July 10, 2012
Contact: Ken or Kate Gooderham, ASBPA executive directors -- (239) 489-2616
Harry Simmons, ASBPA president -- (910) 200-7867
A surfing quiz
Surfers are one the many groups that utilize America’s coasts, with a long history of advocating for better coastal stewardship and protection for this fragile resource. Surfing organizations in some cases have opposed coastal restoration and protection projects that they feel could degrade existing surf break in popular surfing areas. The American Shore & Beach Preservation Association [ASBPA] encourages coastal planning, design, engineering and management that take into consideration surfing issues.
With surfing in mind (it is summer, after all), here’s a short test to see how much you know about the impact the sport has on the coast. This is an open book quiz and, if you’re looking for study materials, check out this article on the ASBPA website at http://www.asbpa.org/publications/white_papers/Surfing_White_Paper_FINAL.pdf
1. Economists estimate that expenditures to local businesses, including fuel and food, add how much per surfer per surf session to the coastal economy at Trestles Beach, California?
A) $40
B) $14
C) $4
D) $74
Answer: A) $40.
2. True or false: Coastal professionals intentionally ignore the physical elements that make a good surf break
Answer: False. Because it has not been a federal requirement to consider surf breaks, coastal professionals have often neglected it in their design plans. (But many of them are surfers, so this is hardly intentional.) More recently, the preservation of existing surf breaks is more often being taken into consideration during project design.
3. Good surf breaks (conditions that cause waves to break best for surfing) are dependent upon:
A) The shape of the bottom in shallow waters.
B) The kind of waves that come into the shoreline.
C) The tide levels.
D) Local wind conditions.
E) All of the above.
Answer: E) All of the above, in just the right combination!
4. Which country leads the way in mitigating for impacts to shore protection?
A) United States
B) Australia
C) Brazil
D) South Africa
Answer: Today, Australia has the most experience in mitigating for impacts on surfing, but the U.S. is becoming more active in mitigating the impacts of shore protection projects.
5. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of New Jersey are investigating what to mitigate for impacts to surfing resources?
A) Surfing reefs
B) Additional beach nourishment
C) Underwater structures
D) None of the above
Answer: C) Underwater structures. The goal is to use a combination of an extended groin and a series of offshore breakwaters (underwater structures) to promote offshore sandbar formation that could generate wave breaking characteristics appropriate for surfing, as well as provide the required level of shore protection required.
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ABOUT ASBPA: Founded in 1926, the ASBPA promotes the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America. For more information on ASBPA, go to www.asbpa.org, facebook or www.twitter.com/asbpa. |
