Surfing Waves

Now, don't get all feisty here - but an alternative point-of-view for consideration. Not looking to start a fight.

We now live in a world where any fool kook can call themselves a surfer, any plonker with visions of coolness can buy a board - and despite your ability to be there, fitness level or whatever you consider it your "right" to paddle out at any break - regardless of your ability to actually work as part of a co-ordinated collective taking waves in turns at a point-break for example.

Because it's your 'right' to be there.

To hell with the fact you're a hazard to everybody else. To hell with the fact you're so out of your depth you don't even realise it. To hell with the fact with you're floundering about, part-paddling for waves & pulling back at the last min you manage to piss-off everybody else who could have caught that wave. You toss your mini-mal instead of duck-diving it - risking 5 guys in immediate proximity, you paddle up green faces in front of people riding...

How come good & respectful surfers never seem to encounter localism on their travels?

Just something to ponder.

Didn't you encounter localism at Raglan when we were there before? I'm pretty sure you did and i'm pretty sure you weren't happy.....

Depends what you by localism as to whether or not it is actually ever warrented?

You have to treat each incident as anindividual case, they are plenty of kooks out there.
Some are not locals and some are.

KS

i agree, there are the days or breaks where noobs shouldn't be paddling out. people need to honestly be able to know their ability levels when it comes to where they surf. nobody should be out cutting leashes, slashing tires, or punching faces in. what the op is really referring to is just general common sense and courtesy. unfortunately a lot of people don't have a grasp of either of those, which usually ends badly. for the most part, if it's a small day and i see people floundering, i'll try to help them. but if it's macking and there are people just causing untold misery and havoc to everyone out, i'll just go somewhere else usually. there's more than enough breaks here to ride

To me "localism" is slashing tires, waxing windows, and gang mentality in the water.

Localism is never ok!

What is ok is a group who has a place dialed cuz they surf it all the time, they have the right to surf aggressively and take as many waves as they can. If you are new to the area or not as good a surfer, you need to respect that. If you are learning, do not crowd up the best part of the beach, that is already filled with rippers. Use common sense, go to the less crowded peak, that is not as good. You will have to put in your dues b4 you can scrap with the rippers.


True statement is that a good/respectful surfer, will come across less localism. It will happen, if you surf all spots, but if you can surf and are respectful you can almost surf anywhere. The deal is to not push your way into the line up, let some sets go by, drift in to the good spot when you have gotten a feel of who the players are in the water that day.

Notice I did say almost.....there will always be some spots that are not for outsiders. It is part of the game. If you can't handle the reality of the sport, try a new one!!

The key is to surf at spots that match your level.

Being mean to an idiot because he shouldn't be there and telling him to leave I think is necessary sometimes. But I don't think it should have to do with where they are from or where you are from really. If there's a solid surfer minding his own business, out of the way, sharing waves, he should be left to surf regardless of where he is from.

But yeah....plenty of kooks to get outta the water. It's the same in everything that makes you "cool"....in my opinion how snowboarders got a bad rap with skiers, some kook plowing down a double black because he thinks he is bad ass.

be carefull not to confuse a learner with a blatant moron

isaluteyou wrote:be carefull not to confuse a learner with a blatant moron

LMAO gotta agree. i do hate it when people get in my way when i'm on a good wave but it happens. i try and surf at stupid times to avoid people but it's difficult in the winter with the dark morning and evenings.

I'v just realised, I think I just dont like other surfers.

isaluteyou wrote:be carefull not to confuse a learner with a blatant moron

Yep totally agree, there are some learners who just want to learn surfing without harming anybody. But with their skill they will end up messing some people's ride and piss a group of people in the process

okay what you just said about good surfers never encountering localism is total bull. I am a good surfer, and i am very respectful of the surfers around me, especially if it is not my break. But guess what from time to time, i get xxxxx from localist surfers. One time i seriously just had paddled out and this other guy started talking xxxxx to me, for no god dammed reason.

second your a dumbass, because if you have the ability of a good surfer, your also going to know the rules when your in the water. your obviously going to know how to work in a collective group when in the water. no decent surfer isnt going to know the basic rules of who takes a wave, how to properly duck dive, and how to be respectful.

third stop being a fleshin' moron, obviously if your going to be a hazard to people you shouldnt paddle out, thats just common sense. and if someone does make that mistake, guess what you can do. instead of being an asshole, be polite and tell them whats up. dont try and start a fight.

fourth, even though i believe localism is total bull, i still completely believe in respect. as a surfer you need to respect the other surfers around you. you do that by knowing the rules of the water, and keeping a cool head.

and guess what, mistakes happen, and its those hot headed localist surfers who try and bounce on any mistake an outsider makes to kick them out of the water or fight them. but when a local repetadely cuts off an outsider ON PURPOSE, guess what, no one says xxxxx. its bull crap. they think they own the water.

and the fact that you, Brent, start saying "to hell with the fact that your a hazard to everyone else...." makes you a douchebag. obviously common sense and knowing your limits is a givin in the surfing. i was just saying surfers have the right to surf any spot they want (given they have the ability) because guess what, they do! there are some spots here i cant even surf, because if i try and paddle out, these little cock locals will try and break my board. they think they own that spot. its unbelievable. the ocean is everyones.

everyone should be respected. local or not.

ponder that xxxxx, you cock

sweatthesalt wrote:... total bull..... your a dumbass, ....stop being a fleshin' moron, ... makes you a douchebag. ....ponder that xxxxx, you cock

So you dont like people giving you unjustified hassle
Maybe with your attitude, its justified.

So here's some 'forum localism' - please leave (see? Im polite) and only come back when you can intelligently respond without resorting to personal insults.

sweatthesalt

he doesn't want to start the fight, he just gave in the perspective of a local, so no need to create angry arguement. its fine argueing politely.

yeah I agree about the local or not, I think we all need to be respected unless you're a total douchebag for sure.

Surf scenario A:

sweatthesalt paddles out into a new spot....medium crowd, tight take off zone, good quality point reef. sweatthesalt approaches the pack, quietly waits out a couple sets, after a respectful amount of time he catches an inside wave. He rips the top off the little wave several times. Returns to the middle of the pack. After an hour or so, the pack has changed a little, he starts to trade waves from the main peak. sweatthesalt has a great session, hooks up with a local for some beers and babes that night!!


Surf scenario B:

sweatthesalt paddles out into a new spot....medium crowd, tight take off zone, good quality point reef. sweatthesalt approaches the pack, he says whats up, and positions himself at the top of the pack. sweatthesalt goes for the first set that comes, some ripper burns him, sweatthesalt explodes into a flurry of curse. Returns to the top of the pack. sweatthesalt continues the stink eye on this guy, and sweatthesalt goes for the next set, he gets burned by another guy!! Now he is livid, challenging the whole beach to a throw down!! Two teeth and board pummeled by rocks and broken in half........sweatthesalt has his wost session ever and drowns it in a suitcase of coors light!!




sweatthesalt is a fictional character in this fictional scenario.

thats a huge generalization brent. i have pricks giving me aggro at my local break that they are not loal to, because of racism. you could arguably justify racism too if you wanted to. north shore is famous for localism, but guess what, most young north shore residents are from the west coast of america. they refer to us as townie kooks. people who were born and raised here and have been surfing since childhood, and just because they live on the south shore they arnt the locals, the mainland white boys are. so what right do they have?

What I was attempting to say was -Before complaining about being dealt to. Ask yourself the question - did I contribute in any way to the chain of events by my behaviour in the water or to those around me.

I'm not talking about Haole racial stuff. That's just nasty natives with the greatest weapon of all - someone else to blame for their troubles.

Localism is all around us in everyday life.
xxxxx*ers in black 4x4's who own the road, the school bully...
Even on this forum. Moderators act like locals don't they? Don't they send c*nts in by locking threads or telling them to pis* off? Look at the scorn Roy used to recieve from the pack when he used to fire up with nonsense.

All I was suggesting is to question your own behaviour sometimes. An examined life etc etc....

Brent wrote: Look at the scorn Roy used to recieve from the pack when he used to fire up with nonsense.

All I was suggesting is to question your own behaviour sometimes. An examined life etc etc....

Please, please, please tell me you were trying to be ironic

Ahhh Libertha. ironic & black. Just for you. 8)

everyone has to lean we all did and the only way to no where u should not be is by being there once then u find out where u need to work up to.

yes there are some dumb people out there that just think there good and drop in on people all the time and do flesh all noo names to be given as i know of someone like that. but there is nothing u can do there cause no matter wait u tell them it seems to go in one ear and out the other