FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
A surfer dropped into a 12-foot Waimea Bay wave yesterday morning. Some surfers are objecting to tow-in rules that are proposed by the state.
Planned surfing Some surfers are not completely stoked with an attempt by the state to regulate what has been a mostly unwritten code of behavior in the water.
rules raise concern
A hearing highlights the
conflict generated by
tow-in board ridersBy Genevieve A. Suzuki
gsuzuki@starbulletin.comSurfers testified before state Department of Land and Natural Resources officials at Sunset Beach Elementary yesterday on new proposed rules to regulate tow-in surfing, a relatively new and dangerous sport that uses personal watercraft to pull a surfer into big waves.
Among other things, the proposed rules would set up areas where tow-in surfing is permitted, require training, require that personal watercraft used to tow surfers into waves be registered with the state and establish safe distances for tow-in surfers.
Some tow-in surfers object to the rules, which require tow-in surfers to yield to traditional paddle surfers.
They suggested the state can make things easier on everyone by simply applying the "whoever gets there first" rule.
Others say tow-in surfers need to stay away from paddle surfers.
"It's an unsung rule that if you're a ski guy you give way to the surfer," said city lifeguard Joe Golonka.
"If there isn't a paddle surfer who has priority, then the tow-in surfer can use the ocean," said George Downing, owner of surf shop Downing Hawaii and the director of the Quiksilver surf competition in memory of Eddie Aikau.
Michael McNulty, the president of the North Shore Ocean Safety Association, testified that tow-in surfing presents a danger to near-shore surfers.
The rule that proposes tow-in surfers to stay 1,000 feet away from paddle surfers isn't stringent enough and would not allow enough time for either surfer to avoid a collision, according to McNulty.
"This is not much time to prevent an impact accident," testified McNulty, suggesting that tow-in surfers be required to stay 2,000 feet away from paddle surfers.
Lifeguard Golonka said tow-in surfing can actually be a lot safer than paddle surfing: "They always help each other and it's a lot safer than paddling two miles out into the ocean."
Big-wave and tow-in surfer Ken Bradshaw, the primary author of the proposed amendments, said education will go a long way toward helping tow-in surfers understand the rules.
"We wouldn't be here today if the tow-surfers had behaved in a responsible way," Bradshaw said.
But Bradshaw questioned the proposed certificate of completion that all tow-in surfers must obtain from an accredited institution.
"It's hard to imagine that a Leeward Community College course ... could teach us anymore than we possibly know," said Bradshaw, who suggested the state instead require tow-in surfers to go through the U.S. Coast Guard's course for jet ski operators.
Downing proposed that a review committee made up of members of the North Shore Lifeguard Association and the Hawaii Water Patrol be the licensing board for tow-in surfers.
"The DLNR are not experts," Downing said.
World champion tow-in surfer Garrett McNamara said tow-in surfers need their own spot to practice their sport in the same way Point Panic is designated solely for bodysurfers.
"We need somewhere we can test our boards," McNamara said.
Tow-in surfers need to test their equipment before they use it with high-surf situations, according to McNamara.
"We can end up dying because our equipment wasn't up to par," McNamara said. "Our lives are in the decision-makers' hands right now."
Hammerheads, the surf spot far out from Mokuleia, is perfect for a tow-in surfing only zone, but the several regular paddle surfers who frequent the area are being territorial, McNamara said.
"It's kind of a big ego trip more than anything else," McNamara said.
"Half of the people don't want to see a jet ski go through their sunset."
Eric Fisher said he turned to tow-in surfing because of the lack of space for paddle surfers.
"There are too many paddle surfers," said Fisher, who is training to tow-in surf in competitions. "There are a lot of arguments. You've got so many guys fighting over waves."
Dept. of Land & Natural Resources
