Surfing now off limits in France
Did you see the mock National Security alert doing the rounds of social media earlier this week?
"Due to the threat posed by the Covid-19 virus, the Federal government has decided to limit access to surf beaches across Australia."
"Effective immediately, no person who doesn't live within a 2km radius of the coastline will be permitted to travel to the beach or enter the ocean."
"These conditions will be in place until at least 2034."
Now, in yet another mark of these strange, strange times, France is pushing to limit access to its surfing beaches - and it's not a gag.
France's Atlantic Maritime Prefecture have put in place containment rules restructing movement of citizens. According to France Bleu, a French public broadcaster (excuse the Google Translate jobbie):
"Still too many surfers and walkers were observed Tuesday on the coast, not respecting the confinement instructions. For the sub-prefect, the rules are clear: you can access the beach only if you live next door, and for a few minutes."
"No more walks on the beaches or surfing in the Basque Country. There are many who confuse confinement with vacations . This is the case of those who take advantage of forced rest to go picnic on the beach, meet friends, and sunbathe. Some even offer beautiful surfing sessions. It is forbidden, and this Wednesday morning a surfer was left with a PV on leaving the water."
Empty boardwalks in Anglet
The hastily drafted law decrees all nautical activities are prohibited for fifteen days:
"All nautical practices are prohibited, whether surfing or paddleboarding, whether you live nearby or not. Access to beaches is restricted under national restrictions: it is allowed to people who live very close to the beach, they can only stay a few minutes and be alone or with a child... "
The gendarmes are policing the confinement laws right across France with France Bleu reporting that at least one surfer has already been fined.
Couldn't possibly happen in Australia, right?
Comments
Good fucking luck
Kinda agree with the paddleboarding part...
I can hardly imagine the cops waiting in the car-park for a couple of hours for you to get out of the water anywhere outside of major populated hubs. Even less so if the beach access is not direct from your vehicle, if you have to paddle across a river or walk 30 minutes through bush-land for example. Maybe the Bondi crowd would give up on surfing after a few months off.
Everyone knows of some sneaky corner where no-one can see you from the road which would become pretty crowded if this were to ever be implemented, and if they don't ... well I guess they'll have to take up a musical instrument to while away the hours.
I will be interested to see, if this turns out to actually be real, how long they extend the ban. I am even more interested to know the latest on whether the virus stays alive in ocean water; I have not found any conclusive studies on the topic yet.
Could be easily managed round my way, we're virtually an island with one through road. Road block the north and close the bridge to the south and you lot can keep your germs to yourselves.
Just like Tassie.
Tassie shut to mainlanders !!!
True !!!!
As long as the map stays open I'm happy.
Shit! I've just bought some extra wax, to be sure that I'll still make the most of an apocalyptic lockdown type scenario.
So you're the one hoarding wax G?
For shame.
Yeh, stored in my panic room, right next to my personal supply (only 10,000 rolls) of premium, ultra thick 'n soft toilet paper. Lol!
Makes the surfboard registration laws of the early 60's seem a little tame, eh?
I reckon Manly had well over 500 in the water yesterday breaching an already in place rule on public gatherings.
I think all surfers,(except me and my mates) should be banned from surfing Snapper until at least November
Maybe us surfers find that we are not affected by the virus over time. Could salt water become the miracle cure ? Probably need to do more testing ?
Yes! Sodium / Potassium chloride cancels out WSL Corona bitter aftertaste.
Saltwater chlorine filtered Wave Pool brew is the safest Surf Spot.
(Might wanna wear double plated welded on goggles though!)
What is a "PV"? "surfer was issued with a PV"..
Insider info: Council is a couple of decisions away from shutting down (most) all operations and sending everyone home.
Economy is tanking -on purpose?
Will military be rolled out across the country to "keep people safe"?
The virus has killed nearly 0.0001% of the population -what a disaster.....
They may have given him a photovoltaic panel. It will take him some time to install it. That should keep him off the streets.
PV is a ticket, that's basically like getting a parking fine left under your wiper!
PV is a ticket..in this case 28 euro...
Anyone see the Nick Carroll article?: https://www.coastalwatch.com/surfing/25939/nick-carroll-how-surfers-arou...
pfffff... what a pile of shit french coping with, If they decide to do it in australia there'll definitely be many beach-rebel groups and individuals who's gonna get to the beach through the shrubs and shit and surf it anyway and i'll be in the firs row of those once.
Huh?
The French are generally known for being rebellious.
Aussies on the other hand are complicit -Gallipoli?
Now Ape, I think there were all sorts of reasons for that one which would be apparent if anybody is a history buff. I'm definitely in the rebellious camp because I have a big issue with authority which no amount of analysis seems to fix. So it is out the back door and off to the beach (has been great the last few days down here).
fucking panikers !
Heard about this yesterday...seems like there could be a few games of british bulldog on the cards as surfers leave the water en masse to confuse the gendarmerie.....
https://www.france24.com/en/20200318-france-coronavirus-lockdown-violati...
Remember the Maginot Line?
Geez did you have to bring up that again.....ha, ha, the Frenchies will never live that down.
i lost my board to bondi beach inspector several times for unregistered boards.
imagine if all our boards had to be registered nowadays and have insurance, fuck, what a nightmare. big money for the councls.
Well if the Coppers arent breath testing anymore just come out of the water panting like all fuck....
Maybe throw in a gooley or two and watch them run LoL
I just watched a swell go through while under lockdown, painful but at least no one else got it either
and the crown casino....is still open ho ho ho.....allowing no more than 450 patrons at a time specifically spaced, according to casino suited altered rules.....authority is suss....if the govt was committed to its laws why does it allow afl games when all else is in a type of lock down.....way too much grey for my liking
One of my mates is head green keeper at a bowling club, reckons hes got best job in the world now. No more grumpy bowlers to please as all social bowls put on hold, he's put the greens into Autumn mode and now its just surf, water and mow.
Lucky for your mate for now. At some stage when they hit the greens again the club may need to up the greens fees 50 cents to recoup some losses and shit will hit the fan then.
Vic Logies virus was transferred to Goldie to create the Richard Wilkins zombie strain.
Which infected the Gold Coast movie set.
GC Mayor : We are officially #1 Corona Celeb Hot bed
Mayor: "If Aquaman locked down Hastings Point for (4 months)...we must do better."
Corona Slayer Mega Series, legislates only Thor's entourage can surf Goldie line-ups.
Real viral beach ban is a picnic compared to fake Tinsel Town Viral recreation ban.
3weeks is not a Lockdown...This is a Lockdown....
Oz Mayors jointly contract Hollywood fever to enforce total East Coast blockade.
Me two Movie Mogul: Luv the smell of an empty Ocean in the morning...Let's Surf!
https://www.echo.net.au/2017/09/aquaman-filming-hastings-point-residents...
only those who live within 2km of coast allowed to use the beach .....might be very convenient for all those wealthy people with a place near the beach.....go out and enjoy the beach with little risk of being infected while ....all us other riff raff locked down in suburbia.....as usual 2 lots of rules....one lot suits a minority....thats what i think
OK, I've been surfing all my life and I'm also a medical researcher working on Coronavirus.
Here is the deal, while we are at the social distancing stage. Go surfing, but try to keep a couple of meters away from each other in the water and in the car park. Wash you hands regularly as you have been advised. If you feel sick, don't go surfing. Stay at home until you get better. Get tested if you have symptoms consistent with Coronavirus.
If we get put into lock down. Don't go surfing! Stay at home and do as you've been asked. Remember the people at risk if you spread it around are your grandparents, your mate with a kid with cystic fibrosis or your Aunt who's just finished off her Chemo.
Surfing is all about individualism, but sometimes you need to just suck it up and sacrifice something for the greater good. This will pass, and when it does we'll all still get waves.
Use some common sense and don't be an arsehole.
what i dont understand damien ....is can the virus transfer via salt water....ie in the surf or does it dissolve for want of a better word.
Mick, i think the issue is all the crew in the lineup yelling out "yours" - e.g. the virus is transmitted by breathing, coughing or sneezing - hence the distance measures we've been asked to put in place .
Quoting the internet here "When the virus becomes suspended in droplets smaller than 5 micrometers — known as aerosols — it can stay suspended for about a half-hour, researchers said, before drifting down and settling on surfaces where it can linger for hours".
cheers ff......im well over 50 and usually surf as reclusively as i can.....and my concerns re rules and not surfing are if there is a mass lock down ruling and whether it will be all surfing or just crowded beaches.....self isolation is a no brainer to me....clearly not to some as ive read on some fb posts..
Thank you for that DD. Any rays of sunshine in the research area?
they won't test you if you have symptoms, unless you meet strict criteria.
Are you not aware of that Damien?
edit: if we go into lockdown I won't be abstaining from fishing or surfing.
I'll keep odd, nocturnal or semi-nocturnal hours where I won't encounter another human being.
I’ve been working on the same cutback for 35 years and now I might have to postpone perfection ?
I’m THIS close to !
A little bit of finessing and I’m there....minor stuff .
I’ve just got to start bending at the knees , leading with my head , rotating my torso , dropping the leading arm into the turn , setting a clean line and eyeing the rebound and its a done deal.
Now you tell me I’ve got to relinquish my dream just so a few thousand people get to live ?
FFS !
Our dear leaders would have to declare martial law to stop me surfing, bushwalking and Nordic skiing!. The evil potato Dutton would love to declare indefinite martial law. He would cream his pants if that happened.
And, it's happening here in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-21/bondi-beach-closed-over-crowds-am...