Wave Bandit

[BoMan]

I’ve never had a problem with a SUP until my last sesh.

The rider was very skilled. He paddled out through breaking waves, easily ranged left-right-in-out to cover the entire break, and turned with cross steps to bring rides all the way to shore. He caught every wave early and moved across the face incredibly FAST. It was fun to see what he could do but he didn’t share with the rest of us.

I caught a few rides after he took the first wave of a set but most of the time I just sat as he whipped by…again….again….and again.

[jaffa1949]

Those are the SUP riders no-one appreciates! Skilled or not the paddle power puts them back in the take off zone far too quickly, and if they're good back to the inside position. Sharing is not in their book of entitlements!
Merimbula bar can end up with 6 to 8 of these guys, local SUPers are cool and share but out of towners, often don't and real issues ensue.
And that many means no other board has a chance in the water.

No matter on what you surf, the rule of closest to the peak can also consider a little sharing towards those who have been waiting.

One real dislike at the Bar is those who assume to go inside but fail to make their take off, we know them now and next up takes the wave

[oldmansurfer]

It is difficult when there are a bunch of @#$%&* in the water and worse if they are all on SUPs. I do a couple strategies in those situations. Basically I line up inside of the break where they can't lineup because they will take waves on the head and SUPs while quite good for a lot of things suck at taking on breaking waves. In this position I can catch waves that were missed by SUPs and maybe some that break too far inside for them to catch. The other option which is what I do more of lately, If I see more than 6 SUPs at a break I go elsewhere

[waikikikichan]

I don't know how many surfers were out compared to the one SUPer, but "Strength in numbers",as a group, tell the guy "hey, stop hogging all the waves". Maybe he was the local heavy and doesn't care. But he was taking off deeper. Worst is when the SUPers are in the inside of the peak and paddle as the surfers are dropping down. I've seen guys get paddled in the head and arms before. "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" when it comes to catching all the waves makes sense, but you can't reason with some people. "Absolute power, corrupts absolutely".

[RinkyDink]

I've noticed that surfers at a few of the breaks I've been at just drop in on them and the SUP guys just turn around and paddle back out to their takeoff zone. To be honest, I really don't know how to work the surf etiquette in those situations. I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to adopt the When in Rome . . . attitude and just start dropping in. Feels wrong though, so I'm looking for new places to surf.

[BoMan]

Basically I line up inside of the break where they can't lineup because they will take waves on the head and SUPs while quite good for a lot of things suck at taking on breaking waves. In this position I can catch waves that were missed by SUPs and maybe some that break too far inside for them to catch. The other option which is what I do more of lately, If I see more than 6 SUPs at a break I go elsewhere

Unfortunately I also suck at taking on breaking waves. If this happens again, I'll take "the other option" or paddle in for a break.

[Big H]

I've noticed that surfers at a few of the breaks I've been at just drop in on them and the SUP guys just turn around and paddle back out to their takeoff zone. To be honest, I really don't know how to work the surf etiquette in those situations. I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to adopt the When in Rome . . . attitude and just start dropping in. Feels wrong though, so I'm looking for new places to surf.

Depending on how close, gotta have some guts to drop in on an SUP....alot of those guys can barely surf and are basically run away trains.....big runaway trains....

[RinkyDink]

I've noticed that surfers at a few of the breaks I've been at just drop in on them and the SUP guys just turn around and paddle back out to their takeoff zone. To be honest, I really don't know how to work the surf etiquette in those situations. I'm beginning to wonder if it's time to adopt the When in Rome . . . attitude and just start dropping in. Feels wrong though, so I'm looking for new places to surf.

Depending on how close, gotta have some guts to drop in on an SUP....alot of those guys can barely surf and are basically run away trains.....big runaway trains....

The problem I've seen is if you have 7+ SUP riders out, and even if they're all polite and letting waves go in order not to be snakes, it doesn't make a difference. Their sheer numbers ensure that almost every wave has a SUP rider on it.

[oldmansurfer]

My experience is if there are a bunch of SUPers out at least one of them is a jerk

[billie_morini]

Brief traditional wave surfer essay:
1. I do not like SUPs because it is too easy
2. I do not like SUPs because it facilitates more yahoos to enter the surfing zone
3. I do not like SUPs because the boards are large enough to inflict damage on traditional wave surfers
4. I do not like SUPs because they hog waves
5. Basically, I hate them

[dtc]

The only good thing about SUPs is watching them try to go out through the white water and breaking waves on a short period day

[BoMan]

The only good thing about SUPs is watching them try to go out through the white water and breaking waves on a short period day

When I'm out most of the SUP riders fall when going out, fall in the chop and fall when they turn for a wave. I don't have a problem with these folks and the drama can be entertaining. That said, a selfish person with skills can steal the show on any board.

[RinkyDink]

The only good thing about SUPs is watching them try to go out through the white water and breaking waves on a short period day

When I'm out most of the SUP riders fall when going out, fall in the chop and fall when they turn for a wave. I don't have a problem with these folks and the drama can be entertaining. That said, a selfish person with skills can steal the show on any board.

I don't have a problem with people enjoying waves on non-motorized watercraft. However, I don't know if surfing breaks can accommodate all the different types of emerging water sports that want to ride waves: kayaks, SUPs, jet skis, kite surfing, remote controlled models/drones, and whatever else is coming along in the future. The problem is that takeoff zones for each sport are different and that means sorting out wave priority becomes meaningless. Would guys on SUPs be okay with having to give priority to jet skis that could take off even deeper than the SUPs? This problem will only get worse as the number of water sport enthusiasts continues to increase as the population continues to explode.

[Soulmancer]

The best way I find to tackle them can be a bit challenging depending on the wave... but taking off inside and as close to the peak as possible; even if it means taking off in the white-wash and cutting hard over to the shoulder. SUP's can't do that... They may have caught the wave further out and already be riding the face... but take off deeper and on the inside, sometimes it means you will get pitched over the falls or bail... but if you can make a late drop at the edge of the wash where it meets the shoulder. Yah it can be tricky and near impossible if it's a very steep, fast wave. But if you pull it off and the SUP doesn't pull out then grab his/her ass when you carve passed them.

[BoMan]

I guess we better get used to it.

New Zealand surfing survey shows massive rise in paddleboarders over 10 years
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/89628631/largest-surfing-survey-in-new-zealand-shows-massive-rise-in-paddleboarders-over-10-years

[billie_morini]

I guess we better get used to it.

New Zealand surfing survey shows massive rise in paddleboarders over 10 years
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/89628631/largest-surfing-survey-in-new-zealand-shows-massive-rise-in-paddleboarders-over-10-years

NOOOOOOooooo!!!!!!!

[YungGrom]

I guess we better get used to it.

New Zealand surfing survey shows massive rise in paddleboarders over 10 years
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/89628631/largest-surfing-survey-in-new-zealand-shows-massive-rise-in-paddleboarders-over-10-years

NOOOOOOooooo!!!!!!!

You don't normally get many paddle boarders where I live in New Zealand unless it is really flat, majority of them are in a lake or a flat bay.

[Oldie]

That said, a selfish person with skills can steal the show on any board.

Indeed. And for every SUP, annoying as they are, there are at least as many surfers not behaving differently.

[oldmansurfer]

When I am surfing a shortboarder who is really good might be able to catch waves outside of me but a good longboarder easily can and a good SUP surfer can out do them both but even a not so great SUP surfer will catch waves before I have a chance at them. I am not so good as some of the shortboarders but I ride inbetween boards and usually catch waves before they ever can although they probably could lineup where I do but they don't for some reason. The bigger the waves the closer everyone lines up to me