Approached "inexperienced" surfer today. Need opinions.

[Glocksinmysockz]

A little about myself, I've been surfing consecutively for about 3 years now. I enjoy the fun little mechanics of cross stepping, fading, trimming etc. While I'm not the most seasoned surfer, I'm also not new on the basics of etiquette I feel. Came to this forum today to seek opinion on a move another surfer made. While I think it was rather kooky I would like to know alternative thoughts. I am not looking to be told I am right or wrong as I feel it's subjective. Just seeking some knowledge from more expirenced surfers.

I was surfing at my favorite break and caught a fun left. As I pulled out and began to paddle back out to the break I spotted another surfer paddling literally straight toward me, it seemed as if he didn't look left right and ahead of himself. I tried my best to move but there wasn't much I could do as he was so close to me. He just went for it and nearly hit me, and cracked the rail of my board. I usually keep my mouth shut unless someone makes a mistake that puts another person in danger. I assumed based on his lack of judgment he was kooky.

I paddled toward him and approach him without anger and told him generally we look left right and forward before going on a wave to make sure we won't hit anyone. It seems he was inexperienced and didn't known these things. Just wanted to look out for him and others. He got angry instead and asked if I was from "here" the spot we were surfing, said he surfed there all the time even though I'm there 4 days and week and a local to the break and have never seen him. And said I should have gone around from "where everyone was" and been out of his way... Even though I caught the wave so far left and was paddling so far away from the break of where people were congregating. Anyhow I seemed like he had his basic fundamentals down, could pop up and turn alright into waves. But can't we agree that's such a rookie move? Being unbais I completely get his point of view as well but I had no need to paddle out and around as I was already where I needed to be. I guess some people don't like being made aware of dangerous mistakes.

[oldmansurfer]

He sounds like a kook but I guess you were in his way. I try my best to stay out of the way of others but sometimes you can't. My impression is he is a jerk and I would stay away from him when surfing. Ultimately as far as rules of the lineup that I think besides don't drop in on anyone "stay out of the way of the surfers taking off outside of you" is the most important so I guess you failed to do that. He is still a jerk though.

[Glocksinmysockz]

Understood, thank you for shedding light on that. I generally do stay out the way, I guess this time around I had nowhere to go as the whitewash was overpowering me.

[oldmansurfer]

I am sure others will weigh in here so don't take my word as the ultimate authority

[dtc]

In general it's up to the paddling out surfer to stay out of the way, but that doesn't give the person going for the wave the right to do whatever they want without paying attention. If someone does something completely unexpected then there isn't much you can do

My pet hate is people who start paddling for a wave and then suddenly turn and paddle toward the peak rather than away from it. I understand why they do it, to get a better position, but if I'm paddling out and think I'm outside the other guy and they turn the 'wrong' way straight into your path...forcing you into the breaking wave and wiping out

[waikikikichan]

Glock - I don't think you stated the type of break you surfed. You did say you rode a left all the way to the end. Like riding from the tip top of the capital letter "A" down the left leg to the end. And then paddle back out. Did you go up the leg of the "A" ? I'm confused as you said you and him were in whitewater, while usually the end of the wave the white water has dissipated. If not, I think you must be at a reef point with multiple "A" that some time intersect. When I take off on the left at Canoes break in Waikiki, if I ride it far enough inside, I come face to face with surfers taking off going right at Inside Canoes. Usually most locals just kick out at that point. Are you surfing a reef or beach break ?

But anyways in your case, he's a butt head.

[Jester]

Don't punish yourself too hard..today I took off on a beach break where it was constantly changing from left to right in my takeoff spot, only one other way more experienced guy out, I looked at a wave, he was way further out and sun was in my eyes, thought he'd left it so went for it paddling my heart out, was halfway through popping up and see a board approaching my left shoulder and here him calling out 'Mine' he wasn't there a second ago when I checked!! Tried to pull out and worst part was I lost control of my board in the ensuing whitewater..felt so bad but also don't feel there's anything more I coulda done other than look better before I took it, but I swear he wasn't there when I checked a second previous!

[billie_morini]

I've been mulling this over since yesterday. It is difficult to comprehend that a kook or any other surfer would get in the way of someone with a Glock.

[dtc]

Don't punish yourself too hard..today I took off on a beach break where it was constantly changing from left to right in my takeoff spot, only one other way more experienced guy out, I looked at a wave, he was way further out and sun was in my eyes, thought he'd left it so went for it paddling my heart out, was halfway through popping up and see a board approaching my left shoulder and here him calling out 'Mine' he wasn't there a second ago when I checked!! Tried to pull out and worst part was I lost control of my board in the ensuing whitewater..felt so bad but also don't feel there's anything more I coulda done other than look better before I took it, but I swear he wasn't there when I checked a second previous!

I had almost the same thing a few months ago - there were only 4 of us out and it was pretty big surf (about maybe 8ft faces? big enough for me anyway). I was hanging out about 10m to the left of the other 3 and was going (to my) left and they were heading right. I knew 2 of the others had just caught waves and were near the beach and the third guy had just paddled back out. So I wasn't paying much attention to be honest. Started paddling for a wave and out the corner of my eye suddenly realised the 3rd guy had paddled out and immediately turned and caught the next wave and went left instead of right (unlike his previous 10 waves).

I started to pull back and the guy surfed straight under me - I was about 3 or 4 foot directly above his head as the wave was curling and he was looking up at me, I suspect thinking I was about to surf (or fall) straight down on top of him... luckily it all ended well but I'm sure he felt I was in the wrong. Which I guess I was but...wave hog much!

My other 'hate' (well, I have a lot of them!) are the grommets (kids). You might be outside them but further back and start paddling and basically have popped up before they even bother starting (so you aren't paying attention to where they are, because you have 'got there first'), then they pop up after you but closer to the peak and claim the wave (technically the first person should get the wave, but it can look bad when you are further from the peak and they are just little kiddies and calling for the wave - what do you do, start arguing back with a 12 year old?)

[Des2015]

I am a novice surfer and while beginning to learn to surf with a an instructor he sent me on my wave rode it all the way out to the right and where I was surfing I was told afterwards when your near the beach you basically do a big circle and paddle out along the channel. So as I was doing it and my paddling is good, another instructor sent a person on the wave right after me and she almost hit me. She jumped off her board ahead of time and seen she was coming right at me. I had asked my surfing instructor why it happened and how I can of prevented it from happening and he told me that the instructor was not paying attention to other surfers and just wanted them to catch any wave that was rideable. He then explained to me in great detail to always pay attention to around you even further back for riders and the waves and go and hopefully people will watch out for others as well.
To be rude about it not nice, apologize because it happened would make it easier.
Sorry it happened.