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Oregon Tide Tables
The Gathering 2010
Big Wave Classic
Cape Kiwanda 2010
Oregon Chapters
| Let's not start turf wars! |
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Harassment, intimidation, and vandalism were not words you expect to hear when describing a popular location on the Oregon Coast, specifically a world class surfing spot. One surfing website wannasurf.com warned visitors to "bring mace or leave an armed guard at your car if you don't have Oregon license plates." When KGW photographers and a reporter arrived to the Cove of Seaside, two surfers warned them not to take their cameras out to the Point and take pictures. They encountered several surfers --some polite, others irate. One surfer stood in front of the photographer's camera and blocked the lens with his hands. "We don't like cameras taking pictures here," the man said. ..."There is a small contingency of people who are being jerks, who have this mentality this is their surfing area and you're not welcome here," Lieutenant David Ham of Seaside Police Department. ..."It's state beach. It's state property and anybody that's out there that wants to enjoy the area for photography or painting, I've seen people out there painting the beach, that is your right to be there," said Lt. Ham. But the message from local surfers appeared clear as the news crew left the beach, more heckling from surfers to "Go home" and expletive gestures. But officers said there were some local surfers who are doing something positive. One group had taken it upon themselves to clean a park next to the surf spots.  |
