Los Angeles

Surfrider Beach in Malibu is Named First-Ever World Surfing Reserve

Claire Goldberg

October 9, 2010 marked a special day for Malibu: Surfrider Beach was inducted as the first World Surfing Reserve site. Surfrider was celebrated by the Save The Waves Coalition for the cultural significance, size, and shape of its surf breaks. Surfers and environmentalists hope that naming the best breaks in the world will help lead to protections against pollution and development. Beaches in Corona del Mar and Dana Point have previously been ruined by construction. Nominees for this title went through two rounds of evaluations where each site was scored on the quality of its waves, environmental elements, and the site’s place in surf culture and history. Malibu won out of a list of hundreds with the help of its perfect location and waves, as well as the increasing risk of water pollution from both Malibu Creek and Malibu Lagoon.

• World Surfing Reserves (WSR): A program that protects global surf habitats, launched by the Save the Waves Coalition in 2009.
• Save the Waves Coalition: A non-profit organization that helps preserve the surfing coastline and the marine environment.

Additional Readings:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-surf-breaks-20101010,0,452923.story

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-surf-breaks.eps-20101010,0,4111528.graphic