FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SURF
http://www.revelationproductions.net/temp/March23x.wmv
That is the link to the video. These surfers were arrested after surfing the Panaama City pier, here is some background info....
"I run Revelation Productions based out of the Florida Panhandle. After witnessing this unfortunate incident, I quickly made the video clip that day and posted it ASAP. I hope the clip told the story enough, but I will give futher details.
The surf was up the morning of March 23 in Panama City Beach with sets slightly overhead. Usually before I paddle out, I gather footage for my next Gulf coast surf dvd and/or my website's surf report which I include a short quickly edited vid clip of some of the lesser footage. After about an hour of filming, the police beach patrol drove up to the pier. I was just going to suit up myself before I saw this and decided to stay to see what happened since I heard about a guy being taken away in handcuffs a few days before for surfing. The officer watched for a few minutes, then got on his loud speaker commanding surfers to move away from the pier. The law is 400 ft no flotation device near the pier on either side at all piers or docks in Bay County. After warned, all the surfers in the water paddled away from the pier. They struggled against the current which was pushing them into the pier and caught lefts heading towards the pier. Eventually the officer named two wetsuit colors to get out of the water. No one got out. They probally couldnt even hear the officer because onshore winds had kicked in. Eventually despite all surfers fighting the current to stay away from the pier, he told everyone to get out! Eventually a guy paddled in, and immediately he was apprehended and escorted from the beach in handcuffs still in his wetsuit with his poor girlfriend chasing after carrying his board. Two more surfers took the fall after trying obey the officer's command coming in to the beach, as they were arrested the others slipped away. These three surfers were forced to spend the night in jail in their wetsuits. These are adults that obey the law, pay their taxes, work hard and enjoy to surf whenever its up. They are arrested for surfing while spring breakers are a few miles down the beach littering our beaches with beer cans, underage drinking, having sex on condo balconies, doing drugs, and other illegal activities. Its a sad day for the Panhandle, when surfers, who save lives so often when tourists are drowning in our rip currents, when they sent to jail for such a trivial infringement should only be worthy of a ticket or fine. We are working with Surfrider Foundation in preventing this from happening again, its been going on too long, and could happen to any surf community if we do not stand up for ourselves legally and responsibly. I hope this clarifies any misunderstanding about the vid clip posted on this thread. If you have any support to offer please email RevelationProduction@knology.net or visit www.revelationproductions.net for updates."
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SURF
That is the link to the video. These surfers were arrested after surfing the Panaama City pier, here is some background info....
"I run Revelation Productions based out of the Florida Panhandle. After witnessing this unfortunate incident, I quickly made the video clip that day and posted it ASAP. I hope the clip told the story enough, but I will give futher details.
The surf was up the morning of March 23 in Panama City Beach with sets slightly overhead. Usually before I paddle out, I gather footage for my next Gulf coast surf dvd and/or my website's surf report which I include a short quickly edited vid clip of some of the lesser footage. After about an hour of filming, the police beach patrol drove up to the pier. I was just going to suit up myself before I saw this and decided to stay to see what happened since I heard about a guy being taken away in handcuffs a few days before for surfing. The officer watched for a few minutes, then got on his loud speaker commanding surfers to move away from the pier. The law is 400 ft no flotation device near the pier on either side at all piers or docks in Bay County. After warned, all the surfers in the water paddled away from the pier. They struggled against the current which was pushing them into the pier and caught lefts heading towards the pier. Eventually the officer named two wetsuit colors to get out of the water. No one got out. They probally couldnt even hear the officer because onshore winds had kicked in. Eventually despite all surfers fighting the current to stay away from the pier, he told everyone to get out! Eventually a guy paddled in, and immediately he was apprehended and escorted from the beach in handcuffs still in his wetsuit with his poor girlfriend chasing after carrying his board. Two more surfers took the fall after trying obey the officer's command coming in to the beach, as they were arrested the others slipped away. These three surfers were forced to spend the night in jail in their wetsuits. These are adults that obey the law, pay their taxes, work hard and enjoy to surf whenever its up. They are arrested for surfing while spring breakers are a few miles down the beach littering our beaches with beer cans, underage drinking, having sex on condo balconies, doing drugs, and other illegal activities. Its a sad day for the Panhandle, when surfers, who save lives so often when tourists are drowning in our rip currents, when they sent to jail for such a trivial infringement should only be worthy of a ticket or fine. We are working with Surfrider Foundation in preventing this from happening again, its been going on too long, and could happen to any surf community if we do not stand up for ourselves legally and responsibly. I hope this clarifies any misunderstanding about the vid clip posted on this thread. If you have any support to offer please email RevelationProduction@knology.net or visit www.revelationproductions.net for updates."
FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SURF