MALIBU – The so-called "surf ‘n turf" wars over the right to surf certain coastline areas have led to the formation of a company which allows surfers to purchase the rights to surfing specific waves in California.

 Lance Lurie says he founded BuyAWave.com after he was involved in a watery brawl while surfing at a favorite surfing cove vehemently guarded by locals, just north of Santa Barbara.

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"What about those of us who just like to surf without having to pay for services? You can't buy nature."

 — Bill Chisselle, surfer

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"Yeah, it’s gotten really ugly and chaotic out there the last few years," says Lurie, "there are so many people and only so many catchable surfing waves. I didn't know much about web surfing and business before I started this whole thing, but at the time it seemed like a management issue to me. I knew something had to be done."

Through satellite technology, programmers at the company have developed software that can identify a fledgling wave as far out to sea as 300 miles. They can then "tag" a wave with an alphanumeric name that’s based upon the type of break it is as well as the geographical location at which a wave is scheduled to break. On a computer screen, the waves look something like "zuma\p-b.60.484.65a… zuma\p-b.60.484.65b… etc."

Defending the cost of waves, Lurie notes that, "You just can't put a price on the perfect wave. I can remember about two dozen such waves in my life — ones that really stuck with me. But the reality has been that you can no longer get that experience with guys cutting you off and throwing punches. I think it's a small price to pay for getting that possibility back."

Surfers surf the Internet and can purchase a wave for as little as $1.89. Medium-sized waves cost about $3.49, and one-of-a-kind "monsters" command a premium of up to $9.99. There's talk of a bidding process as seen on the auction site, EBay, but that would likely up the cost per wave even further.

Once the wave is purchased and the surfer hits the water, he waits out in the water near a "wave coordinator." The wave coordinator straddles a surfboard out beyond the break while consulting a waterproof handheld device (WHD) used to track the waves and direct the correct surfer to the wave he purchased. After that, it’s up to the individual surfer to make the best use of the wave. BuyAWave makes no guarantees on the quality of the surfer's experience.

Sven Legstrom is an avid Malibu surfer and client of BuyAWave. "It's totally awesome! Lance rocks, man. At my desk job during the day, I can log on and buy a few gnarly ones that'll be incoming after I get off work. I fantasize about them. Well, you know what I mean... catching the break just right, getting in the curl and riding it all the way. I get off work, grab my board and head over to the beach. I can catch the 5:36, the 5:44, the 5:50, the 5:57, the 6:02 and the 6:08. After that, I'm pretty spent. It’s the greatest thing for surfing since Gidget rode the airwaves!"

Detractors, however, argue that California surfing is being bought out. Bill Chisselle has been coming to Topanga Beach for the last eight years. "What about those of us who just like to surf without having to pay for services? You can't buy nature. You don't pay to sit on the beach, or to take a hike — why should you pay for this? I can't believe everybody is going for this thing! I'm sorry, but it's just way wrong."