L.A. County Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said at a news conference on Tuesday that L.A. County beaches, which have been closed since March 27, will reopen “soon.” She kept very vague about the reopening of the beaches. The existing health officer order closing the beaches expires on May 15.

Ferrer said her department has been “working hard” with the mayors of beach cities and L.A. County Beaches and Harbors.

“I think we’ll have a plan that will have our beaches reopen safe,” she said. Noting that the county’s beach city mayors have been working with beaches and harbors staff and have “created some documents that we are reviewing at the public health department. These are consensus documents and we think they look great.”

Ferrer said those documents “will give us the ability to have a road map for safely reopening county beaches here in L.A. County.” But Ferrer refuses to mention any timeline for the reopening L.A. County beaches.

San Diego was able to reopen their beaches. Orange County and Ventura were able to as well. Those beaches reopened with health guidelines in place, but looks like this Ferrer lady needs more time to come up with her own guidelines for LA beaches.



For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

Yesterday, San Clemente and Laguna were allowed to re-open.

Today, the tantrum throwing governor of California is allowing 3 more cities to reopen their beaches.

The cities of Huntington Beach, Dana Point and Seal Beach can now reopen their respective beaches with modifications to protect public health and avoid crowding.

Huntington Beach outlined the following specific regulations for beachgoers:

- Local beaches will be open from 5 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Only "active recreation activities" are allowed, including walking, running, hiking and bicycle riding
- Physical distancing must be practiced
- The ocean will be open to swimming, surfing and other water activities
- Huntington Beach Pier, beach playgrounds and picnic areas will remain off-limits
- The following Huntington Harbor beaches will remain closed: Davenport Beach, Humboldt Beach, Trinidad Beach, Seabridge Park Beach

Under the modifications, "passive games," loitering, sunbathing and any gathering of people, except when with those in your immediate household, are prohibited.

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

This is a photo take today over Huntington Beach. Photo: Chris Cristi from the ABC helicopter


Gov. Gavin Newsom closed beaches in Orange County on Thursday, overriding some local officials who had rejected his pleas to limit access as the coronavirurs continues to spread throughout the state.

Yesterday, news "leaked" that a memo to the state's police chiefs was sent indicating that Govenor Newsom was preparing to close all beaches in the state of California.

This was all because last weekend, images of large crowds at Newport and Huntington made global headlines and that made Newsom mad.


Newport Beach, Friday, April 24. Photo: Chris Cristi from the ABC helicopter
Newsom said those packed beaches were “disturbing" and makes it more difficult for him to consider relaxing the state's mandatory stay-at-home order.

“The only thing that will delay it is more weekends like last weekend," he roared. “Let's not see that happen.”

Both Newport and Huntington responded with statements via social media that the crowds were not what all the photos and videos depicted, claiming the images were shot with telephotos lens and other trickery. Newsome didn't buy it.

San Diego beaches opened this week, but with restrictions. Officials are allowing walking, jogging, swimming, single-person paddle boarding and kayaking, and of course, surfing. Stopping, sitting, or lying down on the beach is banned. Good thing SUP'ing is allowed, now the head of the WSL could go out and get some, instead of thinking up more lame ass WSL reality shows.

A statement from Newsom's office called restrictions like that “responsible strategies to allow residents to recreate in coastal areas.”


San Diego on April 27. Photo: K.C. Alfred

San Diego beaches were saved from the Gov's new closure order.

Kevin Faulconer, the mayor of San Diego, took to Twitter to announce the news: "Great news: the Governor heard us. San Diego beaches WILL STAY OPEN under our plan approved by lifeguards and health officials. In a time of great crisis we don't need knee-jerk policies. We need to keep a steady hand. It’s the only way to keep the public’s trust. Keep it up, SD!"

“We are hopeful that Orange County can work with us to apply a similar approach,” the Governor's Office said in a news release.

So around noon today, Newsom ended up limiting the new order to just Orange County beaches.

“Governor Newsom just doesn't seem to get it,” said Republican state Sen. John Moorlach, a former Orange County Supervisor who represents the area in the state Legislature. “We need to trust people. If our citizens exercise proper social distancing, then we should allow access to the beaches.”

“Every local law enforcement entity found last weekend’s beach usage in Orange County to be in compliance with social distancing. Yet King Gavin decided press stories were more worthy of trust than law enforcement. I guess we should not be surprised,” read a statement from OC GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker.

OC Sheriff Don Barnes said enforcing the beach closure is tricky, especially because officials didn’t have the written order Thursday afternoon.

Barnes said sheriff deputies will be looking for “voluntary compliance” on the beach closures, like they do with the existing stay home orders that shut down non-essential businesses like bars, nightclubs, concert halls, sports arenas and movie theaters.

“My responsibility, as the County Sheriff, is to protect lives and property and also while preserving the Constitutional rights of the residents of Orange County. And in that, there’s a balancing test,” Barnes said at the Thursday news conference.

He said the department will focus on educating residents about the beach closures in a light-handed approach to enforcement.

“From an enforcement component, I have no desire to enforce any aspect of that through arrest. We have various other aspects we are dealing with going forward.”

Tonight, the Huntington Beach City Council voted during an emergency session to seek an injunction against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order to close Orange County beaches. The governor ordered Orange County beaches closed on Thursday despite opposition from local leaders who argue they should decide whether it’s safe to hit the sand.


And what about Ventura?


Photo: @CountyVentura

"Despite some of the headlines Ventura County beaches were not packed last weekend", the Ventura County Twitter account stated. "Shout out to our community for following the rules and for the hard work of all police agencies throughout coastal cities. VC you are helping stop the spread of COVID-19"

Ventura has “keep moving” guidelines at their beaches. If you head to the beach you can only walk, run, swim or surf. You cannot sit or sunbathe. Parking and bathrooms remain closed.

"Soft closures at County of Ventura, City of Port Hueneme, City of Oxnard and City of Ventura Beaches. Walking, running, swimming, surfing all good but hanging on the beach is not permitted. Basically, you must keep moving. No sunbathing, chairs, blankets, coolers, sun shade umbrellas. You must keep moving. Please follow social distancing guidance. Please enjoy the weekend safely. Our Deputies and law enforcement throughout the County are on watch."

Meanwhile, all of our Los Angeles beaches remain closed.



For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

Back in October, a young, blonde powerhouse began showing up in the Venice lineup. The adorable goofy-foot with a backhand smack began turning heads up and down the beach prompting people to ask “Who’s that?!?”

We chatted with 17 year-old Rubiana (Rubi) Brownell to find out.

By Nicole Lynch

Where are you from and what brings you to Venice?

I was born in Santa Monica, and then my family moved to Costa Rica when I was four. I basically grew up there, so I consider myself to be from Costa Rica. I moved to Venice in October of last year. My dad works here and I do a lot of competing in Southern California and I needed to get used to the waves, so I used this as an opportunity to come here and train.

Photo: Six12 Media

When did you start competing? How long have you been competing on the QS?

When I was like 13 years old, so about four years ago. I started doing the QS like 2 years ago. When I first started on the national circuit in Costa Rica I was doing well, so moving on the QS was the next step. I got into it pretty smoothly and easily.

Rubiana is 5x Costa Rican National Champion.

So you like competing?

Yeah, for sure! For me more than anything just being a good surfer is my main goal, I care about that more than results. But competing really motivates me. Getting to travel around, you make the closest friendships with people from completely different parts of the world you would never go to. So it’s really cool at such a young age to have that experience while trying to make a career out of it.

When did you learn to surf?

I learned when I was 12. I have a brother who is six years older than me (Indy Brownell), and when my dad had kids his goal was to make sure his kids surfed. But me and my brother, neither of us wanted to – hahah! So he had to get my brother into it first, and that took a while, and then it was my turn. I didn’t want to but after like two months of hardcore surfing I fell in love with it and now I’m more grateful for that than anything.

Haha, so dad had to drag you to the beach?

Yep! It was easier for me than my brother, there was a part of me that just wanted to please him and make him happy. But it was a struggle at first, a lot of frustrating sessions. I was scared of the ocean even on an one foot day! A perfect little beach break and I was terrified of it, so it took a while. But I’m so so grateful for that. I wouldn’t be the same person if I didn’t surf.

You didn’t start surfing until you were 12, at what point did you realize you’ve got talent?

My dad could tell right away. It really helped having him and my older brother around, just catching white water, they would tell me exactly what I needed to do differently and were able to shape my style. So it happened within the first few months for sure.

Your dad (Trey Brownell) rips too.

He grew up in Florida with no waves, and at 15 he moved here to LA. He didn’t start competing until he was an adult. He competed for a few years, won some national contests, some WSA events and was even on US Team for two years. Then he had to find a different career to support his family.


"There's only one way to leave the beach. Tired, hungry, one shade tanner, two shades blonder and with Champ." Rubi and her father, Trey in Costa Rica. Photo: Avellanas Surf Photos

Who are your mentors/ heroes?

My older brother is definitely one of my mentors. He taught me as much as my dad and still pushes me every day. My favorite pros are Sally Fitzgibbons, her attitude towards everything and how motivated she is just being an athlete is super inspirational. Mick Fanning is my other favorite surfer. The bottom turn to front-side top-turn combos, it’s incredible. Even though they’re both regular foots I study their surfing more than anybody else.


"An unforgettable two months spent on double sessions, turning the little blonde thing into a ripper" - Indigo Brownell

I overheard one of the old timers saying you have one of the best backhands he has ever seen surfed at the pier.

Aww ☺

Do you prefer going front or backside?

Backside for sure! I mean, it depends on what kind of waves I’m surfing. I really struggle with barrels backside, but when it’s just turns then backside for sure! Caroline Marks is insane.

What does your quiver look like?

I’m riding a combination of Losts and boards from my local shaper in Costa Rica called Global Surfboards. 5’6” thrusters

Photo: Six12 Media

What other kinds of training are you doing?

I have a personal trainer who sends me workouts online. I do that three or four times a week. Weight training and being overall more in shape is one of my goals.

What about an air game? Is that something you’ll be looking to incorporate into your regimen?

Yeah, it’s something I’ve had a hard time with. When I’m back home my brother really gives me a hard time about that. We argue about it, but we’ve decided that he’s better at airs and barrels and I’m better at everything else. We push each other. Now that I’ve got some time off from contests it’s definitely something I want to focus on.

Photo: Six12 Media

What has it been like navigating sponsors?

It’s hard, especially being from Costa Rica, it’s a place where it’s really hard to get sponsors from the US. I’m super grateful for O’Neill and Monster. I’ve also had a ton of support from local sponsors in Costa Rica. Pimienta Verde Organic Market and Mermaids and Sailors in Tamarindo, I’m very grateful.

You were due to compete in a QS 3000 in Barbados before Coronavirus hit. What’s the plan now?

All the contests got cancelled through the end of May and potentially longer. The plan was to go home, but then the borders got closed so now we’re just chilling here. We’ll see.



Where are your favorite spots here in Cali?

That’s really tough. I honestly like the waves in Nor Cal, Pleasure Point and Morro Bay. In So Cal, I guess Lowers has to be my favorite wave. And the Venice Pier is definitely my favorite every day spot. Surfing here has helped me so much! Learning how to surf one peak with a crowd. I have to be more alert and position myself properly. Learning how to surf close-outs, surfing a wave where you have to make your own speed in a small section. It’s been a process, it’s been a frustrating five-months but feels really really good to finally be improving on it and I think it’s going to really help me when I travel. Yeah this place is special for sure!




Photos: Six12 Media

*This story will be constantly updated with new info & photos as we get them.*
*New updates will always appear at the bottom.*
*LAST UPDATE: Sunday 12:30PM, 4-19-2020*




On Thursday morning, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks started pouring sand into the Venice Skate Park.

While out filming the morning surf for our daily Instagram Stories, our shooter noticed some bulldozers dumping sand on the skate park and started shooting it.



Several employees were shoveling sand into all areas of the park, while the bulldozer dumped sand along the skate park's rim walkway and into the street section. And of course, as seen in our Instagram Stories, they were getting all sorts of harassment from a handful of skaters and non-skaters.



This is temporary, the sand was put into the skate park to prevent people from skating it. The skate park has been closed for several weeks now due to the stay at home orders, but too many people have been skating it, and just plain hanging out in it. So the Department of Recreation and Parks decided to do more, since the caution tape and signs didn't work.

We asked Lance LeMond, someone who has been involved with the skate park since before it was built and now works for the Parks & Rec, about this and his reply was that they are just going to put enough sand in there that will keep people from skating it.

We saw that cardboard was placed over the all the park's drains with sandbags to hold them down. But the cardboard pieces were not taped down at the edges, so let's hope the method they chose works.



According to the Department of Recreation and Parks, the weight of the sand should not be an issue. They are not putting in an amount that will cause damage to the skate park.







We also noticed that the city is now taking notes on how people at the beaches are following the social distancing guidelines. They have been watching the numbers of people wearing face masks compared to those that do not. The news networks keep doing hit pieces on how people at Venice Beach are not following the guidelines, even though we keep catching all those same reporters and cameramen not following the orders themselves.





There is no info on how long the sand is going to be in place. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti did announce that "large gatherings" including sporting events may not be approved until 2021. With the large crowds that this skate park gets, it might be till then.









UPDATE: Friday 10:20AM, 4-17-2020
More sand being added on Friday, and @WahineKaii snapped this photo (below) of the bulldozer inside of the skate park moving sand around the street section.


Photo by @WahineKaii

The Venice Skate Park is not the only the park having this done, the same thing already happened to the San Clemente Skate park


Photo by Ryan Mata

The San Clemente Times reports: "On Monday, the City of San Clemente poured 37 tons of sand onto the concrete surface of the Ralphs Skate Court off Avenida La Pata as part of an effort to deter skaters from visiting the park during the coronavirus pandemic."

It is probably a god bet to say the Venice Skate park will end up looking like that.

UPDATE: Friday 5:30PM, 4-17-2020

Photo by Stu Munde

There's an aerial photo (above) of the skate park on Friday.

UPDATE: Friday 5:45PM, 4-17-2020

The Patch reports:
"Residents have complained that groups of people still gathered in Venice, and weren't taking the stay-home order and social distancing preventative measures serious."

We saw it almost daily, group just hanging out at the park, not keeping the six foot distance from each other, challenging the police when told to leave, etc...



UPDATE: Saturday 12:30PM, 4-18-2020


Photo by HUNTER W E ! S S

Rose Watson, the Director of Public Information at City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks made some statements on the dumping of sand in the Venice Skate Park.

Watson said Department of Recreation & Parks has filled skate parks with sand in the past in order to keep people from using them before construction has been completed.

She said so far, just the skate park in Venice has been laden with sand, but Department of Recreation & Parks will fill other skateboard facilities if people are seen gathering during the Safer at Home orders.

"We're doing this for our safety, their safety and the safety of others," Watson said. "When this is all over, trust me, we will open them, but right now it's important for them to not use the skate parks."

Meanwhile, the big network news stations are scrambling to get photos of the park:



And for now, the word we were given is that they are done adding sand to the skate park, but if people keep skating it, more will be added.


UPDATE: Sunday 12:30PM, 4-19-2020

More updates will be added as we get them. Working on saving all the Instagram Stories clips and creating one video for them all too.

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

On April 2, 2020, Lost Hills Sheriff’s station deputies were flagged down by lifeguards regarding a male adult in the water, disobeying lifeguard orders to exit the water.

The suspect remained in the water paddle boarding for approximately 30-40 minutes. LASD boat was brought in from Marina Del Rey Station, once the Sheriff’s boat arrived on scene, the suspect complied and swam to shore.

The suspect was arrested for Disobeying a Lifeguard 17.12.115 LACC and Violation of Government Code 8665. The suspect was transported to Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station where he was booked and released on a promise to appear.

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

Here's a follow up to The Standup Paddleboarder Gives Chase, Gets Arrested story.

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

Some standup paddleboarder had a Lifegaurd and police boat chasing him around Surfrider today.

He was cuffed and taken away.

It was all strammed live on the BROTHERS MARSHALL Intagram Story

View this post on Instagram

First Ever high speed Police S.U.P. PURSUIT??? MALIBU WE LOVE YOU!!!

A post shared by BROTHERS MARSHALL (@brothers_marshall) on Apr 2, 2020 at 4:44pm PDT

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

Day One of the Los Angeles County Beach Closure and it looks like someone already got a ticket for surfing, but updated info shows the $1,000 ticket have been given for a different reason. Read On...

That footage from Ashley SaveLA shows the police, followed by Lifeguards, telling surfers to get out of the water and that they can be arrested for not doing so. Awhile later, one surfer ends up getting a ticket.

"This happened after the water had been cleared an hour earlier by the police. I watched a lifeguard personally approach him while he was stretching on the sand & told him the beach was closed and he needed to leave. Instead he paddled out & the cops showed up"

And below is one of the surf cam's angle of it:

UPDATED INFO! #1 -Thanks to Reno Jack Aguinaldo for the news tip)

The ticket wasn't so much for surfing as it was for...well... just read what happened according to eyewitness Derek Levy:

"The lifeguard gently told the surfer that the beach/ocean was closed. The surfer said 'Fuck you, waddaya gonna do?' The cop stepped in and gave the surfer a $1000 ticket."



UPDATED INFO! #2

Everyone has been very cooperative, it was just that one guy,” said Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Mike Sistoni, who said lifeguards contacted police to issue the surfer a citation when the guy refused to leave the beach. “Everyone else has been pretty cool… I don’t know if he was having a bad day or what.”

Manhattan Beach Police Sergeant Steve Kitsios said Saturday afternoon that no other beach closure violators have been cited and that his department is relying on voluntary compliance.

For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE

In Addition to the closure of all beach parking lots, the City Of Malibu is going to pu parking rsstrictions on PCH and other streets in Malibu. Here is the official statement:

The City of Malibu, in cooperation with Caltrans, will post 'No Parking' signs along sections of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and on certain City streets to support restrictions on beach and trail access, and to prevent violation of the Los Angeles County Public Health Officer’s order that closed all beaches from Malibu through the South Bay effective March 27 to April 19.

The areas where parking will be prohibited are:
• Malibu Bluffs Park parking lot
• Las Flores Creek Park and parking lots on Las Flores Cyn Rd and Rambla Pacifico
• Trancas Cyn Park parking lot
• South side of PCH along Zuma Beach
• South side of PCH near Corral Cyn Rd (end of Malibu Rd to Corral Cyn Rd)
• South side of PCH at Las Tunas Beach
• South side of PCH at Paradise Cove (Sea Lane Dr to Paradise Cove Rd)
• North side of PCH near Winding Way (between East Winding Way and West Winding Way)
• South side of PCH between Dan Blocker Beach parking lot and Latigo Shore Dr
• South side of Westward Beach Rd
• Cliffiside Dr near the Nature Preserve Trail



For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE