Surfing with assholes

[Guest]

I surfed at this point break for about 3 years now. Today, I was getting snaked by 2 kids who were about 14 and a man who was in his 30's. The kids were a little better than me, but not so much to be snaking me on EVERY wave. The man was a lot worse than me, and was just a dick. The kids confronted me, and said, what the fleshin' you don't paddle on a wave somebody else is on. I said, you also shouldn't snake. they claimed they were there first and its not snaking if they are on the wave first, when in fact it was. I didn't get a lot of waves, and this snaking was unprovoked. I said ok fleshin' both of u and paddleed over to a different spot, and they followed me and began dropping on on me. what should I do? I;ve been boxing for 4 years, so I didn't want to fight them, but those kids andt hat guy really pissed me off...

[Otter]

Next time you see them, act like a crazy man. Stare at them breathing hard and bug eyed. I'd leave you alone and find another break myself...

[Guest]

I'm being like really serious, it's my favorite break, and i'm really respectful in the water, i don't want to lose my temper, those kids dont think they are doing anythig wrong, and they are...

[Otter]

OK, being really serious, there are two easy solutions. My suggestion, or confront them with the reality of the situation. Confronting them will probably lead to, well, confrontation. They may wax your windshield, let the air out of your tires, God knows...
Better to make them think you're off your nut, they'll leave you alone. I'd love to hear about other suggestions.
What you're dealing with are probably spoiled, arrogant and self centered children, regardless of age. Either thrash them, or get them to leave you alone. 'Nuf said.

[O_Danny_Boy]

man you get dickheads in all walks of life

first or second time drop in/snaking id let it go

third time id say say something

fighting em aint the answer tho, and dont let those goons ruin your stoke!!

[dougirwin13]

One solution...

Prepare...

Print a few dozen copies of Tribal Law and put them in your glovebox.
Bring a beaten up old board as backup.

At the scene...

Be really nice to them.
Explain clearly what snaking is and that they doing it.
If they persist don't get mad... Get out.
Put a copy of tribal law on every windscreen.
Grab your beaten up board.
Get back in and drop in on them on every single wave.

Or just grin and bear it

They'll get the picture.

-doug

[Dec]

Lmao Doug! That sounds like a plan!

[Johno]

I say drown the lot of them the cheeky bugers

kill kill kill he he

[geez]

Next time you see them, rent a kayak,, then spend a nice day blocking and dropping, blocking and dropping.
Sorted.

[Sillysausage]

lol this is turning out quite funny, but really there isn't a lot you can do to stop someone snaking, unless when they're paddling around you, just paddle parallel to them so they can't take the drop, this will get them p'd off and maybe change their views on the situation.

[boco rio]

Bring a beaten up old board.

This is a good idea and I suggest it be a longboard so your catching waves before them. Just keep going down the line and mow'em down if they drop-in on you.

Nothing tears up a new or shortboard like an old log. Trust me on this one.

[niallhills]

i dnt have a solution, im jus wonderin wat snakin is i have an idea, but not so up on the lingo of surfin outside of ireland

[Milo]

Slap em, and the old man

[dougirwin13]

There's a few trains of thought on exactly what snaking is (use the search feature to find more).

According to "tribal law" snaking is paddling around someone who is in priority position in the lineup so that you are in position... Sort of jumping the queue.

-doug

[Guest]

they were here again today... I just snaked them back!! and they left!

[isaluteyou]

I would like to refrase the definition of snaking.

Snaking = when you steal position from another "ACTIVE" surfer.

Active being the key word here. If anything drives me nuts is seeing a perfect set roll in and the person who has perfect position does not even make an effort to catch it. So if someone is showing no interest in the wave i will happily steal position and think nothing of it. Of course this policy demands a certain level of awarness and good judgement about whats going on in the lineup - id be the first to apologize if i read the situation incorrectly.

[boco rio]

^ I think that sums it up. It is a position thing and some guys are wave hogs. Nothing aggrevates me more than someone paddling over and trying to get position on the peak when I'm already there.

The other snake is the guy that drops-in on you and then tries to shoulder hop you. That tends to piss me off even more.

I've found that the best way to avoid these situations is talk with the guys around you and yell if necessary.

[rich r]

If you've been surfing the break for 3 years, you should know some of the locals. If that's the case, you have a much stronger position starting off.

If you haven't seen them around before, you tell them - "look, this is a mellow spot. Have some respect, and everyone will respect you. I've been surfing here a lot longer than you've been surfing."

As for the guy, let him do it once and if he blows the wave, drop in on him next time. Then apologize if he doesn't blow the wave. Say "Hey, man, I let you have that last one and you blew it, so I didn't think you'd be snaking me again."

[Guest]

Well, yesterday, that snake got thrown out, by me and a few of the locals, listened to all of your advice, thanks!

[Otter]

they were here again today... I just snaked them back!! and they left!

Sweet! Then you cut their heads off and buried them at least 12" in the sand right?