Surfing incident right or wrong??

[jt111]

So today in clean 2-3ft waves, pretty crowded, but at this moment in time theres no-one near enough to drop in on me or vice versa. This nice clean 2 1/2ft wave comes in, i'm the only one who can get it. So i turn from being sat on my board, now ready to paddle for it, aware of one person about 15ft to my right between the beach and myself and paddling out to sea. So I start to paddle for the wave, and this guy, as i'm digging deep for my last 4 strokes, does a very rapid u-turn by my right shoulder and as i'm about to take my last stroke and pop up, rams into me (he's still paddling). Now i'm quite p$ssed off, and say something along the lines of WTF. He starts having a go at me, shouting about "do you know the rules of surfing etc..." He doesn't seem to get my point that as i'm paddling for the wave he's paddling out to sea in the opposite direction... I'm not one to cause a scene so paddle off, but this left me p$ssed off for a good 20mins.

By the board he had and his accent i presume he was a local, and by all assumptions, probably a better surfer than myself as well. Now i know he must feel a bit agrieved at loads of people turning up to 'surf' as its a warm day at his 'local spot', and probably sees everyone else as being out to get in his way for their 2 days a year surfing. But i don't see it as an excuse, hell i surf their on average once every 2/3 wks all year for the last 2 yrs whether its -2 degrees or 30, and would also prefer there to be only 10 other people out, plenty of space for all...

My question is am i completely missing the point, or am oblivious to some surfing rule or etiquette??? To me it was like queing for a till in a supermarket, and someone barging in at the last second and then having the nerve to have a go at you...

[PredationSA]

He just sounds like a douche to me. You were further out to sea, paddling first and it sounds pretty much like he was snaking so ja, he is just a douche imo.

[Aloha]

I've had this too. I'm assuming this was a left hander and he was actually in priority position, further inside? However he was paddling out (either from another ride, or to start his session) so it shouldn't be his wave. Yeah this is a form of snaking. A guy did that to me at a spot that is notorious for middle aged long boarders being wave hogs. I caught the wave regardless, dropping in on him.

On the way back out he paddled up to me and complained about the drop in. I told him, "it's my wave you snaked me, I was in position and you were paddling back out and paddled to the inside." He threatened to run me over on the next wave etc.

I've had a fair few yelling matches with guys like this and you just never feel good after it. Best thing to do is keep quiet or keep talking to a minimum. They'll never see it from your point of view so just paddle off. Avoid talking as much as you can as it just escalates the situation and can lead to fists flying.

If you do have a 'conversation' try to remain calm. State your case, ask him why he disagrees, then agree to disagree politely and paddle off. Don't fight as you both look like d1ck heads, you never feel good, even if you win it ruins the session for everyone.

Although I must admit, I do lose it occasionally and it does remarkable things for your wave count as everyone avoids you.

[jt111]

Thanks guys, thats as I thought then, always re-assuring when you know you're not barking up the wrong tree. Definately agree on the not fighting, and keeping it civil. Later in the session i was on a right hander and just as the wave broke to white water, someone who wasn't looking in chest deep water suddenly jumped on their board and paddled to take the wave. I couldn't avoid, and cut straight accross them, clashing boards and wiping me out. They were very apologetic and knew they had completely cut me up, and were obviously a complete beginner, we had a friendly chat and carried on our respective sessions. Far better than spending 20mins being pi$$ed off, leaving a scar on an otherwise enjoyable session, why can't all people be like that...

[naniekso]

hes being a mean person. i've had this problem soo many times.

Here is the case though;

look at this terrible discription and graph.

OCean
---------------
-------O--------
---xxxxxxWxxxxx
-----------P---D----
-------------D---
Beach

AT X- Wave is breaking
AT O- Some people, swim ahead of everyone and try to take it further out, even if it is breaking at X.
AT P- Some people don't want to paddle as hard for a wave, so they sit inside more closer to X.
AT W- Some people sit right on the breaking part so they have to paddle alittle bit
AT D- THe Dbag we are talking about
At point P is where you should be

NOTE: P and D are not equal. P is when no one from W is going in that direction and you can take it, D is when someone is trying to catch the wave form point W and you be a bitch and steal it.



REguardless of where you stand the wave will break at a certain area, unless its like a 4ft wave in your case of 2-3ft waves.
At the 4 ft wave, paddling for the point O is certainly ok, and often those are the guys that get it and they end up dodging everyone and everyone likes to watch them. Point O people are also mostly longboarders, becaus they can catch a wave sooner before it breaks they can sit at O.

AT the 2-3ft wave breaking at point X , you were at W, however it sounds like the wave was acctually slightly below point W and so you had to paddle even harder. I normally sit at P because i shortboard, and its very easy to catch the waves when you in the right spot, and i'm kind of a whore and i take the shiti waves and waves no one really wants, even if a big one is coming because i figure the sets almost over.

NOW rule is whoever is in DEEPEST to the peak. meaning if a wave has a left and a right its a split peak, and shoudl be split, but it really belongs to whoever stands up first and chooses the direction(thats how you get barrels, u stay away from the peak then go toward the opposite shoulder). lets say the wave is breaking left(frontside for goofy) then whoever is to your right has priority, evem if they are past the peak. The problem comes when the Dbag at point D thinks I should get this wave, does a flip-a-bitch and easily takes the wave, this IS a form of being an asshole. From his point of view he sees that you won't be able to catch the wave and so he decides well its flat behind you so i might as well take this one. However, if he sees that you are working so hard he should have let it go, reguardless of if u make it or not, even though he has it easier for the paddle.

WAVE catching is very territorial and all about positioning.
Even though they are a local, they could be the worst possible local out there. You should give respect to the local, but more so you respect the better surfer, because if you can become allies with them, they WILL shelter you and give you a wave ticket.

Whats a wave ticket? Imagine if u were freinds with kelly slater. Now in the lineup kelly slater will be sitting at the very best spot because he's kelly slater and he can read waves like a book. So lets 1 big wave comes and he decides to let you have it. You take it and everyone behind you respects you for sitting next to the famous kelly, and he chose you to have this wave. Now that you are done, you have an almost very weird social ladder to climb back up to kelly. Meaning you can actually paddle all teh way back up to the lineup near kelly without feeling awkward or not respecting the lineup. the same works with a group of friends and ect.

This is the wave ticket(i call it) and groups have it and they often begin to dominate the spot. thats why locals wave ticket, casuse tehy know each other they swim right back up and socially and psychologically its ok for us lol.

some locals are funny some are mean. Most are really cool and can help you become a better surfer. Just give them the big waves a couple of times and then talk to them. The sacrifice of teh wave shows respect, and the talking shows you are not some kid who is just there trying to take the wave, you are a person who wants to be recognized.

If you ever see them again they will be happy to see you, and will encourage you when your on a wave and will gladly give waves out.

~it may take a couple of times lol

[Brian]

I've had this too. I'm assuming this was a left hander and he was actually in priority position, further inside? However he was paddling out (either from another ride, or to start his session) so it shouldn't be his wave. Yeah this is a form of snaking. A guy did that to me at a spot that is notorious for middle aged long boarders being wave hogs. I caught the wave regardless, dropping in on him.

On the way back out he paddled up to me and complained about the drop in. I told him, "it's my wave you snaked me, I was in position and you were paddling back out and paddled to the inside." He threatened to run me over on the next wave etc.

I've had a fair few yelling matches with guys like this and you just never feel good after it. Best thing to do is keep quiet or keep talking to a minimum. They'll never see it from your point of view so just paddle off. Avoid talking as much as you can as it just escalates the situation and can lead to fists flying.

If you do have a 'conversation' try to remain calm. State your case, ask him why he disagrees, then agree to disagree politely and paddle off. Don't fight as you both look like d1ck heads, you never feel good, even if you win it ruins the session for everyone.

Although I must admit, I do lose it occasionally and it does remarkable things for your wave count as everyone avoids you.

Lol there are definitely a couple of douchey longboarders at manly. its funny because the good guys you see out there every day are always nice, courteous, respectful and smiling... there are just a couple self righteous farts who snake anything moving.. man what's with the SUP invasion recently... cant fleshin' stand them. Just because you CAN catch every wave doesn't mean you should!! I absolutely hate people who cant share and can't appreciate other people's surfing.. How often/where bouts do you surf at manly? Last semester, because of an easy uni schedule I was out at queenscliff every day round 10am.

In regards to the OP, yeah dude you were in the right IMO... when I have the opportunity to do what that guy did to you I never suddenly decide to compete for the wave, but give the guy a smile and watch their ride.. especially if I know they are about due for a ride! A tense lineup sucks...

[Aloha]

How often/where bouts do you surf at manly?

I only really surf Manly when it's big, and then generally North Steyne - Queenscliff. Only other times is if I'm meeting a friend there, otherwise it's just too crowded for me.

However that incident I had was up at the Long Reef bombie. The longboarders there think the world owes them something. I find the middle aged guys out there are the worst surfers, in terms of attitude, I have come across anywhere. Sharing is not in their vocabulary they will risk life and limb, (preferably yours) in the attempt to beat you to a wave.

The best is when a group of them are all going for the same wave, it's a scary sight, 10 foot boards all over the place. Absolute carnage, and good luck to anyone paddling out when it happens, they'll ignore your plight as they run everyone over.

[element303]

Some locals are just assholes. If you come from the outside first or from the back of the ocean, you got the wave and people either take it too without being in your way or have to wait..