It has come to our attention that a professional womens longboard contest is being proposed for Swamis. We think it is a bad idea, sets a bad precedent, and is unneeded, unwanted, and unsafe. There are plenty of other locations county wide including Cardiff, Oceanside, LJ Shores and Ocean Beach where contests are run. There has never been a contest at Swamis (well one way back in '67). The Swamis Surf Club makes sure they never run their contest at Swamis. Why? Because Swamis locals and visitors alike do not want one. A pro surfing contest does nothing for community surfers, does not benefit the city of Encinitas local surfers or make sense for the aesthetic and vibe of the wonderfully peaceful Self Realization Fellowship. What is the upside? A promoter makes some money, and the City of Encinitas promotes tourism. Please sign the petition below to STOP SURFING CONTESTS AT SWAMIS - FOR GODS SAKE - IS NOTHING SACRED?
It has come to our attention that a professional womens longboard contest is being proposed for Swamis. We think it is a bad idea, sets a bad precedent, and is unneeded, unwanted, and unsafe. There are plenty of other locations county wide including Cardiff, Oceanside, LJ Shores and Ocean Beach where contests are run. There has never been a contest at Swamis (well one way back in '67). The Swamis Surf Club makes sure they never run their contest at Swamis. Why? Because Swamis locals and visitors alike do not want one. A pro surfing contest does nothing for community surfers, does not benefit the city of Encinitas local surfers or make sense for the aesthetic and vibe of the wonderfully peaceful Self Realization Fellowship. What is the upside? A promoter makes some money, and the City of Encinitas promotes tourism. Please sign the petition below to STOP SURFING CONTESTS AT SWAMIS - FOR GODS SAKE - IS NOTHING SACRED?
We signed the "STOP SURFING CONTESTS AT SWAMIS" petition!
# 412:
12:23 am PST, Nov 21,Rich Downton, United Kingdom
# 411:
1:40 pm PST, Nov 20,Jim Cox, California
# 410:
12:18 pm PST, Nov 20,Jacob Campbell, California
# 409:
9:55 am PST, Nov 20,Mark Dephilippi, California
Bad idea for a contest at swami's
we would do the same down here at Windansea
# 408:
9:04 am PST, Nov 20,Jon Patton, California
Some breaks should never have a contest held at them, especially when it's never been done. This is one of them.
# 407:
8:46 am PST, Nov 20,Dan Brandlin, California
# 406:
6:22 am PST, Nov 20,Carla Flanders, California
Bad location for a surfing contest.
# 405:
8:20 pm PST, Nov 19,Jose Sanchez, California
go surf the beach break and show your egos there ,
# 404:
7:49 pm PST, Nov 19,Jim Noonan, California
Noonan's Point does not need some commercialized women's Longboard Contest establishing a bad precedent and whoring this spot out. Stay classy San Diego. Just say NO! It's a bad idea.
# 403:
5:59 pm PST, Nov 19,Brian Coffin, California
# 402:
9:27 am PST, Nov 19,Theresa Hertel, California
"May our consciousness expand to include our loved ones, our neighbors, our community, our country. ... - Paramahansa Yogananda -
Some how a surf contest does not go along with the vibe of a beach named Swamis with a ashram right above it. Lets be more conscious of what we are doing in our community. Keep the peace and tranquillity of Swamis and all it stands for sacred in the most basic way... .
# 401:
9:52 pm PST, Nov 18,Theresa Orijuela, California
IS NOTHING SACRED?
# 400:
5:32 pm PST, Nov 18,Jeannette Manfre, California
# 399:
5:12 pm PST, Nov 18,Joelle Bo, Utah
# 398:
4:55 pm PST, Nov 18,Yvette Schwenck, California
# 397:
4:22 pm PST, Nov 18,Bill McGaughy, California
# 396:
3:31 pm PST, Nov 18,Lauri Lansdale, California
IS NOTHING SACRED?
# 395:
1:56 pm PST, Nov 18,Teenya Creswell, Texas
# 394:
12:59 pm PST, Nov 18,Alexis Hurley, California
# 393:
12:42 pm PST, Nov 18,Steven Papaik, Florida
I had a question on why would it hurt to surf Swamis beach?
Tracy Taylor and Tanya Brooking long time friends were nice enough to inform me what could happen. I grew up in Encinitas it is my home town. I remember 30 plus years ago how nice it was to overlook the cliffs of Swamis and feel on top of the world; it is gorgeous and yes very much a sacred place and ecosystem. Next door we have a Self Realization Temple built in 1937 is just beautiful as the Swamis beach down below.
The meditation gardens, which include a small waterfall and koi pond I remember as a Kid were fantastic a very clean fresh place just as Swamis Beach has always been.
I do believe that commercializing Swamis beach having a surf contests will have a negative impact and or open the doors for further industry; this will destroy the beauty of it all. We should not let this happen.
It really is one of a kind, and should remain that way. After reading through some material I Vote NO please do not let this happen we can not destroy the beauty of this and take a chance of turning it into a commercializing Party for applying methods of business to for profit, or To do, exploit, or make chiefly for financial gain.
To sacrifice the quality of for profit in my opinion this is just not right. This beach is simply sacred.----------------
Steven,
# 392:
12:34 pm PST, Nov 18,Terri Wingo-Duhon, Texas
I may be in Texas, but my heart is still in Cali!! Don't ruin Swamis!!!!!!!!!!!!!So peaceful and beautiful.
# 391:
11:41 am PST, Nov 18,TJ Weklak, California
Agreed...there are already plenty of other suitable locations - no need to disrupt Swamis
# 390:
11:39 am PST, Nov 18,Name not displayed, Spain
We must protect nature against every kind of promotions for people to make money by destroying nature it is our target also here in Spain we are very proud of our little piece of Costa Brava PLEASE keep nature as it is DO NOT DESTROY IT.
Regards
# 389:
11:35 am PST, Nov 18,Craig Clingenpeel, California
It is not the proper venue for a pro surf contest .
# 388:
11:17 am PST, Nov 18,Josef Sanchez, California
Money aint everything people.
# 387:
11:00 am PST, Nov 18,Diedra Hallmark, Nevada
Leave Swamis for future generations to come..... There are other beaches to have a surfing contest at, Stones Steps, etc.
# 386:
10:14 am PST, Nov 18,George Brolaski, California
The Swamis Surfing Association voted 30 years ago to not have any contest or aprove of any conteat at Swamis. I am a coalition judge and have been one for 25 years and i know this is not a good venue for a contest plus do not want any contest at Swamis EVER
# 385:
10:11 am PST, Nov 18,Lisa Justice, California
My Mother is Hawaiian Chinese, my father is Haole. I have seen sacred land taken from my people by my people and no one benefits! There are so many absolutely gorgeous places that one can have contest that does not have to destroy the natural life underneath us. Tourism is wonder but it is a eco system that kills and destroys the things that it is built on.
# 384:
9:48 am PST, Nov 18,Tanya Brooking, California
Commercialization of this precious beach, reef, marine preserve and break is absolutely ludicrous and short-sighted. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN!
# 383:
8:38 am PST, Nov 18,Danny Brooking, California
We have watched what happened to Maverick's hillside. We have seen the impact of Trestles.
I will not stand for the execution of the soul that exists here at this last world class break. It has not been touched by the contest machine.
That is all we need to see is "SPONSORS" and reef destroying infrastructure on this fragile beach.
Go away KOOKS!
# 382:
5:24 am PST, Nov 16,Joan Sisson, California
# 381:
2:46 am PST, Nov 16,P Fenn, United Kingdom
Is nothing sacred?
# 380:
5:51 pm PST, Nov 15,Name not displayed, California
# 379:
3:41 pm PST, Nov 14,Name not displayed, California
It's going to start getting Violent if more kooks come to swamiis. We don't want you here if you are not from here, and especially if you suck, double if you ride a longboard.
# 378:
1:18 am PST, Nov 14,Lou Webb, California
I have yet to read or hear any "valid" reson to have this contest here. This is just not the place.
# 377:
9:07 am PST, Nov 13,Alicia Bravo, California
We do not need another surf contest, especially at Swamis!! There are plenty of other places to go!
# 376:
5:06 am PST, Nov 13,Jonathan Bolos, New Jersey
# 375:
9:45 pm PST, Nov 12,Peter Minton, California
The great surf city that San Diego is, deserves to have an untouched spot that remains for the local community. Plenty of excellent longboard waves in the area that will provide for a great competition, Not Here.
# 374:
9:16 pm PST, Nov 12,Jeremy Wilson, California
# 373:
3:25 pm PST, Nov 12,Ryan Kotzebue, California
# 372:
1:19 pm PST, Nov 12,Karen McCarter, California
I am completely in favor of the contest, but Swami's is not the right place for it.
# 371:
12:43 pm PST, Nov 12,Name not displayed, California
# 370:
7:51 am PST, Nov 12,Dana Aoto, California
To Whom It May Concern,
I surf at swami's about 2-4 times / week and believe a surf contest would ruin what makes swami's so appealing. The quiet solitude and beautiful scenery I have come to enjoy and look forward to would be ruined. Please do not allow a surf contest to be held at my favorite place in the world. Dana Aoto
# 369:
6:11 pm PST, Nov 11,Neal Glasgow, California
Camp grounds, surf schools and school surf clubs all can and do over crowd surf breaks. Allowing contests at Swami's continues the erosion of access and solitude for locals. There is a point where providing access becomes exploitation. Our beaches should not be seen as a "cash cow" for local businesses and exploited for that purpose. We don't need to and shouldn't exploit every natural resource we have in Encinitas for special interests. Dan D. changed the "Holiday" Parade back to the "Christmas" Parade because of local tradition. No contests at Swami's is also a local tradition and should be respected. If it were anyone else but Linda Benson would a contest at Swami's even be considered by the city? We don't need to be like Huntington Beach.
# 368:
3:05 pm PST, Nov 11,HOLLY IRVINE, California
# 367:
2:29 pm PST, Nov 11,Kristin Crowley, California
# 366:
10:51 am PST, Nov 11,Robert Perrenoud, California
Please not destroy the natural beauty of this surfing location. Many locations that provide better crowd conditions to beach and shore areas are available. Thanks for your concern in this regard.
# 365:
10:25 am PST, Nov 11,Cori Tipton, California
Move on.....you're not welcome here!
# 364:
9:40 am PST, Nov 11,Janine Cochran, California
# 363:
9:29 am PST, Nov 11,Stacy Taylor, California
I grew up in Encinitas and I also learned to surf at Swami's. For 5 years I had the privilege to live across the street from Swami's and every morning could look out my bedroom window and view the break. This beach is a Sanctuary and should be left untouched by corporate America. Even though I live in Los Angeles, every time I visit Encinitas I make a pilgrimage to Swami's and SRF Koi gardens to once again enjoy its beauty and solitude. Swami's beauty and vibe is enveloped in the arms of the Gods and Goddesses. Linda, look past the dollar signs and prestige, as a local you should know this competition would devastate the fragile sustainability of this beach and possibly cause environmental damage that would be irreversible. NO TO ALL CONTESTS AT SWAMI'S
# 362:
9:22 am PST, Nov 11,Christine Kueneke, California
# 361:
8:32 am PST, Nov 11,Mandy Wickham, California
C'mon Linda, move it over to some place that has better parking, more bathrooms, easier access if someone gets hurt. You won't be able to have the judges down on the beach because high tide would swamp the scaffolding out. How would you get the scaffolding down there anyway? Would you truck it down using the Pipes ramp and then ruin the beach? You say you will have a low impact contest, what a joke!
# 360:
7:55 am PST, Nov 11,Chris Prowse, California
# 359:
7:52 am PST, Nov 11,Carli Leavitt, California
# 358:
8:27 pm PST, Nov 10,Laura Reindel, California
Why don't they just have it at Cardiff or Seaside?
# 357:
5:40 pm PST, Nov 10,Jesse Ferris, California
there are countless contests at CARDIFF....it's a better contest site in every way...TAKE IT THERE
# 356:
5:13 pm PST, Nov 10,Michelle Woo, California
Linda, I hope you see from the responses that this isn't men vs women. It's common sense vs. nonsense. It's nothing personal against you or the rest of the women longboarders. Swamis is just not a good venue for a big World Championship contest. It's one of your home breaks. You should know that!
# 355:
5:08 pm PST, Nov 10,Benjamin Hinchman, California
# 354:
2:26 pm PST, Nov 10,John Mutscheller, California
I've surfed my entire life in Encinitas, Cardiff and Swami's... As a long time local I AM 100% OPPOSED TO THIS CONTEST!!
# 353:
2:16 pm PST, Nov 10,Lesah Mutscheller, California
I AM 100% OPPOSED TO THIS CONTEST!!!!!
# 352:
1:55 pm PST, Nov 10,Stephen Pappin, California
Swamis is a sacred place! It is not for commercial interests. A contest would open the door to big commercial interests. Contests should be held in locations that are already designated for them.
# 351:
10:32 am PST, Nov 10,Ted Taylor, Utah
I've surfed my entire life in Encinitas and Swami's was one place I learned to surf and continued to surf. Now living in Utah, I still respect the beauty and value of this spot. Keep it contest free!
