Wednesday, May 23 – Ocean City’s New Surfing Program Begins Next Week

OCEAN CITY – The Town of Ocean City has added a third surfing area along its 10-mile beach. In addition to the two rotating surfing beaches that have been in effect for nearly 20 years, the town has approved a one-year pilot project that will allow surfing during the day, Monday through Friday, in an area that is 200 yards north of the Inlet rock jetty.

The specifics of this surfing area have been worked out between the Ocean City Beach Patrol and representatives of the surfing community. This plan has gained approval as a one-year pilot project by the Mayor and City Council. The new area will be evaluated throughout the summer and Beach Patrol Captain Butch Arbin will report back to the Mayor and City Council regarding its impact to the surfing community and beach patrons.

This area of the beach, while popular as a surfing area, has not seen a large beach population during the weekdays.  However, weekends see a very large number of beach goers and therefore will not be used for surfing during this time. The area will be available for surfing Monday through Friday, except holidays, beginning on Tuesday, May 29. Half of the Inlet beach (toward the pier) will still be available for all water activities. If parking in the inlet lot for a day on the beach, drive to the far end before parking and walk straight out to guarded beaches.

This area is in addition to the other two rotating surfing beaches, which begin operation on Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m., which coincides with the beach patrol going on duty for the 2007 season. The schedule and locations of the rotating beaches are available on the beach patrol website www.ococean.com/ocbp; follow the "surfing" button.

All surfing areas are regulated by Town of Ocean City ordinance and require surfers to remain within the boundaries and wear an ankle leash at all times. It also prohibits anyone without a surfboard from entering the water on the surfing beach, which also includes swimming or wading. The Ocean City Beach Patrol enforces these rules.

Surfing beaches are staffed by trained surfing beach facilitators who are beach patrol employees. You can identify these individuals by their yellow uniforms.