Surfing Waves

Okay, they're not really in my way, but.................
Went out for the second session on my nice shiny new Herbie Fletcher thriller 9.1. this afternoon at my local longboard break, which was the only one out of four breaks that was working at all, so there were a few people out there, and it's been flat for a few days so everyone had withdrawal symptoms.
It's only the second time I've ever ridden a proper longboard, in fact the only other board I've ever ridden is my 7.6. sunride.
I sat way out long, at least 25 metres further out than anyone else, which turned out to be spot on for me, and there were body boarders and shortboarders further in. The first wave I got I took straight and then turned to go round in front of everyone else, between them and the shore, which meant I lost the power of the wave. So the next wave I got was bigger, and i trimmed it and had to steer between guys waiting for a wave, which I found a bit difficult but I managed it.
Third wave was where it started to go wrong.
The other guys had started to clock my take off point so did nothing more than sit directly in line with me but a bit further in. Next set came I let the first two waves go thinking they might get them, took the third, trimmed it, straight into a waiting bodyboarder, who could have actually moved, but chose not to. We exchanged a few polite words and I paddled back out for the next wave which I took.
No one else was really catching much at all, and I could almost feel the eyes burning into me as I took wave after wave, and trimmed past all of them, which was nice.
So my question is this, or rather these.
How do you get people out of the way who insist on sitting directly in front of you where ever you decide to sit while waiting for waves? and
Should I feel guilty about catching loads of waves when no one else is, or is that all part of longboarding?

your a longboarder I did"nt think they ever felt guilty

lol, thats the problem, on a shortboard you normally need to take a steeper drop than on a longboard, which means that the shortboarders will normally be sat further in towards the beach, which also means they'll be in the way. luckily i am a shortboarder so i dont have to deal with this so often, but there isnt a lot you can do to move them, although they should move them selfs! but its best to avoid contact as best you can, soz theres no help here

This is what I do. When a set comes thru take the first wave. Yell at anyone that tries to drop in on you. Your being fair because your letting them have all the other waves in that set. Also try to keep as high on the wave as possible if your riding down the line, so nobody can shoulder hop you. It also give you the advantage if you crash into someone. Nothing will teach others to get out of the way, like having your fin slice the deck of their board.

Good luck,

Make sure you are letting decent waves get through to them (don't cherry pick all of them). Then they have no excuse for this behaviour.

Dodge them if you can.

Run them over if you can't.

In any case scream "KOOK!" or "MOVE!".

They'll get the idea eventually

-doug
Compsand.com - The Composite Surfboard Cooperative!

Run them over if you can't.

Not a good idea unless you like a black eye

Best thing to do is shout out letting everybody know you are coming Oh and if someone was being a complete wave hog i would position myself ensuring they catch squat just to piss em off

Just ignore them completely, don't yell at them or ask them to get out of the way, don't yell at them if they drop in, and ignore them if they take off behind and try to call you off the wave just keep surfing, catch whatever you can, and treat them as natural obstacles (i.e don't run them over ), like rocks, flotsam, or marine life. Don't take off if you can't see a gap to go through. It unnerves them if you do this, and even better than that it keeps you switched on to your surfing. . . . any of that social argy bargy stuff will detract from your concentration. . . just be a very careful and ruthless wave predator, works for me anyway

RoyStewart wrote:just be a very careful and ruthless wave predator

:)

Better than gabbling and squawking at each other like a pack of seagulls, just ride the waves and get on with it.

.

well, in a way it can be good to be quiet, but if they drop in or look like they're about to then its good to call out that you're already on the wave, thats what i think

RoyStewart wrote:Just ignore them completely, don't yell at them or ask them to get out of the way, don't yell at them if they drop in, and ignore them if they take off behind and try to call you off the wave just keep surfing, catch whatever you can, and treat them as natural obstacles (i.e don't run them over ), like rocks, flotsam, or marine life. Don't take off if you can't see a gap to go through. It unnerves them if you do this, and even better than that it keeps you switched on to your surfing. . . . any of that social argy bargy stuff will detract from your concentration. . . just be a very careful and ruthless wave predator, works for me anyway

That is so KEWL, and it's what I did today.

Trimmed a wave right past everyone, including a surf school. Must have been on the wave for 20 seconds, till I caught an edge, it was wicked.

Glad to be of help, it does create a nice chilled mindset doesn't it ?

Now we can also help with the railcatching business, but you will need a handsaw

Good advice from Roy... As usual

-doug


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Thanks Doug

good to see you posting alot more roy, guessing you have more free time on your hands now swaylocks have banned you agian?

Thanks Phil, actually I am so busy that it's good not to be spending hours arguing with entrenched swaytrolls, but I can't figure out if all my time is free or if I have no free time that's what happens being self employed I suppose.

.

Hows the shop going Roy?

We will have the key in a few days time, then it's all on, it's not going to be open to passers by, more of an open by appointment buzz.


Here's a picture, it's looking a bit scruffy, that's why it's a good deal !

nothing a bit of paint and a few scatter cushions couldnt take care of

wen i have shortboarders in my way i run them over, iv done it twice, but they were two of my mates so its not like i run over random people