Despite Cyclone Gabriella wreaking havoc in New Zealand’s North and South islands, some surfers aren’t taking it seriously. Recently, the media website Stuff reported how Aucklanders were surfing despite warnings about bad weather. The higher officials, such as the Coast Guard Head of Operations and Maritime New Zealand’s General Manager, had also warned people to take the necessary precautions. 

These warnings come after thousands of evacuations in cyclone-prone areas. Though lifeguards are present at beaches, this did not stop surfing enthusiasts from facing a cyclone. Talking about people still venturing out for recreational activities, Maritime New Zealand’s General Manager Michael-Paul Abbot explained why the risks aren’t visible on the ground. With this, the Northern Region Chief Executive Matt Williams also told the measures people must take if they are taking risks. 

Higher officials alert the public amidst alarming news of people surfing despite Cyclone Gabriella

According to Stuff, after sighting people surfing at Takapuna beach in New Zealand, higher authorities issued a warning.“It’s not safe for swimming”, Surf Life Saving’s Northern Region Chief Executive, Matt Williams spoke. Later, Williams gave a message to people who were looking to take advantage of the surf conditions. “If you’re going to do it, make sure you have the skills to do it and that you have a safety plan in place because we don’t want to be tasking lifeguards unnecessarily.” 

Further, the coast guard also reiterated warnings for people to stay away from cyclone-hit areas. Telling people not to step out to analyze the storm damage, coastguard head of Ops, Robert McCaw, encouraged people to prioritize their safety. Continuing, he expressed that even after Cyclone Gabriella left, the seas would continue to show unpredictable behavior. 

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Along with this, Michael-Paul Abbot, a higher official explained that this wasn’t the moment to seek thrills. He also implied how water sports enthusiasts could be deceived since the risks weren’t visible. “Flooding can hide potential risks for water users such as debris or overwhelmed infrastructure such as culverts.” Abbot also expressed concern about “significant incidents of people out on recreational craft.” His strong opinion was that there wasn’t a need to take such risks. This wasn’t the only time surfers were warned to stay away from the beach due to risks. Recently in San Diego, an advisory was issued to surfers, for a completely different reason. 

Surfers in San Diego received a high alert after witnessing unruly and extremely high waves 

An NBC reporter named Adura Stafford reported in real-time at the Windansea beach. She spoke about how the waves were so high that experienced surfers were facing problems. According to the weather forecast, the waves were predicted to be 16 feet high. This made higher officials warn people, visiting the beach, to not go very near to the shore. 

San Diego Lifeguard, James Gartland, also explained how the unruly waves could be risky. He implied that if a surfer was pulled deeper into the waters due to a big wave, the surfer could hit the rocks. Gartland also remarked that the turbulent waves weren’t good for beginners, and even very keen surfers. 

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The advisories issued in New Zealand and San Diego emphasize how surfing enthusiasts need to take more precautions. Which precautions do you take to ensure safety while surfing? Share your views in the comments section.