Safe surfing signs promote safety and etiquette
Signs to promote safe surfing have been installed at the north side of Indian River Inlet and Herring Point in Cape Henlopen State Park.
To help educate new and experienced surfers on the basic surf rules, the Surfrider Foundation Delaware Chapter initiated a Surf Safe education project. Local surf forecasting service Surf Captain stepped up to help create the visual display for the signs. The groups then approached the Delaware State Parks to create and install the signs at the two park beaches.
Surfing has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last two years, including in Delaware. Due to pandemic shutdowns and the availability of less-expensive, foam-top surfboards, more and more people are hitting the surf. This is creating crowded conditions which includes many new surfers that may not know the rules of the surf lineup.
“We recognize surfing has a long tradition within DNREC’s Delaware State Parks and, in the midst of record-breaking visitation to the parks and continued popularity of our beaches, the need to help park users understand how to share and protect our limited natural resource is more important than ever,” said Shawn M. Garvin, DNREC secretary. “These surfing etiquette signs will serve to inform new and avid surfers of the rules of the water while in a surfing lineup, and help all beach users respect each other in the water and ensure safety.”
The signs will communicate the universal rules of the surf lineup using visual examples that are easy for even beginners to understand. The signs emphasize safety, respect for each other, and understanding the current surf conditions.
"It's great that more people are enjoying the surf these days, but it's important to educate new surfers on the etiquette rules to avoid collisions, injuries and create overall better vibes in the surf lineup,” said Micah Sklut, a local surfer and owner of Surf Captain. “The surf etiquette sign is a nice step in that education process."
The signs were installed July 28 and positioned strategically to allow for maximum visibility.
