by WorldSurfSpots.com » Mon May 02, 2005 10:16 pm
Thanks for your comments. I totally agree!
The website may not currently communicate it well, but on top of my policy in how to run the website is never to disclose any secret spots. I did some research before starting the site and realized what a major problem this was. The internet is swamped with articles and hate-letters from locals in despair after finding their spots mapped out online. Hence I've built the site so that there's a name with a verified email address attached to every piece of contributed material. When publishing information that could contain directions there are warnings about submitting directions to secret spots. This is just the start of what I intend to do to keep secret spots secret. The reason I might still be listing the names of secret spots is that I want locals in the area to be able to use the forum and perhaps share pictures among themselves.
It's still early days for the site and right now anarchy may seem to rule. Yet, I'm overlooking everything that is posted and will try to verify the content. I've got big plans for further extending the functionality and protecting secret spots is on top of this list. I may even decide not to list even the names of the spots (although they're available all over the net) if I can see that the locals are not finding the resource any useful. It may sound stupid, but at some spots you want people to come for a visit (e.g. shark infested, cold and chunky Tasmania in Oz). There will at least be a security measure for accessing secret spot information.
"Quality over quantity" is definitely what I want to rule at WorldSurfSpots.com. I want to provide quality content from well known spots in a region - unlike what many of the other surf spot sites are doing. What's important to me is to provide surfers with a resource that's focused on their particular surf spot and that they can use regularly to communicate with their fellow surfers.
Any ideas on how to improve WorldSurfSpots.com are greatly appreciated!!
I found this on the internet a while ago... I haven't got the source though and am worried about publishing it due to copyright infringements. Does any of you know where it comes from?
RULES OF SURFING
(1) Lowest in priority for waves are poor and mediocre surfers who use leashes to undeserved advantage. They should not have priority for waves regardless of their take-off position.
Beginners and mediocre surfers need to take special precaution not to cause injury to others because of their myopic vision.
(2) The person riding waves has priority over those paddling out. Stay out of the way as best you can. The past-time is called surfing, not
paddling. Paddle completely around the break if necessary and stay out of the impact zone as much as possible.
As long as the surfer riding did not intentionally run the paddler over, it's always the paddler's fault in any collision. An apology is all that's necessary to settle a dispute.
Boards get dinged and broken, that's part of surfing. No financial renumeration should ever be asked for and none given.
(3) Surfers with no leash have priority over those with leashes, regardless of wave position. This priority increases with the degree of difficulty that riding the break leashless presents.
(4) Unquestionably advanced surfers should have priority for the most challenging waves. However it is the responsibility of the advanced
surfers to share and give lesser challenging waves to the lesser ability surfers who observe this rule.
(5) The surfer up and riding has priority over everyone else above exceptions noted.
(6) If you are visiting, share beer, party favors and food with the locals. Locals must accept and be kind to any visitors who do so. Visitors can not take advantage of friendliness on the part of the locals to attempt to catch every good wave. Visitors should always give some deference to locals, don't complain or start fights if someone drops in on you. Just paddle back out and stay stoked!!
Let the local boys see you got some style and they'll be (or should be) happy to see you have a wave. Never insist on forcibly taking the
right of way.
(7) Keep the beach clean. Pick up your trash.
(8) Do not show up at any crowd sensitive beach with your own crowd unless you grew up across the street. Even then, probably not.
(9) Do not publish maps, photos, or detailed descriptions of magical getaway destinations.
(10) Boycott magazines and movies that publish photos, maps, and detailed descriptions of magical getaway destinations.
(11) If you are male, be kind to all female surfers. Surfing is
traditionally for heterosexuals. More Females and less males are needed. They have a beautiful delicate style if you learn to appreciate it..
(12) Party on and search for cosmic awareness. Improve your mind. Bend but don't break.
(13) Be humble but not a wus.