Help me clear this up.

[Tempest-Blue]

So today I went surfing and I was sitting out there in the lineup and a big set rolls in. I start paddling for it and when I catch the wave I look up to see this guy just sitting on his board in the inside and by the time I see him it's too late for me to stop. So I stand up and try to turn to avoid him but it was too late. I crashed into his board and it left a gash on one of his rails but mine didn't seem to be damaged at all I guess only my fin hit his board.

I know that it's partly my fault for not being more aware of the people around me but he shouldn't have even been behind me in the first place right? I mean he wasn't even paddling to get outside he was just sitting on his board right behind me. He said he had eye contact with me 100% of the time, but if that's really true why didn't he try to move out of the way? Anyways I apologized and offered to pay for the repairs even after he started swearing and what not at me. What bothers me is that the first thing he said to me was "you ****ing dinged my baord" completely ignorant of my well-being. So what do you guys think? Who was wrong in that situation?

[drowningbitbybit]

Hard to say without being there, but generally its the guy on the inside's responsibility to stay out of the way.

It is up to you to know who's around you, and yes, you should have been able to turn around him, but still... I'd say this was mostly his fault and he happened to come off worst.
Dont pay for the board repairs.

[zandvoortsurfertje]

I agree with drowningbitbybit, it is very hard to say, it is also rather vague but i think if that guy wasn't really getting your/any wave he shouldn't have been there. And follow up Drowningbitbybit's advice don't pay!!

[madcat]

Surfing is a hazardous sport, to both bodies and equipment. That's the risk you take surfing near other people, I wouldn't pay for repairs, but that's me and I'm poor.

[naniekso]

its the guy on the insides fault. you shouldn't have apologized, you should have said "what the hell are you doing on the inside!?" learn how to surf kook!