SB 1229 aims to protect access rights, but the underlying permit timeline remains brutal A Bill Worth Passing, A Timeline Still Worth Fixing Senate Bill 1229, which passed the Senate and now heads to the Assembly, aims to ensure that post-disaster reconstruction by new coastal property owners does not encroach on public access easements, sensitive

A principle meant to keep the sand open is increasingly cited to justify unrelated regulation A Sound Legal Principle, Increasingly Asked To Do Too Much California’s public trust doctrine, which holds that land below the mean high tide line belongs to the public and cannot be blocked by private owners, remains one of the more […]

AB 1740 promises multi-modal transit while potentially weakening Coastal Act protections When A Good Cause Gets Used As Cover For A Different Agenda Assembly Bill 1740, framed publicly as a measure to promote multi-modal transit infrastructure along the coast, has drawn pointed criticism from coastal access advocates who argue the bill undermines c

Beyond the stereotype of the laid-back liberal surfer sits a real property-rights constituency The Stereotype Does Not Match The Lineup Media coverage of California surf culture reliably defaults to a single political archetype: the environmentally conscious, broadly progressive surfer focused on ocean conservation and public access above all else.

Scarcity created by development restriction shows up directly in the price of a house The Price Tag Is The Regulation, Made Visible Single-family homes in Pacific Beach now carry a median price of $2,331,000, up nearly 14 percent year over year, while nearby Ocean Beach posted a median sale price over a million dollars in […]

A 7-0 ruling says the Commission cannot simply override county-approved permits A Unanimous Check On An Agency Used To Getting Its Way The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously on April 23 that the Coastal Commission cannot arbitrarily override coastal development permits already approved at the county level, a decision that reshapes the balan

A global satire league table for readers who prefer their news with a raised eyebrow built in Institutions rarely take kindly to being questioned, which is exactly why satire exists in the first place — it’s the socially acceptable version of standing up in the back of the meeting and asking the question everyone else […]

Artificial surf venues in cities like Austin, London, and Tokyo now deliver consistent, rideable waves far from any ocean coastline AUSTIN — The rapid expansion of wave pools across landlocked cities is reshaping who has practical access to surfing, with world-class artificial surf venues now operating in urban centers across North America, Europe,

The Surf Industry Members Association says access is expanding even as long-standing industry assumptions about surfers are being challenged LAGUNA BEACH — The Surf Industry Members Association’s newly released growth report finds that surfing participation and consumer behavior are shifting in ways that increasingly diverge from how the industry h

Researchers cite projected sea level increases of up to thirteen inches as a direct threat to sandbar conditions surfers depend on HONOLULU — Climate researchers are warning that projected sea level increases of up to thirteen inches by 2050 could fundamentally reshape or submerge some of the world’s most iconic surf breaks, threatening both the [&

Brands including Firewire and Haydenshapes are moving away from petroleum-based foams and toxic resins that have long defined board construction SAN CLEMENTE — Surfboard manufacturers are increasingly shifting away from traditional petroleum-based foams and toxic resins toward sustainable alternatives including algae-derived foam blanks and recycle

The month-long fundraising initiative lets surfers and ocean lovers worldwide turn wave-riding into direct support for marine protection WASHINGTON — Conservation International’s Surf for the Ocean campaign returned for 2026, running from International Surfing Day on June 20 through the end of July, inviting surfers and ocean enthusiasts worldwide

The eleventh annual competition now welcomes photographers focused on human interaction with marine environments alongside traditional wildlife categories WASHINGTON — The National Marine Sanctuaries photography competition has introduced four new categories for its eleventh annual edition, expanding beyond traditional wildlife and underwater image

Coaches say mobility work and breathwork are becoming as central to competitive surfing preparation as traditional paddling strength SUNSET BEACH — Surf fitness professionals report that functional strength training, mobility work, and structured recovery protocols are becoming increasingly central to how both competitive and recreational surfers p

Shoulder-season trips to destinations including the Mentawais, Bali, and Central America reflect shifting traveler priorities around cost and crowding PADANG — A growing number of surf travelers are shifting toward off-season and shoulder-season trips to popular destinations including the Mentawai Islands, Bali, and parts of Central America, priori

Sustainable rack systems and biodegradable wax products aim to reduce the environmental footprint of everyday surf equipment SAN DIEGO — A growing market for eco-friendly surf accessories, including biodegradable wax and sustainably sourced board racks, reflects increasing consumer demand for alternatives to the plastic and petroleum-based material

Researchers say overlapping coastal ecosystems and surf zones in northwestern Africa could support both recreation and biodiversity protection DAKAR — A recent mapping study examining coastal regions of northwestern Africa has identified significant overlap between prized surf breaks and critical marine ecosystems, suggesting the areas could offer

The judge says evaluating classic-style riding within a decades-old contest tradition became an unexpectedly demanding calibration challenge PLEASURE POINT — A longtime contest judge confirms that scoring this year’s edition of the world’s longest-running vintage longboard contest required genuinely more historical perspective than any actual antiq

The fan says understanding the WSL’s return to points scoring after five seasons of Finals Day became a surprisingly demanding analytical project SAQUAREMA — A dedicated championship tour fan confirms that tracking the title race implications of the WSL’s return to a points-based system, ending five seasons of the Finals Day format, required genuin

The vendor says supplying a beloved four-decade tradition’s full weekend crowd became a surprisingly demanding logistics challenge OCEANSIDE — A festival vendor confirms that restocking his inventory for the full three-day run of the forty-first annual Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club Contest and Beach Festival required genuinely more careful suppl

The parent says supporting her teenager through the season’s decisive qualifying event became an unexpectedly demanding organizational effort VIRGINIA BEACH — A parent of a competing junior surfer confirms that preparing for the WSL North America Pro Junior Showdown at Atlantic Park, the season’s decisive event determining World Junior Championship

The coordinator says ensuring accurate coverage across both Portuguese and English broadcasts became a demanding communication challenge NATAL — A circuit event coordinator confirms that managing bilingual broadcast logistics for the Circuito Banco do Brasil de Surfe’s Finals Day at the Natal stop required genuinely more translation precision than

The council member says preparing New Zealand’s inaugural championship tour event became an unexpectedly demanding civic responsibility RAGLAN — A local council member confirms that coordinating municipal preparations for Manu Bay’s first-ever Championship Tour stop, marking the tour’s historic first visit to New Zealand, required genuinely more co

The forecaster says correctly calling the swell pattern for the tour’s longest-running event became a genuinely demanding professional test TORQUAY — A surf forecaster confirms that correctly predicting the solid finish to the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition, required genuinely more meteorologi

The local says witnessing his home break host a major international event for the first time became a deeply personal experience PLAYA HERMOSA — A lifelong local confirms that watching the inaugural Garabito Surf City Pro unfold on his own home break, featuring a stacked field led by Leilani McGonagle, Carlos Munoz, and Sam Reidy, […]

The volunteer says maintaining continuity for the world’s oldest continually run surfing competition became an unexpectedly demanding preservation responsibility VIRGINIA BEACH — A longtime event volunteer confirms that coordinating the sixty-fourth anniversary of the Coastal Edge East Coast Surfing Championships, now the world’s oldest continually

The captain says navigating a packed spectator fleet during a historic career-first win became a demanding responsibility TEAHUPO’O — A boat captain confirms that ferrying spectators to watch the Outerknown Tahiti Pro’s dramatic conclusion, culminating in a maiden CT victory, required genuinely more precision piloting than any actual cargo delivery

The local says fielding repeated questions from confused onlookers about the international pilgrimage became an unexpectedly demanding explanatory task HALF MOON BAY — A longtime Mavericks local confirms that explaining to confused beachside onlookers why big wave surfers fly in from countries like Brazil, France, and Portugal specifically for a si