Windsurfing ban at Seal beach

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 153

Windsurfing and kiteing is now ban on all holidays for the summer at Seal beach.
After a long talk with the beach life guards this is now in effect. For the past 20 years there has not been this type of restriction on windsurfing. I was told because of the large number of kiters and the expected beach crowds, they felt the need to protect the plubic. Speaking for windsurfers only, I asked why not just ban kiteing. I was told they could not seperate the user groups. Yet surfing is allowed. I also asked how many problems have they had with windsurfers and swimmers. The answer was none. He told me that the problem was inexperienced kiters getting down wind into the swimming only area. I think we all have the right to access the beach and enjoy this holiday windsurfer and kiters. My question is whats next. All summer weekends? Don't think it can't happen.
Seal Beach is a great windsurfing and kiteing spot. lets not lose it. Its a small area with an even smaller launch area. Please, if you can't stay up wind of the swimming area, do not go out. This applys to windsurfers and kiters. Learn your sport at belmont before heading to Seal....

stevenbard · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 2758

Kiting has threatened to harm windsurfing here also. County line lifegaurds stopped some sailors last summer. They conflated kiting with windsurfing. I knew this would happen sooner or later. Same at Zero's regarding launching and wave sailing.

We have had 3 major kite rescues and 1 death in Malibu during the last 3 months. 2 events included Navy, Coast Guard, Urban Search and rescue, Fire departments, and life guards. All 4 of them included helicopters or life flights at great cost to taxpayers.

I have a couple of very close friends who kite, so want to be supportive. However, when the knuckle heads screw up, there are consequences for our sport. I suggest that the San Diego, Orange, L.A., Ventura and Central Coast crews all come together as a force for good. We need to protect our sport from being lumped in with kiting. Maybe it's time to collect some money from everyone who windsurfs so we can hire an attorney to educate the authorities. $25 x 500 sailors would get us a lot of representation.

cbknap · Joined: 03 Jun 1997 Posts: 262

wow...that IS a bummer.

I have to agree that many kiters at Seal are a danger to themselves and others. (The fewer good to expert kiters are usually not).

The lifeguards at Cabrillo (LA County) have been able to see the difference between kiting and windsurfing. Kiting is banned every weekend throughout the summer. Windsurfing is only banned when there is standing room only on the beach. At other times, even holidays, they simply cone off a narrow beach access for windsurfers and leave us alone. This is more than fair.

Sounds like we need to petition the city of Seal Beach and its lifeguard corps to get them to exempt windsurfers from the ban.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 153

This holiday really gets to me. My grandfather, father, brothers and myself all fought for this countrys freedom. Yet I am band from the freedom of enjoying the sport I live for. Hey it only a few days right?
I'm and older guy and every day I get to windsurf is a blessing. Take one away and its one I didn't get to have. It means alot to me. I wonder how many of the people from the inland invasion at the beach today served this country. I wonder how many even speak English or pay taxes. I know thats a bad attitude. And it wrong to think that way. I don't hate anyone.
But I'm forced out and thats not right either....Tony

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 156

you are not alone in this! at "my" lake, Lake Isabella, windsurfers have long since given up on the big holidays and left the lake to the motorized bullies. Three big holidays during the summer, at 3 days each, makes for 9 days you and I do not get to play. We are too nice for our own good! We really ought to organize and fight back, rather than meekly stay away. Where do I send my $25.-??

andydavis · Joined: 11 Apr 1999 Posts: 232 Location: Point Isabel

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 153

My spell check said band but maybe I spelled it wrong but you get the point

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 153

Isabella is a great windsurfing lake. I stopped going because of the near misses with boat and jet ski traffic. It would seem a simple thing to make that area a 5mph zone for fishing and windsurfing. Don't exclude anyone. Just conrol the speed....Or is it speed my spell check is acting up again...

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 156

that is, of course, the answer, seeing how it works wonderfully well at Lake Lopez. But when I tried the reduced-speed proposal on Isabella Lake Patrol, they told me that they cannot favor one activity over another; and that speed controls would keep the tourists away. It does that, of course, the thoughtful, law abiding ones. The bullies love it the way it is - I overheard the owner of one of those infernal flat-bottom boats last summer "we got thrown out of Lake Castaic, so came here (to Isabella), because there are now laws". Lovely, ja?

mac · Joined: 07 Mar 1999 Posts: 3441

In one of life's rich ironies, some of the regulations that Bard is always complaining about are intended to protect access to the coast. Technically, State Parks cannot restrict access to the water without getting a permit from the California Coastal Commission. They have an office in Long Beach http://www.coastal.ca.gov/address.html, and you should check and see if Parks got a permit. If not, you should file a complaint violation with the Coastal Commission.

The Seal Beach kiters were working on this about two years ago, and you should also check and see what happened to those discussion.