Malibu is a beach and surf community, the ocean is our backyard. A huge number of Malibu's community members, from local politicians to teachers to students, are surfers. That's why we live here.

The current health crisis is very serious and we understand how important it is to practice social distancing and to stay healthy. That's why we ask the Malibu City officials to open the local beaches for surf and other physical activities ONLY, like our fellow beach community Ventura.

Suggestions:

• Keep the parking lots closed or allow limited street parking for example from 6-10am.
• Only open the beach during the week, keep it closed on the weekends.
• Close the beach from 11am-5pm. Keep lots closed.

It's important to have plan in place to avoid crowds and we're not asking to open up the beaches to sunbath or picnic. We're asking to open up the beaches (and ocean) for recreational activities ONLY until it's safe to open it for group activities. Come, surf and leave!

Malibu has a successful Middle school/Highschool surf team with more than 80 kids. 80 local students, who are used to spending every day in the ocean surfing, are now sitting at home, unhappy, unwell, because they can't do what they live for. Surfing is not a team sport like soccer or baseball. Surfers naturally practice social distancing in the water.

Research shows, that exercising in natural environments can lead to positive effects on physical and mental health.

Health benefits of surfing:

1. CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

2. STRESS RELIEF

3. ANXIETY RELIEF

Please help the Malibu community to stay healthy and sign the petition! Let our kids and adults get back in the ocean!