Say Doc, do you treat groups? OK, so I’m low on the pole. I don’t live at Wind-’n-Sea or Malibu or up Topanga Canyon but why the ‘territorial imperative’? Locals Only? Because I live in Pamona Valley I’m supposed to fly to Newfoundland to surf? We’re there – well into 2012. The ‘Awakening’ is upon us right? The new age of peace, love and wisdom. Art and beauty. And yet so many surf spots can still be battle zones. What’s the hitch Doc? Lenny Eliot, – Upland, CA

Here ya go Lenny:

‘The world hates Americans, Americans hate Californians, Californians hate Southern Californians, Southern Californians hate people from LA, People in LA hate people from the Valley. And people in the Valley hate kneeboarders.’ -Holmes Laws, circa 1973.

Are you familiar with the ‘Divine Dichotomy’ Lenny? It’s 2012 and it’s this way…and it isn’t. Eckhart Tolle reminds us that: “Certain teachings at the heart of Hinduism perhaps come closest to seeing this dysfunction as a form of collective mental illness. They call it maya the veil of delusion. Ramana Maharshi, one of the greatest Indian sages, bluntly states: ‘The mind is maya.’”

Meaning we grok sometimes and sometimes we don’t. Like meditation or the ‘Gait of Power’ or firewalking, riding a wave in the open sea is supposed to put us in the zone, which it may well do until we’re cut off by sixteen snarling strangers dropping in for a party. Even if it was just a crappy four footer . Even if we are living in the moment, not brooding on the past or worrying about the future we still have to paddle out through a rat’s nest and fight like ants for a wave and it’s hard to get around that. Especially on the weekend which is the only chance some of us have to surf. I guess a generous local would sit on his deck and cheer on the valley boys and girls during peak crowd times because he’ll have it to himself for dawn patrol tomorrow. Well, maybe…if it is only four feet and crappy.

So what about those Newfoundland point breaks with mile long barrels at low tide Lenny? ~Dr. Shark

Special Report

March 2012

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Playa Dominical is known as one of the most dangerous beaches in Costa Rica. The traditional average is a drowning every 19 days when the beach is not protected. The community has supported a beach lifeguard service since 1996 when it began the first beach lifeguard program in Costa Rica.

The Dominical Lifeguard Program has a proven perfect record: there have been no preventable drownings when lifeguards are on duty.

Dominical has developed a substantial tourist industry in the last ten years which is dependent on a safe beach for swimmers and surfers. Local businesses and individuals have supported the Lifeguard Program at a bare minimum and with the poor economy in the past 3 – 4 years that local support has diminished steadily until we find ourselves now unable to continue the service. Our current budget of $2000/month is insufficient to sustain the program.

In order to continue we must increase the monthly budget to a minimum of $3000/month ($36,000/year). Ongoing expenses include lifeguard salaries and benefits (health care/algenado/etc), rescue equipment maintenance and replacement, administrative costs and training and education expenses.

It has been proven with over fifteen years experience that minimum standards for personnel and equipment must be maintained to insure the safety of all concerned. Salaries and benefits must be adequate to attract, train and sustain capable lifeguards. Lifeguarding is a very dangerous and demanding occupation which requires top physical fitness, intelligence, mental alertness and dedication to daily training and discipline. Few are capable and fewer still are willing to devote their lives to this hazardous occupation and without adequate support it has been demonstrated the program is not sustainable.

Guaranteed funding is required and $3000/month is the current minimum necessary to sustain the program. In the sixteen years the program has been in operation there has been virtually no support from the government of Costa Rica or from any Costa Rican business, large or small. The Costa Rican government at all levels and all Costa Rican businesses are vitally dependent on tourism either directly or indirectly and the country’s beautiful beaches are among the top tourist draws. To advertise and promote and attract tourists to unprotected beaches is disgraceful, counter-productive and unsustainable. And this is in addition to the fact that historically the bulk of the visitors to Playa Dominical have been Costa Ricans, mostly beachgoers from Perez Zeledon and other local areas.

Playa Dominical has a proven, documented record of safety provided by a small but highly effective team of lifeguards who average over ten dangerous, difficult rescues a day in the high season in addition to constant preventive efforts to eliminate the need for rescues.

The Dominical Lifeguard Program is currently in a state of crisis due to lack of funding and is unable to continue to function safely and is therefore currently suspended from operation. Without immediate, direct intervention Playa Dominical will revert to it’s former average of 20 drownings per year or a drowning rate of one every nineteen days. It would seem unacceptable to give up sixteen years of progress and success. To discontinue the Dominical Lifeguard service is a death sentence to at least 20 Costa Ricans and international visitors every year. This is not speculation, this is fact.

Dominical Lifeguards S.A. has recently gained non-profit status in the United States. It now has the use of a 501(c)3 official U.S. Non-profit designation to offer tax exemption for donors. This could be the beginning of a new era for the program. Hopefully large international corporations as well as small businesses and individuals previously unable or unwilling to make donations will be able to provide enough support to sustain the program. This message is in effect a request for recognition and support from the Costa Rican government and all caring and thoughtful businesses and individuals everywhere.