Surfing Waves

Just got back from a great trip in Costa Rica. The waves were awesome and although crowded, there usually wasnt a bad vibe in the water. However, there is one thing that fleshin' pissed me off when I was surfing. It seemed like everytime a good set rolled in there was some jackhole on a long longboard way on the outside catching it while it was still a little ripple. Don't these guys know how feckin rude that is? Being first up DOES NOT give you priority on a wave.

I don't see why this is rude unless the guy was snaking or dropping in on you.

KS

If it was the same guy catching every single decent wave then it's rude.

If there were a whole pack of longboarders outside... Well, stupid you for being inside of them

-doug

It was the same people over and over. It's rude because being the first person up on a wave does not equal having priority. A longboarder with an 11 foot board can easily catch a wave way on the outside before a shortboarder could. That doesn't make it his wave, the wave priority goes to whoever is closest to the portion of the wave that is breaking or about to break.

longboarders think there is more soul in that as its smother

I'm kinda with you MC, it can be annoying when a plank seems to take every wave but hey its the sea or ocean no one owns it. You just got to find a break that they can't get out too, or sit on the inside and carve the shoreys

I think it's really frustrating for everyone here. A longboarder might have good intentions and let waves go by that look good to him, but then not see the shortboarders take it because it's not a shortboarder wave. Then the longboarder takes a wave, that the shortboarder was waiting for.

Other times, yes, the longboarders are out of line. Other times, the shortboarders are out of line.

It's frustrating for everyone, I think, but I also think it's easier for a longboarder to abuse it. Of course, I've had plenty of shortboarders intentionally follow me around and sit directly in front of me. Now, is this an attempt to block me from taking waves and then take them? I have no clue.

I think it just comes down to: It's frustrating for everyone. I've been on both sides, and neither of them are fun.

That's why surfing with no crowd is so awesome!

Did you have a good trip all in all?

if you dont mind paddling alot, go where the longboarders are, when a wave is starting to come in start paddling suepr early for it, show the longboarder you are taking it.

tomcat360 wrote:
Did you have a good trip all in all?

I was pretty annoyed at first, I was in Tamarindo and the surf was small. I felt like I was fighting for crappy little waves. Then I went south to Ostional, Guiones, and Santa Teresa. The swell picked up and there were lots of barrells and overhead sets with plenty of peaks by myself or with only a few other people.

FormosanSurfer wrote:Just got back from a great trip in Costa Rica. The waves were awesome and although crowded, there usually wasnt a bad vibe in the water. However, there is one thing that fleshin' pissed me off when I was surfing. It seemed like everytime a good set rolled in there was some jackhole on a long longboard way on the outside catching it while it was still a little ripple. Don't these guys know how feckin rude that is? Being first up DOES NOT give you priority on a wave.

there are so many asshole old guys in hawaii who do that.
i dont care if theyre old. doesnt give them any more right.

Consensus seems to be that *technical* wave priority is "furthest out, closest to the curl".

That said I reckon those guys were wave hogs. Do that in the wrong place and they'll get their lights punched out, tires slashed... Or worse (in a few places).

I prefer to be in a rhythm of trading waves with everyone. Even the nine year old on the sponge. Much better vibe that way.

Basically - they were dickheads.

-doug

Pfft. Sit between the planks and shortboards on a minimal - you get to anger everyone equally.

Yeah I do that on my fish....kinda lonely though

I'll have to echo that 'furtherest out closet to the curl' is the priority and, in most cases, longboarders will be able to be in a position where they have priority over shortboarders sitting inside.

The thing is.. a strong shortboarder can sit pretty much where the longboarders are and still catch a wave.

A question I might have, as well is - where the longboarders locals? Because, in that case, I'd say they were well within their right, regardless of long or short board, to take whatever wave they wanted.

I've been in both situations, as well. Though, I find it rude that shortboarders sit right in front of you, blocking your paddle, more so than a longboarder coming from the outside.

In santa Cruz in November I saw a longboarder keep paddling and run into someone in front of HER. Nasty.

Why can't we all just get along?!

Luckily, most places I go people are willing to share the waves. ANd if not, then you just start taking your share anyways.

im a longboarder and yh we do get alot of sets, but not all of us are like that, i catch every other set, of let the first few set waves go though and catch the last one, but there are some right a$$holes in the water on longboards, but remember, were not all like that

rich r wrote: where the longboarders locals? Because, in that case, I'd say they were well within their right, regardless of long or short board, to take whatever wave they wanted.

WHAT???!!!!???

"Take whatever wave they wanted"? F-ck that. Locals only have as many rights as anyone else when it comes to priority.

Granted they will generally be the ones in exactly the right place to have priority but they sure as hell dont have the right to 'whatever wave they want'

I don't think that just 'cause they are locals means that they get any wave they want.
BUT, I do think a little deference to them can help go a long way. They are the locals that surf it day in and day out. We are coming to their waves. A little respect can go a long way. That doesn't mean to give up on any wave they even look at , but not dropping into a wave because you see that they have inside, even if they are a ways away, can help to get their attitudes about you a little softened.
The first time I surfed Steamers Lane I sat in the line up, getting scowls and bad looks from the locals, and I just watched as the locals took every wave. I took about 3 and I was happy with that. Because the next day, I paddled out, sat in the line up, didn't get any bad looks, took 8 waves, was happy with that. The next day, one of them even said hello, I took my equal share, everything was cool.
I think it is all about respect. For everyone involved.

I'm not having a go at anyone, I'm quite enjoying the debate, I just thought this might be appropriate!

has anyone heard the speciak olympics song its well gd and i think locals do have priority cause if some dickhead comes oneday on a swell board and starts dropping in on good waves that your on the top of just about to dropin and they get there first thats rude!


and locals rule!!!