It has been an interesting month or so Surfing in Sydney and surrounds, where the Sydney Eastern Suburbs and Bate Bay(Cronulla) beaches were historically shut down in response to the Covid-19 pandemic social distancing laws.

Bondi, Macca’s, Tamarama, Bronte and Maroubra were all shut indefinitely after images were widely circulated of large crowds sunbaking and swimming at Bondi in early to mid March.

Under pressure in the lead up to the Easter long weekend Sutherland Shire Council with advice from the NSW Police shut down all Cronulla car parks and beach access tracks over Easter, thankfully they have since re opened.

Cronulla’s Bate Bay beaches are National Surfing Reserves, interstingly – surfing was not officially banned , however access to the surf from the beaches was.

Keen surfers ended up paddling from Cronulla Point across to Nth Cronulla, The Wall, Elouera and even as far north as Wanda to enjoy an uncrowded surf. Cronulla Point, Cabbage Patch and Shark Island, Shelley, Windy Point and Sandshoes were not restricted, so numbers in the lineup at those breaks were intense at times during Easter.

Easter Sunday and Monday delivered a solid south swell.

Cronulla Point and Shark Island Island pumped.

 

The Island doing what the The Island Does! Pic Ben Horvath

School holidays, warm autumn weather, and a consistent run of south swell have combined.

Crowds are at a premium lately due to the extraordinary number of us out of work, as a group we must be mindful of the strict social distancing laws and try to enjoy a quick surf and head home. If individual surfers or groups of surfers don’t adhere to the current recommendations their is the risk that authorities could shut our beaches down again, and none of us want to risk catching/spreading the virus and/or missing out on a therapeutic surf.

Jarvis Earle styling on his backhand at The Island on Easter Monday. – Photo Horvath.

 

Sick Shark park Slab Photo – Horvath

Written by:
Ben Horvath

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