Surfers and Stingrays: An Unexpected Beach Battle

At Bolsa Chica State Beach, surfers are facing an unexpected challenge: stingrays. The beach has seen a rise in stingray encounters recently. With small waves and warm water for this time of year, more people are heading into the ocean. This means more chances for stingrays to get stepped on and react by stinging.

Lifeguards Stay Busy

The lifeguards have been busy. On a recent Sunday, they treated 12 people for stingray injuries. While this isn't as many as the summer months, it's still enough to make surfers cautious. Some surfers are even calling it a "party" when they gather to soak their feet in hot water to ease the pain.

Surfers Share Their Experiences

One surfer, Laurie Haller, has been stung seven times. She was careful this time, shuffling her feet to avoid stepping on a stingray. But even that didn't work. She got stung just four feet from the shore. Another surfer, Roland Sands, was stung twice in a week. He knows the drill: hobble to the lifeguard station and soak his foot in hot water.

Lifeguards Advise the "Stingray Shuffle"

Lifeguards advise surfers to do the "stingray shuffle." This means moving your feet quickly and close to the ocean floor. But even this doesn't always work. Bryan Etnyre, a State Parks public safety superintendent, says stingrays don't discriminate. They can sting anyone, anytime.

Stingrays Stick Around

Stingrays usually leave shallow waters when it gets colder or when big waves come. But with water temperatures in the 60s and small waves in the forecast, they're sticking around. So, beachgoers should be careful when entering the water.