California Beaches During a Pandemic

Quarantine has taken its toll on everyone. For people in Southern California, it means having to miss out on one thing that makes California so great. It’s beaches that the state has to offer.

Surfers like Alberto Villalpando have been forced to give up the sport they love for most of the year.

“Yeah I stopped going back in like March, when they closed the beaches” Villalpando said. “I started going back in I think June, but I haven’t gone that much at all this year.”

For Park rangers across Malibu, it’s been more of a mixed bag all year. With the hot summer weather making the beaches more attractive.

Lifeguard tower at Leo Carrillo State Beach. Photo by Justo Marquez

Mark Zavala is a Park Ranger responsible for a section of Malibu Beaches in Ventura County. He’s also partially responsible for making sure guidelines are followed during these odd times.

“right now, we there’s no big gatherings allowed” Zavala said. “no volleyball or soccer games are allowed…. but you can relax and sunbathe along the beach.”

Zavala also mentioned that he hasn’t had any major problems or issues yet. Just small things like enforcing the use of a face mask.

Back in April, a video went viral, showing a person a paddle board being chased the coast guard near Malibu pier for being out on the water during quarantine when the beaches were completely closed. Villalpando also brought up the video, saying he found it funny but used it as a warning to just how serious the lockdown was.

footage of the viral arrest earlier in the year. Video credit: Brothers_Marshall on Instagram

Villalpando mentioned that fines for surfing during the closures could result in a fine of around $1000 and even the confiscation of a person’s surfboard. Which Villalpando said is probably worse than the fine itself.

Malibu beaches and parks are currently open, and more and more people have been showing up to the shores. Unfortunately, coronavirus cases are on the rise, which nearby San Diego county reporting a record high for daily cases earlier in the week.

If numbers continue to increase, the state and counties could be forced to retreat back, and force beaches and other places to close down once again.