Police Patrol Lunada Bay Surfers with Billy Clubs During 10ft Swell (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 12:38 PM ET

In recent years, the upscale Southern California hamlet of Palos Verdes Estates became ground zero for the debate surrounding surf localism. A local surf gang, dubbed the “Bay Boys,” had reigned supreme at Lunada Bay – slashing tires, throwing rocks, verbally and physically assaulting outsiders who dared surf the wave. They even had a fortress.

Then, following a legal dispute stemming from an incident that occurred in 2016, in which a non-local surfer was ran over in the water by a local surfer, the Bay Boys went to court. It seemed the surf gang was dissolved; the rock fort was demolished.

But does surf localism ever really die? Over the weekend, a solid winter swell hit the west coast, igniting Lunada Bay with 12-foot waves, and surfers flocked to the lineup. Up on the cliffs, however, Palos Verdes police patrolled with billy clubs. See below.

There were no reports of incidents or attacks. So, the cops presumably kept those batons holstered. The waves, on the other hand, were proper. Conditions called for 8-to-12-foot swell, and bombs were breaking far on the outside. Surfers shared waves, seemingly cordially. And a few even found tubes, despite the wave typically being a mushburger.

It actually looked somewhat crowded, per the footage. Hard to imagine that all the surfers in the water shared the 90274 zip code on their DL. So…surf localism dead?

According to the City of Palos Verdes Estates, they have a policy of “zero tolerance for surfing territorialism and localism.” They added:

“The bluffs, shoreline, beaches, public areas and recreational opportunities are open to all without regard to protected categories, a person’s income, or where someone lives and grew up. The City has zero tolerance for bullying, localism, territorialism, elitism, bigotry, or other types of harassment. We will enforce all coastal access laws, whether through code enforcement, public nuisance abatement powers, criminal statutes, municipal ordinances, the California Coastal Act, and by all available other means, to ensure unimpeded equal access and enjoyment of the City’s coastal parklands by all.”

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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