Is the VA Beach boardwalk area just for surfing?

Someone told me that you can't get in the water where the boardwalk is because it's just a designated surfing area. Is this true? I'm on vacation to VA Beach, and we were planning on going to the boardwalk today, but some of the younger kids in our group would like to play on the beach/in the ocean.|||Ha! That's ridiculous. The surfers would love it. Actually 90% of all the surfing takes place down at the inlet at the beginning of the boardwalk. They also surf on the other side of the inlet. The first block or so of the boardwalk, there are about 42, is the only area reserved for surfing. So come own out and have a good time. Somebody doesn't know what they are talking about or are intentionally trying to steer you wrong.