SURFING SOAPBOX: Paving waves for surfing

Walking downstairs this morning at the Hotel Allegro I gave the security guy a good laugh. Two steps out of the elevator and one glance at me, he was laughing. I guess not many guests walk downstairs barefoot when it’s 20 degrees outside with snow on the streets.

You know what they say — “You can take someone from the beach, but you can’t take the beach out of them.”

Today is my fifth day here in the “Windy City.” Monday I spoke along with fellow surfers Vince Deur, Michael Urban and Todd Haugh before the Chicago Park District in hopes of legalizing surfing here.

It’s hard to imagine surfing being illegal anywhere but especially here in the United States. However, that may just becoming to an end. After a few tense minutes to begin the meeting because of all the media hype this particular issue was bringing to the surface, the meeting ran very smoothly. General Manager Timothy J. Mitchell and his people were very receptive and open to designating some surfing beaches that would allow surfing all day.

The plan is for the local surfers here to get together, ranking their top 10 beaches and having a follow-up meeting with the Chicago Parks district in deciding which beaches would be designated along with the rules and regulations that would follow. The hope is that they will have these beaches designated for surfing by spring.

All and all I think it was great day for surfers here in Chicago. It’s always a great experience when two sides can work together like they have here in finding better solutions that work for all — similar to the way surfers in Laguna Beach have worked in the past with our city and lifeguards. In fact, that is why I was here, giving examples of how it works in Laguna Beach as well as in California.

Surfing is new here when it comes to local government.

Luckily they gave us the time to be heard.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com