting on the best waves every weekend.”

A BAD BREAK?

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