Surfing Waves

This was posted on Facebook today in one of the surfing groups here. It addresses the behaviour of one guide out at Airport Lefts today....unfortunately this is quite often the case with the "guides", I've seen it, everyone's seen it. Anyhow, wanted to share.....a sort of "state of affairs" message about how it is to surf here sometimes. The guide industry is booming....I mentioned to Tudeo yesterday that I've noticed more vans with boards strapped to the tops than ever before....see more guide groups showing up at spots than before and see more in the water.

A little insight as well as to my personal inclination towards better paddling, bigger boards that can get in deeper and earlier....it can be a battle out there....


Little report from Airport Left today
Super disrespectful mid-age guide with white camouflage hat and black/white volcom rashy came in snaked into the peak on the first wave followed by multiple drop-ins on almost every wave. screaming at surfers taking off deeper than him or his customer. saw him twice paddling for the drop-in grabbing "priority" surfers shoulders pushing him back trying to prevent him from taking off before he dropped-in on them. after one wave screaming "disrespectful" at the dropped guy bcs he didnt pull out and replied "im working" after dropped surfer asked him what he was doing. on the working part: he was surfing the better and other peoples waves grandpa style and let his customer paddle for a couple uncatchable ones while telling him to "paddle faster".
there are a lot of good guides out there who understand what it means to work and that they are actually paid for guiding not for surfing other peoples waves (dropping in and disrespecting skilled surfers). those guys give waves and understand that it goes a long way to do that. good reputation is more valuable than a couple of waves.

At Bo we have a a well run surf camp that teaches kids the rules of etiquette and calls them out for mistakes. Kudos to 2 Mile Surf Shop!

SUPs are another story. Yesterday morning the waves arrived in small sets with extended waits. 4 SUPs were in the lineup and paddled onto nearly every wave. One of them got under my skin because he knew what he was doing and gave us a fake grin as he took waves we were paddling for. The only way I could get a few rides was to paddle around the point and catch waves breaking in the other direction where the water was so shallow I felt rocks with my paddle strokes. That said, it's a small problem compared to Bali or SoCal in the summer.

Next sesh, I will have to speak up instead of complaining here.

I don't know what it's like these days but in days of old over here someone like that would "get cracks" if he didn't immediately leave the lineup and maybe even if he did. I mostly surf alone or with just another guy or two and sometimes I yell at myself to make up for the quiet "TAKE THE SECOND WAVE YOU DUMMY!!!"

If that was my guide I would be embarrassed. Surely anyone who has surfed enough to be able to catch an unbroken wave understands etiquette enough to realise the guide is being an idiot?

There are so many undercurrents in Bali that disaffected locals and Javanese cowboy operators across the whole,tourist industry have no qualms in exploiting clueless tourists.

In turn there is quite a lot of disrespectful behaviour by tourists that prompts like responses in return. Karma can be swift in Indonesia

Big H wrote:This was posted on Facebook today in one of the surfing groups here. It addresses the behaviour of one guide out at Airport Lefts today....

Thanks for posting this Big H, I just read it on facebook and went here to post it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4819946 ... 815700719/

I had a nasty experience with a local surfcoach and his cronies some time ago. I was on a crowded spot on the westcoast for a morning glass session with my 9'2" longboard. First wave I rode one of the coaches pushed a beginner in to drop in on me. I friendly talked to the student, explaining how dangerous that is. The responsible helper-coach raised his hand in excuse and said sorry. So far so good.

Next I was in the most outside position when a big setwave came, I took the wave late but good. It was a left, my backside. I went super angled and low to grab the rail with my righthand to set the inside rail, took off in front of the pack/crowd and had a very nice long and fast ride. I felt very satisfied paddling back, when the local main coach started shouting at me in an agressive way: "you scared my costumers!"

I did not see that coming because there was absolutely nobody in my line, I didn't need to steer around people or do anything to avoid last moment collision, so I couldn't imagine there was an argument. I think it was people sitting inside the impactzone of the wave, were I made a rather critical (late) takeoff where affraid of me wiping out and colliding with them. I told the guy there was nobody in my way, and I was in control the whole time so there was no need to shout at me for just surfing.

Then he and his crony friends started getting more aggresive and shouting at me: "You're a good surfer, you don't need to do this" or something senseless of that nature. I was alone there, so I understood I beter de-escalate because it was heading for violence, but I couldn't help thanking them in irony for the compliment..

I paddled over to the right takeoff zone, and continued my surf in relative peace. But a thing like that destroyes my fun, even though I had some nice waves I felt angry and depressed by it. I've come to Bali to enjoy what the island and the people have to offer, and do so respectfully knowing I'm a guest to the island. I live among the local people and keep a low profile and try to put in my share. But in the surf and outside the surf I see the island change for the worse by plain greed, in my opinion the space for enjoyment in Bali is shrinking fast.

Tudeo wrote:Then he and his crony friends started getting more aggresive and shouting at me: "You're a good surfer, you don't need to do this" or something senseless of that nature. I was alone there, so I understood I beter de-escalate because it was heading for violence, but I couldn't help thanking them in irony for the compliment..

I paddled over to the right takeoff zone, and continued my surf in relative peace. But a thing like that destroyes my fun, even though I had some nice waves I felt angry and depressed by it.

It could be worse. He's found, however crude his methods, a way to make a living from the surf industry. I suppose that's better than dealing illicit drugs.

Tudeo wrote:I've come to Bali to enjoy what the island and the people have to offer, and do so respectfully knowing I'm a guest to the island. I live among the local people and keep a low profile and try to put in my share. But in the surf and outside the surf I see the island change for the worse by plain greed, in my opinion the space for enjoyment in Bali is shrinking fast.

I don't know if your consumption of whatever treasures the island of Bali offers are any different from the greed you observe in others. My point is that we are reaching the point where civility doesn't count for much. Lock 30 civil people in the room of a burning house and civility will start to disappear. The sport of surfing is, for the most part, being loved to death in places like Bali. People have embraced consumerism over sustainability across the globe and now we're tasting the fruit of that ideology.

That's why I tried to persuade another poster who inquired how to surf lessons for money. It'll be about "you're disrupting my job" or "my customer". ( but what he really saying is My MONEY ).
Right now I'm in Waikiki and can see all the "Bandit" rentals and instructors. ( some who are/were crack/ice/batu addicts. )

RinkyDink wrote:I don't know if your consumption of whatever treasures the island of Bali offers are any different from the greed you observe in others.

Bali became populair because of culture, the special quality of Balinese Hinduism. The people had a strong spiritual orientation in life, the believe in karma was strong. Western people who met with this got a strong positive experience from it, and that with the natural beauty of the island, combined with the low costs of living, made tourism surge.

Now I see ur point about the negative effects of global consumerism. In fact this was my big worry when I came here for the 2nd time and saw how fast things had changed. I saw how materialism was affecting the young and how they were drawn away from their spiritual way of life. Nowadays my Balinese wife often in amazement shows me pictures her friends post on facebook, it's all materialism in it's most rudimentary form. People show pictures of their wallet filled with money..

But I despice your remark of my supposed greed being the same as that I complain about. But you're right you don't know about my consumption. You would be surprised. Also I understand you're making this in a general statement about global consumerism, that's ok, I just don't like the general frame you're applying on me.

You don't have to feel for me, I'm just contributing to a surfing topic with some first hand experience, that's all. But maybe it's good to point out to you that civility, you cleary give so much about, is build on people's feelings for each other. And that my friend, is often overlooked by activists for a better world.

Tudeo wrote:But I despice your remark of my supposed greed being the same as that I complain about. But you're right you don't know about my consumption. You would be surprised. Also I understand you're making this in a general statement about global consumerism, that's ok, I just don't like the general frame you're applying on me.

You don't have to feel for me, I'm just contributing to a surfing topic with some first hand experience, that's all. But maybe it's good to point out to you that civility, you cleary give so much about, is build on people's feelings for each other. And that my friend, is often overlooked by activists for a better world.

My point is that we are all consuming resources. Nobody is pure or somehow different than the rest of humanity. The sheer number of all of us ensures that we are all culpable. If you flush the toilet, your waste gets piped out into the ocean along with everybody else's. If you're in the lineup, then you're contributing to the crowd problem regardless of how well-intentioned and reasonable your behavior is. It's easy, however, to think that somehow we're different from everybody else, especially ESPECIALLY if you were born into privilege. I catch myself thinking I'm outside of the whole mess, that I know the answers, but I have to frequently remind myself that I'm just as much a part of the problem as everybody else. I don't want to fall into the trap of believing that a wall can be built to keep the untouchables from annoying the Brahmins. If your consumption is different from everybody else's, then explain what makes it so special.

RinkyDink wrote:If your consumption is different from everybody else's, then explain what makes it so special.

Hey Rink, ask me about surfing and I tell you all I know, but please don't bore me with what's wrong with the world in YOUR opinion. There must be some fora on the net better suited for that subject.

Tudeo wrote:Hey Rink, ask me about surfing and I tell you all I know, but please don't bore me with what's wrong with the world in YOUR opinion. There must be some fora on the net better suited for that subject.

Sounds good.

With that attitude screaming at people with priority and hogging waves and basically being a total butt they would get a beating, Moroccan lineups are aggressive especially with that kind of attitude they would be eating sand on the beach which has it's advantages because it keeps order
The northern part of morocco have friendlier lineups (more french/spanish) people, stuff like this could probably happen.

That's terrible. I'm planning a surf trip to Bali in April and as it is my first one (of many...I hope!) I'm going to hire a surf guide. I hope my surf guide isn't like the one in the report. How do you spot them?

girlgonesurfing wrote:That's terrible. I'm planning a surf trip to Bali in April and as it is my first one (of many...I hope!) I'm going to hire a surf guide. I hope my surf guide isn't like the one in the report. How do you spot them?

I'm afraid it's not easy to know ahead who is good or bad, because you're entering a very different world you're used to I guess. Good communication seems hard here. But talk to them first, it will give you some insight in how the coach communicates, at least.

My only advise would be, do a single (try out) session first, so you can switch if you don't like it. There is so much on offer it's not hard to find a replacement.

Hi Girlgone, you can still beat the guide and crowd madness, if you are organizing your trip through a surf trip or surf travel company , they often have credible links to camps resorts and teaching guides. This adds a little to the price but it places discipline on the people recommended as losing recommendation means losing ready paid customers.
There are also guides reviewed in Trip Advisor, if you can get to Kuta Lombok as opposed to Kuta Bali crowds are less but still review the guides by methods above.

Be aware too of shady surf guides "falling" in love and offering themselves and special deals. Do not have a pedicure on the beach, guaranteed tinea toes..

Look at the companies that advertise here beside the forum they may link to guides, on that too, the beach is the choice of last and desperate lack of planning.
Talk a little more about if you have a booked tour or winging it.

Try to buy a book, Indo surf and Lingo by Peter Neely a great go to guide with spots guides, discount coupons and a good basic Basaha Indonesian ( language guide) it also tells you how to be safe, where to change money and any other thing you might need.
I've been going to Indonesia since 1979 and a yearly updated copy is always with me
Enjoy thoroughly

Great advice Tudeo & Jaffa! Thanks heaps - I've placed an order for the book

Don't stress too much.....I've rarely come across ultra aggressive guides.....most are friendly as can be while pushing their guests into waves in front of people....

Just don't be a drone and interact with your guide and it should be ok.....I'd have much more concern as per Jaffa's comment about your guide "falling in love" with you, and doing more smalltalk giggle chit chat than guiding.......