With the hordes of people coming to San Diego beaches the issue of certifying professional surfing instructors will draw more and more attention. It's only a matter of time before it has to be addressed.

SURFING INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION
by Michael Willis

From Coronado to Pacific Beach; from La Jolla to Oceanside, 1000's of people will be taking surfing lessons, attending surf camps and going to surfing schools to learn or improve their surfing every summer. These nouveau surfers will be taking up valuable ocean space already at critical limits. In fact, controversy is already brewing down at La Jolla Shores where Jorge Martinez (president of the La Jolla Long Board Club) laments, Surf Diva (a local surf school for girls) is so popular that local surfers are being crowded out and are having to compete for ocean space with this commercial venture. Because the imposed surfing area is limited, the hundred of people taking surfing lessons each week makes for elbow to elbow room (conditions) in the waves. Surfers are starting to complain.

Not only are commercial surfing schools taking up space, but also some local high schools and colleges who offer surfing classes. These can add up to 30-40 people concentrated in one area at one spot which adds to congestion in the lineup.

Clearly surfing and interest in learning to surf is at an all time high. It's no wonder that surfing has grown exponentially in the last decade. One doesn't have to look far to see surfing is being promoted everywhere. From movies, television, newspapers, magazines, commercials, advertisements, and even billboards, surfing is highly visible. Currently, there are hundred of thousands of surfers in the state of California alone and the numbers are swelling rapidly.

The truth of the matter is that proper surfing schools actually do more good than harm and there is a need for qualified instruction. As Encinitas surfer John Mosely says, "It's not the beginning surfer that is taking lessons that one has to worry about, it's the beginner that didn't take lessons. Usually, that's the person who gets in the way".

Still, conflicts are occurring. Marine Safety Officer Capt. Paul Dean had to ban one surfing school from using Fletcher's cove after too many accidents and near accidents were occurring between students and other beach goers. Capt. Dean supports the idea of some type of regulation being laid out. He says, "Criteria for surf instruction has to be developed and implemented to insure safe beach use for everyone." Industry leaders such as the father of surf instruction in California, Dr. Dorian Paskowitz, agrees; as does his son, leading surf school professional, Israel Paskowitz, " When we first started we were the only ones. Now days there are so many schools, you can't count them. A lot of them don't know what they're doing."

The time is now for city government to get involved with regulating the surfing school industry. In order to assure the safest, quality professional instruction on public beaches, something must be done. Teachers, lifeguards, and even hairdressers are required to be trained, tested and certified to assure only qualified personnel perform services. At the present time, anyone can call themselves surf instructors and give lessons. I'm not talking about a Dad or a friend teaching the neighbor kids how to surf, but rather professional surfing businesses that offer teaching services.

There are a many good reasons instructors should be licensed and certified to hold camps, run schools and teach lessons. To assure maximum public safety and quality instruction for surfing students and other beach goers, the city (possibly the Department of Parks and Recreation) should get together with the lifeguards and leading surfing instructional experts to determine a set of rules and standards which would be strictly enforced.

As things stand now, there are no policies whatsoever, nor are there any guidelines.

Longtime surfing instructor/coach, Kahuna Bob, points out that there is no age minimum for surfing instructors. When one considers that professional instructors also take responsibility as private lifeguards, maybe there should be an age minimum. Margo Schwab of Surf Savvy School has all her students use soft surfboards, as well as helmets. Should this be standard with all primary surf instruction? What about instructor to student ratios? Is 1:5 enough or should it be 1:4 or 1:3 for maximum safety? Should surfing schools be limited in the size of the class or classes that they can have in the course of the day?

Most professional surf schools have insurance and instructors that are CPR and lifeguard-certified. Maybe the time has come for the city to mandate surfing instructor certification also.

San Diego is a huge tourist destination. Of the thousands of people who will visit here this summer, many are going to want to try surfing. Tourists and local residents alike will be seeking professional surfing instruction. Certification for surf teachers will help make the lifeguards' jobs easier and the beaches safer for all. The best way to assure qualified, quality and safe beach use for the community and students is to implement guidelines and professional surfing instructor certification now about the author: Surfing expert Michael Willis is recognized for surfing the worlds largest waves as well as teaching 1000's of people to surf in Hawaii and California. He co-writes a column on surfing biweekly for the Del Mar Times.

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