Longtime Surfing Enthusiast Highlights on the ‘Necessary Evil’ of Popular Beach Town

The best example of a necessary evil in the surfing world is beach replenishment. And it is nothing new for the beach towns like Ocean City. The surfing community faces a disadvantage when it comes to this, and Chris Shanahan has spoken about this. He is a long-time surfer and is known for some of the greatest wipeouts. Now, beach replenishments can be a bigger issue for surfers.

The Ocean City was last replenished in the year 2021. And the surfers are very much aware of the consequences. But even after all the consequences, we cannot ignore the fact that it is an integral part, and it needs to be done timely.

Surfing Enthusiasts talks about beach replenishment 

People have different perspectives when it comes to beach replenishment. Chris Shanahan is the owner of K Coast Shop in Ocean City and is one of the most talented surfers. He thinks that the sandbars get eliminated when the replenishment takes place. This creates a situation where the swells that are coming in enter completely into the actual beach. According to Coast TV, he further added, “Which makes it pretty much impossible to ride as a surfer.” 

Shanahan also stated that there are more people who just visit the beach rather than the surfers. So, it is quite necessary to satisfy the majority’s needs. Real surf enthusiasts will find a place to surf on their own. On the other hand, for Maxwell Anderson who stays in Ocean City 365 days a year, the beach replenishment and the changes in waves are not of his consideration.

He never sees a change even when it is replenished, he finds it the same way when he moved here. Anderson also added, “But I am not out there surfing or doing too much, I’m just sitting there enjoying the water.” Each one of them looks at the issue differently based upon their activities.

The connection between surfers and bleach replenishment 

Beach replenishment is also recognized as sand pumping, and it is usually not that beneficial for quality wave and surf conditions. It creates a difficult situation for the surfers. A lieutenant on the beach patrol named Mike Stone believes that the replenishment surely affects the waves and creates a disturbance for the surfers. However, there are some very obvious drop-offs at some beaches, and bleach replenishment cannot be blamed for all of it.

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This is done every four years according to the Army Corps of Engineers. It is only put into practice earlier if any natural disaster takes place. Now, the next replenishment is expected to take place at Ocean City in 2024. Since this practice has been introduced in the 1980s, it has become a boon for surfing conditions.

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