Surfing Waves

Well, I don't really hear much about localism in Thailand...but a few days ago a bit of havoc broke loose!

basically it was a very clean day at this one beach (Isn't clean usually...always onshore winds..) So, there is only usually a few locals from New Zealand that have been surfing there for 25 years. Anyways these longboarders show up and start taking all the waves in the set, every set!

So, the Kiwi guy drops in on the longboarder and they start yeling at each other and stuff. Next day the Kiwi let down all the tires of the cars and brake a few windows...

Whats your outlook on this??

that's not localism - that's just a pissed off surfer who got snaked on every wave venting his frustration at their complete lack of respect for him as a shortboarder on a lower volumed craft and their lack of knowledge of good surf manners.

The fact that you as a bystander noticed what was going on the day before means the lack of respect must have been pretty blatent.

Well, that kiwi (No offense to any NZlanders ) was saying that he has been surfing this break for 25 years...and that those other guys shouldn't be there...etc. They have now put up a sign and a flag saying *Local's only*

I suppose he was just kooked off.

localism is not one of surfings finer points, but it is a fact of surfing. having said that if I was in that situation I would drop in, even if I wasn't local there (and have done in similar situations). its a matter of respect, respect for locals at any break goes without saying, and you also have to show respect to all the other surfers out, hogging all the waves sucks. you might think the guy overeacted by smashing up their cars, and I would agree there was no need for that, but if it was a break which had aggro locals already then you could say they where lucky it was only their cars that got smashed. moral is you reap what you sow, give attitude and you'll get attidude.

Funny, but we always seem to hear about the downside of localism. Typically seems surf-rage related.

Don't get me wrong, I have an intense dislike of it.

But we rarely hear about the upside of it.

I've some locals on the Goolwa/Middleton/Chiton Rocks strecth down here. They give old boards to the local kids. They call these kids into waves and coach them on the beach. Grommits from six years old are down there by themselves... And anyone who might try to victimise one of these "abandoned and vulnerable" kids is in for one hell of a surprise! When things get crowded these guys don't hassle. They just evaporate down the coast to breaks too rocky and treacherous for people below their level of surfing.

-doug