Thursday, March 11, 2010

Commissioners consider pro-surf contest at Swami's

Commissioners consider pro-surf contest at Swami's
By RUTH MARVIN WEBSTER - For the North County Times

Posted: January 19, 2010 8:50 pm
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/encinitas/article_71729491-7840-5c75-aa04-e70308eb191a.html
 
Local surfers weighed in Tuesday night on a controversial proposal by legendary surfer Linda Benson to bring the Women's World Longboard Championship to Swami's Beach in October.


Last year the Encinitas City Council charged the city's Park and Recreation Commission to solicit public comment on the feasibility of holding such a high-profile event at Swami's, a renowned surfing spot that has never before hosted a pro-surfing contest.

"As a longtime local of Encinitas, I felt that this event would be a great opportunity for Encinitas to celebrate with women longboarders as we continue to honor the spirit of our sport," Benson told the commissioners. "Swami's is a world-class wave, arguably the best wave in the area; a truly perfect venue for a world championship."

For months, petitions both in support of and against the proposal have been circulating among local surfers.

Benson, a five-time U.S. champion and member of the International Surfing Hall of Fame and Cori Schumacher, two-time World Champion and two-time U.S. Champion took turns presenting a proposal to move the annual event from its current home in Biarritz, France to Encinitas. Benson told the commissioners that she expects that 64 or so women would compete at Swami's during the four-day event with more women competing in qualifying rounds held earlier at Moonlight Beach, also in Encinitas.

The Women's World Longboard Championship began in 1995 in Costa Rica and has traveled to different parts of the world, Benson said. Then in 2005, Benson obtained rights to the contest with the hope of bringing it back to Swami's where she first surfed in 1956.

Benson said she envisions an Encinitas Surf Festival with 40 to 50 vendor booths and exhibitions, a pancake breakfast and film festival to run alongside the event.

But not all local surfers are convinced that Swami's is the right venue for a world championship.

Calvin Tom, an Encinitas surfer, said he had a multitude of safety concerns. He highlighted the fact there is no pedestrian crossing across the railroad tracks or the Coast Highway near the Swami's parking lot entrance and that the low railings over unstable cliffs and limited access to the beach could be dangerous to spectators.

"For me, a contest (at Swami's) doesn't make that much sense, and we have other locations that have been proven to be better," Tom said.
Encinitas resident Michelle Woo Bowman agreed.

"I'm here to give you options," she told the commissioners Tuesday night.

"Option No. 1 is Cardiff Reef," she said. "It has plenty of parking, it is ADA (American Disabilities Act) accessible, has good surf and has hosted previous successful contests ... And option No. 2 is Seaside. It also has parking, is ADA accessible, has good surf and previous successful contests. What is not an option is Swami's."

Benson said city staffers recommended she not make a permit request for the event until the City Council decided whether to allow the championship at Swami's.

And when asked by commissioners whether she would consider taking her event to another Encinitas location, namely Cardiff State Beach or Seaside, Benson said no.

"Those aren't world-class waves," she said.


http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/encinitas/article_71729491-7840-5c75-aa04-e70308eb191a.html

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