Bowen from A-Frame discusses today's Coastal Commission meeting

Living a short bike ride away from Trestles, I have a personal interest in the proposed 241 toll road completion that is slated to run right through the San Mateo campground and negatively affect the breaks at Trestles and San Onofre. I knew plenty of others had an interest as well. Little did I know how many of us would turn out in support of saving our State Parks!

This morning I headed down to the Del Mar fairgrounds for the Coastal Commission hearing on the matter. I knew from the e-mails going around from the Surfrider Foundation, The Sierra Club and industry friends that this was going to be a heavily attended event. Armed with this knowledge, I was still shocked to pull up to the parking lot and see thousands of people pouring into Wyland Hall. I was elated to see much of the industry in attendance. There were buses from Etnies, Billabong, Boost Mobile, Fox, Reef, and Volcom among others. I saw the crew from Sector Nine with Save Trestles signs in hand perched in the corner of one of the many bleachers brought into the hall. Media was present in the form of local news crews and those from Surfer, Surfing, Transworld Surf and Surfline. Tons of volunteers from non profit organizations handed out Save Trestles signs. Teachers brought busloads of kids to the hearing so they could get a first hand account of democracy in action. Trestles locals such as the Gudaskas brothers, Greg Long, Micky Munoz, Matt Biolas, Drew Brophy, Chris Culpen and Bob Mignogna were in attendance along side of pro surfers Taylor Knox, Magnum Martinez and visiting pros CJ and Damien Hobgood. Even action sports personality Sal Masekela was in attendance to show his opposition of the toll road. I’d estimate there were about 95% or more in attendance against the toll road. The small percentage that were pro-toll road were rumored to be paid stand-ins and wave signs. Many of those left at lunch time and did not return which only strengthened that rumor.

pictured above: Gudaskas brothers

Pro surfer Taylor Knox with action sports personality Sal Masekela, surrounded by Save Trestles supporters

Hopefully the Coastal Commission will take into consideration this huge crowd and do the right thing and not let this toll road go through our State Park. Many thanks to all those that attended--I was proud to stand among you in this fight to protect our parks and beaches!

This is the "pro toll road tent--you can see the lack of toll road supporters compared to the amount of people that surround the Surfrider tents.