There has been a great deal of debate lately over the merits of tow-in surfing or, more specifically, Personal Watercraft (PWC) in the lineup. At the risk throwing myself headlong into the middle of the controversy, I do have a few thoughts on the matter. Imagine your favorite surf spot buzzing with multiple wave runners, whipping surfers into head-high peaks while you attempt to paddle into waves. The tow-in surfers are up and riding on swells before you even have the opportunity to begin paddling for approaching sets. Sound far-fetched? This scenario might not be far off. Complaints are beginning to come in from up and down the coast in response to the appearance of PWC's at local lineups.

I personally was surfing one of the best days of the year this past winter on the west side of Santa Cruz, when a motorized crew arrived and began towing into 6-8 foot surf (that's right, 6-8 foot surf), actually spraying paddle-in surfers as they flew by. Once more, these were two high profile, long-time professional surfers from Santa Cruz, likely viewed as icons by many of the local surfing population. It's not hard to envision impressionable kids watching acts like these, taking note, assuming this is acceptable behavior.

In my opinion this is not only unacceptable, but also intolerable, and I am not alone in my thinking. PWC's have no place in the every-day surfing lineup, and should be banned with few exceptions. Never mind the unfair advantages they create for the "motor-assisted" surfer over the paddle-in surfer, the noise they create and the exhaust fumes they generate contradict the very reason most people go surfing in the first place. Consider by comparison if hikers in a beautiful area such as Yosemite were subjected to motorcycles roaring past them on hiking trails. This would not be tolerated, and the same should hold true for PWC's in surfing areas. I say this not only as an environmentalist, but also as a surfer and water enthusiast who enjoys the beauty and tranquility of the ocean.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), overseers of the nation's marine sanctuaries, is currently considering a move to ban all PWC's in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) - with no exceptions. This would cover the area roughly from Marin County to the north down to San Luis Obispo County to the south. Several environmental organizations are backing the potential ban, including the San Mateo chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. While I support this movement in sentiment, I believe some modifications are necessary. First off, a ban on motorized watercraft should include exceptions for use in search and rescue. For obvious reasons, search and rescue groups and other emergency crew provide a vital role in water safety, and should be exempt from standard PWC restrictions, both in terms of specific sites as well as transportation between locations. The NOAA so far appears to agree on this point. Next, I believe allowances should be made for PWC use a certain distance from shore, say 1/2 mile. This would allow the same type of recreational use that, for example, boats enjoy, while keeping the noise and exhaust of PWC's a safer distance away from coastal habitats, beach enthusiasts, and surfing areas. Currently within the MBNMS, Personal Watercraft are allowed to operate in "designated zones and access routes within the Sanctuary." These zones do not currently exclude surfing areas or stipulate specific distances from shore, but were drawn based on launch ramps, boating channels, and designated off-limit zones such as swimming areas and sensitive coastal habitats.

Finally, big-wave surfing areas, including Mavericks, should be exempt from a ban as well. These spots, few in number, break so infrequently that their impact in terms of overall PWC use is minimal. They can continue to be self-policed, honoring the previously used code of no motors while there are paddlers. What constitutes select big-wave spots as exceptions is of course another debate altogether. Mavericks is an obvious choice, and has been at the very center of the tow-in controversy. But there are other, less well-known spots that might also apply. In the end, any exceptions policy for PWC's is a challenging proposition, and will likely be a source of ongoing contention. That does not mean a compromise cannot be reached - one that is sensible to all parties.

Here in Northern California, the PWC issue has taken on special significance, as Mavericks has become one of the premier tow-in centers in the world. Unlike its big-wave brethrens in Hawaii, many of which break on outer reefs and are arguably not surf-able without the assistance of powered watercraft, Mavericks began its surfing life as a paddle-in wave and during any given winter hosts more paddle-in surfers than tow-in surfers. This means it's one of the few spots to actively share both tow-in and paddle-in surfing, inevitably resulting in growing conflict. Mavericks aside, the broader issue remains how to limit PWC use within surf zones in general. Surely there's policy that can be adopted to do just that, while still allowing for limited use at select sites. Whether or not a ban on PWC's is put into place in Northern California or beyond, you can be sure the tow-in debate will continue to rev on within the surfing community.

Get some waves. - DL

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