Trestles Saved

December: Christmas came a bit early for surfers and environmentalists this year. On December 18th, in what’s been called the most powerful and significant political victory for surfing in the U.S., California’s Department of Commerce announced it would uphold the California Coastal Commission’s ruling that found the proposed extension of the 241 Toll Road inconsistent with the California Coastal Act. And yeah, that translates to “Trestles has been saved.” At the helm of battle, on the surf side, were organizations the Surfrider Foundation and Save Trestles. Combined with the incessant hard work and fervent awareness promoted by surfers and environmental activists, as state and federal budgets continued to shrink the 1.1+ billion dollars became increasingly less of a priority. Apart from environmental and financial implications, the ruling also represents something larger on a social scale. “It’s the first time the surf industry stood up as a collective force to be heard loud and clear,” said Bob Mignona, who was on the front lines with Save Trestles. “This sizable industry proved to itself that when it marshals its forces, it can have political clout. That is a lesson we must not forget!”

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