beach spreading

This is a word that we have acquired from the beaches on the coast of New Jersey. The word, modelled on man spreading, was coined by Amy Rosenberg, a reporter who covers the Jersey Shore for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  It refers to the habit of claiming territory on a beach, usually by putting up a large cabana with accessories for the day out such as tables and eskis that take up more space than the average family would have taken in the days when we just spread out some towels.

I heard James Valentine ranting against the rise of the cabanas and how this was totally against our traditional beach culture.  On some American beaches they have been banned.  Here there is still a tug-of-war going on.  Some people claim, quite legitimately, that they are a guard against skin cancer.  The Cancer Council of Australia approves.  On the other hand beachgoers complain that they can no longer see the water. This is of special concern to the lifesavers.  In the meantime beach spreading is on the rise.