Beachgoers enjoy sand and surf to kick off Memorial Day weekend

When the weather warmed up previously during a spring heat wave, crowded beaches followed.

After pictures surfaced from that weekend’s events, Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a “hard close” of Orange County’s beaches.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend kicked off on Saturday with ideal beach weather — maintaining refreshing temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s.

Beachgoers found sand and surf in Huntington Beach, although the pier remained gated off, but they still had plenty to do.

Zack’s, located on the west side of the pier, was offering nearly all of its services except surfing lessons.

Joseph Ali, 32, of Huntington Beach, a manager at Zack’s, said that “procedure and safety” remain their top priority, and surfing lessons are “too hands-on” to provide while the coronavirus pandemic continues to be a concern.

Joseph Ali, seen serving food, and his father, Mike Ali, were able to open their restaurant, Zack’s, near the Huntington Beach Pier.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Zack’s, which also serves food and provides bike rentals, was operating in those capacities, two weeks removed from its own reopening. Ali, watching over a grill full of hot dogs, said that customers are grateful they are open again to assist with their recreational needs.

“They want to enjoy the beach,” Ali said. “They want to feel like they’re normal again. They don’t want to be trapped at home again, so as of that, it’s good for business, it’s good for the community, it brings revenue to the city. We’re here feeding the people, renting bikes, everything’s going great so far.”

Main Street enjoyed improved foot traffic from the beginning of the Stage 2 modification of the stay-at-home order, which allowed for some businesses to reopen with alterations to continue to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Ali is pleased that more establishments have been able to open.

“We are happy that everyone is open,” Ali added. “We all work as a team here. Main Street, the beach, the lifeguards, the police, the enforcement, we are all working together to number one, keep our beaches safe, number two, have a convenience for the beachgoers.”

Jason Schriner of Riverside enjoyed a bite to eat with his wife, Stacy, and young daughter on the low wall stationed next to the bike path. He had concern for restaurants that are still unable to offer the comfort of dining in.

“Every small family restaurant has the right to be open, but how many people are actually going to go and pay retail prices and not enjoy sitting down and having a meal?” he asked. “That’s the big problem. You go out to eat to sit, not to go out, pick the food up, and go somewhere else.”

Crowds enjoy a sunny day near the Huntington Beach Pier on Saturday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Many did engage in active use, including running, skating, biking, surfing, and a relatively new phenomenon called torques, an off-the-court racket sport played with a shuttle that resembles a birdie from badminton.

Tyler McDonald, 29, of Irvine said he liked the uniqueness of the game, which can be played without a net, so the boundaries primarily shape the rallies.

“Nowadays, with this crisis and all of this stuff happening, it’s really convenient because it’s actually meant for social distancing,” said McDonald, who added that he has played the sport in both Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.

Johanna Snider, a junior at Pacifica Christian Orange County, runs cross-country and track in addition to competing in soccer and surfing for the school. She said she was out for a run along the beach for the fourth straight day and remarked that Saturday had been the busiest during that time.

When it comes to running, Snider said that having more people out and about helps her carry on.

A model has her photos taken near the Newport Pier on Saturday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

Crowds at the beaches appeared to be moderately-sized in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.

Asked if she worried about the beaches being closed again if the holiday weekend brought larger crowds, Snider did not think that would be well received.

“Even if [Newsom] did try to close it, people aren’t going to listen,” Snider said. “The protests down here, there were more people here during the protests than there are right now just because he closed it. If he closes it again, it’s just going to bring more people.”

Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Brian O’Rourke also described the numbers at the city’s beaches as moderate and in keeping with expectations for Memorial Day weekend.

O’Rourke added that active use is encouraged, which includes reinforcement with signage. With the beachgoers going into the water, the lifeguards’ attention is required there, as O’Rourke said there were about 50 ocean rescues made on Friday.

Laguna Beach Marine Safety Capt. Kai Bond said that there were “some summer-like crowds,” adding that people were enjoying active recreation on the city’s beaches. He said the public was complying with active recreation advice.

Dermatologists Dr. Anthony Huynh, center left, and Diana Zhang, both from Laguna Beach, enjoy a walk on the beach on a warm sunny day in Laguna Beach on Saturday.

(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer)

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