Foamies Forbidden Between The Flags

By Sarah Healey on January 15, 2016 in News

With summer on our doorstep, the Eastern Beaches area is teeming with bathers and board riders, all clamouring to cool off or catch a few waves. On busy weekends real estate on the sand is scarce, and in the drink things aren’t much better. Trying to find your own piece of paradise can end up becoming insanely frustrating. Sometimes you need a Plan B.

Local resident Scott McGrath is a regular surfer at the Bondi Beach, and he has his Plan B all ready to go when the crowds are out of control: he takes is foam board down instead of a sturdier fiberglass board and heads out between the read and yellow flags to avoid the crowds. Scott believes that it’s common practice for many surfers.

“That’s why experienced surfers ride still the foam boards, because they can get away from the crowds by being in between the flags,” he said. “If the conditions are good, there are lots of people with foamies out there.”

However, Scott was recently told by lifeguards to move out of the flags while on his foam board. He recalls seeing other less experienced surfers on foam boards between the flags, and doesn’t understand why he was called out.

“Fundamentally, I want to know what the rules are,” he said.

“If I can’t surf a foamie between the flags I’ll just take a normal board down there and surf in the designated area, and I want the same rules to be applied to everyone.”

Confusion over whether you’re able to use a foam board between the flags is understandable. It seems that many people who initially buy these boards are under the impression they are primarily used for beginner surfers who want to ride in the safest areas of the beach.

Some websites promote foam boards as “perfect for surfing in between the flags”, and “a trusty must-have for those learning how to surf and those looking for a little bit of fun in between the flags”.

However, Waverley Council’s head lifeguard Bruce Hopkins said that it’s unsafe for any surf craft to be used between the flags.

“They [foam boards] used to be allowed, but due to the amount of people that are down there swimming, we had to review it,” he said.

“Sometimes the flags aren’t positioned that wide, so we decided that no surf craft are to be within the red and yellow flags.

“The foam boards can be used anywhere along the beach to the north end, apart from between the swimming flags, but fibreglass boards have got to be south of the middle set of flags,” he said.

Randwick Council applies the same set of rules to its beaches.

“These are surf guidelines,” a Randwick Council spokesperson said.

“They are not written in law or enforceable by the police. They are guidelines to help lifeguards and lifesavers manage beaches.

“Our beaches simply can’t cater for any surf craft between the flags. It’s impractical and risky. If you’ve got 100 or more people in the water swimming alongside surfers, it’s a dangerous mix.”