Surf rules set to change

Only five surfing instructors will be teaching how to catch the waves at Thalia Street beach this summer. That’s half the number than in the past.

With increasing numbers of neophyte surfers seeking instruction, the Marine Safety Department will enforce new rules to create a safer environment by reducing the ranks of surf instructors and students.

A new policy caps surfing school activities and requires that instructors follow specific guidelines.

The new rules reflect growing concerns that crowding at Thalia Street beach ? used for surf instruction because of its gentle wave formations ? creates a safety hazard, Marine Chief Mark Klosterman said.

“We took in comments from the community, and it came to our attention that it was a problem,” Klosterman said. “This is on a trial basis for this year,” he added.

Under the new rules, surfing schools may only operate at Thalia Street beach by permitted instructors.

The city issued four permits to instructors for the summer season, running from June 17 to Labor Day.

Three of the permits were issued to individual instructors that limit their number of students to three, and one permit was issued to a City run camp that employs two instructors and has 14 students.

Instructors are also required to have a $1 million liability insurance policy naming the city as an additional insured and have a valid business license. They must also be CPR-certified and must submit fingerprints.

Surf instructors worked with lifeguards for several months to set up the new guidelines, Marine Safety Officer Kai Bond said.

Bond estimated that when crowding was at its worst, there would be 60 kids in the water with 10 instructors.

“This should cut the numbers in half,” he said.

Instructor Steven “Sli Dawg” Chew said he will lose revenue, but that the safer environment will be worth it.

Chew, who is paid per each surfer he instructs, is used to having 21 students in the water, but will now have a limit of 14 in accordance with the camp permit.

“Things have exploded over the past five years. Everyone wants a piece of the Southern California lifestyle,” Chew said. “It was getting too hard for people to catch waves.”

Chris Williams of the Soul Surfing School received a private instructor’s permit.

“I’ve always thought it’s a huge issue,” Williams said. “It’s going to be nicer with lighter crowds and a controlled environment.”

Williams said he was already operating within the requirements needed for a permit and will not be giving up much now that he is restricted to having three students in the water at a time.

A million-dollar insurance policy costs about $3,000 per year, Williams said.

James Pribram of Aloha School of Surfing also believes the new rules will make the waters safer.

“It’s great to have surfers and lifeguards working together,” Pribram said.

Though the new guidelines please those surf instructors with permits and lifeguards, not everyone is happy. Some feel they have been left out of the lucrative surfing-school trade.

Mary Hartman, owner of The Girl In The Curl, said she is upset that she didn’t receive a permit. Hartman has operated out of Dana Point for nine years and opened her shop in Laguna more than a year ago.

“I applied, but they were all taken,” she said. “I feel squeezed out.”

Hartman said she has never taught in Laguna before and was not contacted by anyone about permits.

“I haven’t paid my dues in this town,” Hartman said. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”

In neighboring Newport Beach, Recreation Manager Matt Lohr said his city allows seven instructors to operate and enforces a limit of six students per instructor.

“This is the third summer we’ve operated this way,” Lohr said. “Surfing has grown tremendously.”

Lohr said Newport Beach put its guidelines in place after an influx of instructors from Huntington Beach, where restrictions hampered their ability to operate.

Kyle Lindo, marine safety chief for Huntington Beach, said his city allows only three areas for schools to operate in.

“We needed to make sure everyday people can enjoy the beach without having to walk over someone’s business,” Lindo said.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should the number of surfing schools permitted in Laguna Beach be limited to four? Write us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA, 92652, e-mail us at coastlinepilot@latimes.com or fax us at 494-8979. Please give your name and tell us your home address and phone number for verification purposes only.cpt.19-surf-school-CPhotoInfoBN1R356D20060519izh4vtncKENT TREPTOW / THE COASTLINE PILOT(LA)New city rules are making it much more difficult for surfing schools to operate in Laguna Beach. In 2002, surf instructor Donavon Frankenreiter gives a hands-on lesson to student Drew Payton during Frankenreiter’s namesake surfing school at Thalia Street.