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Surfer who suffered concussions urges signage and limited enforcement to protect swimmers and surfers
Summary
A local nonprofit founder who said he suffered two concussions and a neck injury urged the council to post skill‑level signage and consider citation authority to reduce collisions between inexperienced and experienced surfers at busy Newport Beach breaks.
Bjorn Hazelquist, founder of a local nonprofit supporting brain‑injury survivors, told the council that collisions in the surf caused two concussions and a major neck injury and asked for two practical steps: large, visible signage mapping breaks and skill levels, and citation authority to enforce signage for beginner surfers who create hazards.
Hazelquist emphasized he does not support a city‑issued surfing license but said locations that draw heavy use would benefit from clear posted expectations—similar to surf signage at San Onofre—and selective enforcement when inexperienced paddlers create dangerous conditions.
Council members thanked him for the testimony; no formal policy action was taken at this meeting.
