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

Gov. Gruelsom Newsom announced Monday that the next stage of reopening California's economy will begin as early as Friday. This is what they are referring to as "Stage 2".

Newsom's "Stage 2" of reopening will allow for retail business to open for curbside pick-up only. Businesses such as book stores, clothing stores, sporting goods, toy stores and florists, will be allowed to re-open, given they follow additional safety and hygiene protocols that will be released Thursday, Newsom claims.

Surf shops fall under the clothing and sporting goods categories.

Shopping malls will not be allowed to reopen.

But Newsom also emphasized that local officials still have the authority to accelerate or slow down reopening at the county level.

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

Last week, the city of Santa Monica said the new parking restiction at Bay Street was only ging to be for that weekend due to the warm weather. And those restrictions were lifted the following Monday. But they just put them back today. So It seems like this is going to happen every weekend now, regardless of the weather.

Vehicles with a displayed residential parking permit from within a two block radius can park at the bagged meters and will not be cited or towed.

Source: The official Twitter for the City of Santa Monica,

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

Huntington Beach's beach closure started today, but surfers and bodyboarders were still seen in the water getting waves this morning. Several pro surfers were spotted out there too.

Brooke Daigneault came out of the water as the police drove by. She said, "Well, I just waved to the police officer, he waved back. So I guess we're cool." And then she went back out again.



Surfer Keanu Igarashi, left talks to police on the south side of the Huntington Beach pier. Photo: Michael Fernandez

Keanu Igarashi was one of the surfers who surfed this morning. Keanu said the police told him they weren’t sure of what to do, they are in a hard spot in this situation. The city is fighting the governor’s order to close the beach.

Some claim the police may have been more focused on the then upcoming protest march to bother with the surfers, others feel the cops just don't want to deal with this crap.



Photo: Michael Fernandez

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

Photo by @marygrosswendt

17 year old longboarder from Malibu, Brooke Carlson took to Instagram to respond the angry governor's new state-wide beach closure order:

"As of May 1st in California, you will not be allowed on the beach or in the water. Gavin Newsom, you don’t own the ocean so that fact you're ticketing people for surfing is beyond me. In Ventura the boardwalk was far more crowded then in the water or on the beach and you don’t hear anyone talking about closing the boardwalk. Everybody I saw (I went on a beach run this weekend from marina park to Ventura pier about a 2 1/2 mile stretch) was following the CDC rules and everybody was being respectful of the CHP when they said that you can’t be laying on the beach, you have to be moving around and social distancing. I understand it may have been a different story in Newport and Huntington but that shouldn’t mean just because people wanted to go lay on the beach that you have to punish the people who actually surf and train at the beach. If people want to go against CDC rules they’re going to do it regardless of if it’s at the beach or not. This completely sends the wrong message to people and county’s who are actually following the rules. Feel free to disagree but this is just my opinion" - Brooke Carlson

Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed Friday after tens of thousands of people from the inlands drove over to the beaches last weekend during a heat wave despite his stay-at-home order, according to a memo sent Wednesday evening to police chiefs around the state.

Eric Nuñez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said it was sent to give chiefs time to plan ahead of Newsom’s expected announcement Thursday.

“We wanted to give all of our members a heads up about this in order to provide time for you to plan any situations you might expect as a result, knowing each community has its dynamics,” the memo sent by the California Police Chiefs Association, said.



Newsom this week targeted beachgoers in Orange and Ventura counties, calling them an example of “what not to do” if the state wants to continue its progress fighting the coronavirus. While many beaches and trails throughout the state have been closed for weeks, others have remained open with warnings for visitors to practice social distancing and more have reopened.

News reports claim that in Newport Beach, some 80,000 visitors hit the beach over the weekend, although lifeguards said most people exercised social distancing. With criticism swirling. The Newport Beach City Council had just met on Tuesday and rejected a proposal to close the beaches for the next three weekends.

Nearby Laguna Beach approved a limited reopening. Beaches across San Diego County reopened Monday, with a few exceptions.

After getting word of Newsom's coming order, Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner made official statement regarding the closure of his beaches in OC.

Response from Orange County Supervisor:

"I believe Governor Newsom has the power to close Orange County beaches. However, it is not wise to do so. Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases, including mental health benefits. Moreover, Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far. I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and our collective efforts to fight the disease, based on the best available medical information."

Here's some of the many photos going around of the packed beaches this past weekend, which is why Newsom is doing this.



Typical summer day at those OC beaches.

As for Los Angeles beaches, as we all know, they are already closed.

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

First the Fresh Prince's kid and Superbad, now another Malibu celebrity just made the international tabloids for surfing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, the main guy from Sparta was caught be tabloid paparazzis heading on an ATV to "a private beach access on Sunday afternoon in Malibu. ".

You can read about guy from Sparta's surfing adventure and fashion choices at The Daily Mail

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

The New Parking Restrictions At Bay Street have been removed. They were just temporary for the weekend as reported.

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

With hot weather coming this weekend, the City of Malibu urges residents of neighboring communities not to travel to Malibu and all local residents to stay safe at home.

On Saturday and Sunday, the City will utilize the Wireless Alert System (WEA), which is similar to Amber Alerts, to send out messages to all cellphones within range of cell towers in Malibu, in order to reach visitors. Changeable message signs will be placed in several locations along PCH warning the public that beaches, lots, trails and parks in Malibu are closed.

The City is using every communication tool at its disposal to put out widespread messaging to the public including social media, Nextdoor, the City website, posters, flyers, FM radio public service announcements (PSAs), and the City’s emergency alert system (similar to reverse 911), in advance of the weekend.

“I want to reassure the residents of Malibu that the City is doing everything possible to urge neighboring communities not to come to Malibu during this warm weather,” Mayor Karen Farrer said. “It is difficult for all of us, in Malibu and elsewhere, to stay home and not be able to enjoy the beaches and mountains that we cherish, but this is a sacrifice that we must make to protect our seniors and vulnerable people from this deadly disease. Please stay safe at home, and enjoy the outdoors in your neighborhood or in your backyard.”



Source: The official Website for the City of Malibu

* Image above is a dramatic creation of what the alert might look like.

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

Due to warm weather this weekend, parking restrictions will be in place along Bay St between Ocean Front Walk and Neilson Way. and on Ocean Blvd. between Bay St. and Hollister Ave. starting Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 27.

Vehicles with a displayed residential parking permit from within a two block radius can park at the bagged meters and will not be cited or towed.

Source: The official Twitter for the City of Santa Monica,

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

Wanna bet the heat and hit the snow? Baldy re-opened today.

Mt. Baldy was one of the last ski resorts in the country to close down for the Coronavirus lockdown. And now it is the first to re-re-open (they re-opened last month with some strict guidelines, but was shut down 2 days later).

"The forecast calls for clear skies with warm temps through the forecast period. A moderate wind advisory is in place thru Thursday morning with varying north winds in the 10 to 25 mph range. With coverage on the mountain about as good as it gets for April and golf courses reopening around Southern California we have decided to follow suit and open for ‘Ski & Ride Times’. "

The decision was made following the reopening of golf courses in both Riverside County and Orange County in southern California.




"We are taking the COVID-19 crisis very seriously. Mt Baldy Resort is a unique all season mountain resort and is well designed to accommodate social distancing guidelines. In addition, we are implementing several policy changes that will help to ensure the safety and health of our guests and staff. Similar to how a golf course operates Mt Baldy will check-in a maximum of 4 individuals at 10 minute intervals. 1 Day Alpine Ticketed guests will have access to Lift #2 and #3 from that time until closing. In stark contrast to a golf course (150 acres), Mt Baldy Resort (800 acres) has more than 4x the area and will be operating at less than 10% of occupancy under this plan."

"Mask or face covering consistent with Order of the Health Officer of the County of San Bernardino County for the Control of COVID-19 must be worn at all times."

Lift Tickets are limited and cost $99, no matter what time your ticket is booked for. No half-day options at all, even if you book it for the last 2 hours of the day.

Get Tickets Here!

Heads up though, last time they re-opened, they had to close it down a couple days later.

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

The Venice Skate Park Section starts at the 1:41 mark.

"Venice Beach Skatepark was recently on the news because of what the city decided to do to try and stop skateboarders. I decided to go check it out and show you guys the damage they did. Please be smart and do not copy my actions in this video."

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

This shot of PCH from a few weeks ago is what the city is expecting will happen this upcoming weekend.

LA County Public Health director Barbara Ferrer is begging people to stay home. She talked to KBUU 99.1 about this upcoming weekend:

“I do want to really beg people who are in LA County: please do not go to Ventura to use their outdoor spaces.”

“You’ll overwhelm a county that has that is trying to sort of relax some of the restrictions for the residents … and do so in a sensible way. And you could because you’ll be in closer contact with lots of other people you could inadvertently come back infected yourself.”

Ferrer is the person with the key to the beaches in Malibu and the rest of L A County … and she is not going to open the gates.

Extra sheriff’s deputies are being brought in to Malibu this weekend to make sure that the anticipated hordes of people heading to the beaches beyond the county line keep moving … and do not stop at Zuma … Westward or any of the other beaches in Malibu.

Read the full story at KBUU 99.1

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

This run through the skate park was filmed two days after they stopped putting sand in it.



For full coverage of the skate park's burial, see this story: VENICE SKATE PARK GETS BURIED

As we reported last week, temporary "No Stopping" signs were put on PCH to prevent surfers from surfing this spot (Sunset). After a week of no enforcement, LAPD came in hot on Wednesday morning and started writing tickets for $93. Most got out the water and drove off without getting one, but a handful were not so lucky.

The video below is footage from our daily Instagram Stories. You can see the police did give a warning, via their siren, that they were coming.

Two police vehicles showed up, but only one officer was writing tickets, the other one just wanted to check out the dolphins that were jumping by the waves.



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

Malibu/Lost Hills Watch Commander James Braden reported a citation was given to someone near Topanga State Beach who allegedly tossed away some LA County Beaches and Harbors “No Parking” signs.

No info on how much the ticket was for. He didn't state if it was done by a surfer or not.

We did notice several of the No Parking signs were gone at a couple spots at Topanga. There were two of the barricades with signs tossed down into the brushes on the side of the creek.

The same has been happening at Sunset too, the "No Stopping" signs are being hidden, tossed in the trash, and some thrown down into the rocks.




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

*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

Cal-trans put No Stopping Anytime signs at Sunset on Thursday night. Both sides of PCH have the No Stopping Anytime signs, from the Bel Air Bay Club to the other side of Gladstones. No vehicles were ticketed, towed, or told to leave on Friday, but with the upcoming holiday weekend, that may change.






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