Surf and Swim Areas

Surf and swim areas are designated by lifeguards at beaches where surfers and swimmers enjoy the same stretch of beach together. Surfers present a significant hazard to swimmers because they move through the water at high speed while riding waves on hard, sharp surfboards. Body boarding is another form of surfing; however it is performed with a smaller, lighter, soft board. Body boarding is normally allowed within swimming areas but depends on the local conditions and regulations. Skim-boarding is another surf activity that is performed with a hard, thin, flat board, which slides on a thin layer of water over the sand from the beach into the waves breaking close to shore. This activity is normally separated from swimmers because of the hazards the fast moving skim-boarders present to beach goers and waders as they slide across the waterline.

How do I know where I should surf, swim, etc?

The designated surf and swim areas can vary at each beach depending on the conditions and local regulations. At most beaches, surf and swim areas will be posted along the shoreline by signs and flags with arrows or instructions directing beach goers to the appropriate areas for the specific water activity. Some signs are more specific than others, but they will usually have the activity written visibly on the sign with an arrow pointing to the area designated for the specific water activity. At some beaches, surfing and/or other water activities are prohibited. These areas are usually marked with the "blackball flag" which prohibits board riding in the surf.

At Zuma Beach the lifeguards use the “blackball flag” to prevent surfers from surfing in the swim areas. During the winter months the “blackball flag” is rarely used if not at all. However, during the summer, the lifeguards at Zuma Beach use the “blackball flag” regularly. Surfers are prohibited from surfing nearly the entire beach after 11:30AM until 4-6PM crowd permitting. Surfers are however allowed to surf North of Lifeguard Tower 14 at Zuma Beach anytime. So if you are going to come and surf at Zuma beach, it is best to surf North of Tower 14 so that you do not have to move spots during your session. If you are going to come and swim or body board at Zuma beach, you may choose any place along the beach accept north of Tower 14.

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