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

On Saturday morning, the National Hurricane Center upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression after satellite measure winds showed the system as having a well-defined center. The area of interest is around 730 miles south of the tip of Baja, tracking to the northwest. Environmental conditions are favorable for development to start the weekend but become less hospitable by early next week. The system is forecast to turn more to the west early in the workweek and poses no threat to land at this time.

If the system continues to develop along the forecasted track, a minor southerly swell will blend in for exposed breaks of Southern California as we move into next week. First the Fresh Prince's kid and Superbad, now another Malibu celebrity just made the international tabloids for surfing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Surfline, "Medium to locally stronger swells for the US West Coast"



"High-pressure has been camping out over the eastern half of the North Pacific lately, as a good looking low has been centered below the Bering Sea. That storm has kept a steady run of healthy NW swell rolling into Hawaii. Well exposed US West Coast areas, primarily from Point Conception northward, have seen a fair share of that NW swell, along with shorter period NW swell set up by the near-by high. That swell scenario will continue through most of the second half of this week."

"NW swell continues for Hawaii and the West Coast going into the second half of the week."

"Northern and Central California see the most size from their NW swell mix Friday into early Saturday. Southern California sees its smaller share of the NW swell top out by the weekend."



"Over this weekend, the storm currently spinning in the central North Pacific is expected to move into the Alaskan Gulf, where it will be joined by a smaller, faster moving system. From there, the resultant complex low looks to maintain a moderate scale NW swell mix for exposures of north of Point Conception through the last week of this month. The south end of the state only pulls in a small portion of that swell then."

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