Should Trestles and San Onofre Be the Next World Surfing Reserve? A case for protecting one of California’s most vital wave resources

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

From Old Man’s and The Point, Uppers and Lowers, and all the spots in between, one would be hard-pressed to find a stretch of coastline in America that is more utilized and appreciated by surfers.

From kids just starting out to bona fide legends who changed the course of our sport and lifestyle, it’s an epicenter for surf culture and a hotbed for talent. So, my question this week, should Trestles and San Onofre be the next World Surfing Reserve?

The environmental organization Save The Waves has recently opened the application process to select its next World Surfing Reserve. With only one location selected every year, there are currently 12 World Surfing Reserves around the globe.

The closest is the iconic point at Malibu in Los Angeles County, while the newest addition to the list came last year, as North Devon in the United Kingdom was officially recognized.

The program is designed to protect surf breaks through stewardship, planning and local empowerment. Trestles and San Onofre seem ripe for such a classification.

From toll roads to nuclear waste, beach erosion to e-bike intrusion, the Trestles/ San Onofre area has faced no shortage of challenges over the years. Thankfully, every time a cataclysmic issue has arisen, local folks, along with supporters from the surf community and other environmental and Indigenous groups, have rallied to “save” Trestles.

Reaching to the highest levels of the U.S. government, heck, it wouldn’t be a California State Park if it weren’t for President Richard Nixon.

Having the surf spots protected as

Bodhi Aguilar Grom Of The Week

BY JAKE HOWARD, DANA POINT TIMES

Bodhi Aguilar first blew up the Grom of the Week space back in 2018 when he was the ripe, old age of 7. Having started surfing at 3 years young, he was already a seasoned veteran at this point; his Instagram handle, @bodacious_bojangles, shined like a beacon a World Surfing Reserve seems as if it would certainly bolster the case for preserving these pristine surfing grounds for generations to come—especially as they face an uncertain future with the continued decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, as well as renewed lease negotiations between the U.S. Military and State of California over the future of the park lands.

“The World Surfing Reserve approach is an effective community-based conservation model that can not only aid in protecting waves, but also coastal habitats, marine life and local economies,” Save The Waves Conservation Programs Manager Trent Hodges said in a press statement. “Save The Waves is excited to add another incredible surf ecosystem to the network.”

The application process is a lengthy one. First, a Letter of Inquiry must be approved. If permitted to officially apply, it goes to Save The Waves’ Vision Council. The council will judge the area based on five different criteria:

• Quality and consistency of the wave(s)

• Important environmental characteristics

• Culture and surf history

• Governance capacity and local support

• Priority conservation area

There are no shortage of reasons Trestles and San Onofre could be in the running for a World Surfing Reserve. The area’s Indigenous history goes back centuries, while the surf-specific history can be traced to the 1920s.

San Onofre, and later Trestles, have long been key locations in the earliest of U.S. surf scenes. And today, the last two WSL world champions have been crowned on the cobblestone shore.

In 2008, Surfrider Foundation’s Chad Nelson co-authored a “surfenomics” study that found Trestles attracted more than 330,000 people to San Clemente an-

Surf Forecast

Water Temperature: 56-57 Degrees F

Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12’ nually, while accounting for more than $10 million in revenue annually.

Outlook: The slow easing swell blend maintains thigh to stomach high zone surf, (2-3’+), on Friday, while the pattern of light offshore winds in the morning and light+ onshores by the afternoon continues. A building new NW swell rolls in Saturday afternoon, kicking waves up into the shoulder high to a foot overhead range, (4-6’), but conditions will be poor then, as moderate SW winds in the morning rise to breezy WNW winds for the afternoon. Surf heights hold through Sunday morning, then taper off later in the day as the NW swell starts to fade. Much better conditions are due Sunday morning, when winds are light offshore again. A moderate sea breeze develops that afternoon.

Surely those numbers have ballooned considerably since the study was released 15 years ago. Not only would World Surfing Reserve classification have environmental upsides, there are also some very real economic benefits.

As noted, the application process takes some work, but for a group of locals keen to spearhead the effort, it’s most definitely a noble cause worth the effort. The application window is open until May 25. For more information, check out savethewaves.org. DP of stoke for the future.

Jake Howard is a local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation.

A few years later, and the San Clemente goofy-footer has taken his wave-riding game to amazingly loftier heights. Most recently, Bodhi made the finals in the NSSA event at the Huntington Beach Pier. He’s also a veteran of the USA Surfing Championships, where he’s enjoyed some solid results.

Running with a talented pack of rising stars from the area, he’s one of the most stylish young surfers in our local waters today. Fiery and free-flowing, his explosiveness is matched by his tack-sharp rail game. For as much heat as Bodhi brings to the lineup, his good vibes and stoke level make him the complete package.

Flying the flag for Vissla on the nose of his board, he’s also got the support and camaraderie of a great surf brand. The future is wide open, and we can’t wait to see where Bodhi takes it next. DP

If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com.