Attitude rant

[bomber35]

I guess I will never get why people have to have an attitude while surfing, especially when there are very few people on the waves and there is more than enough for everyone.

Basically story goes like this: I get the first drop on a small'ish wave today and another cat took a later drop about 20ft. to the side of me, basically he wasn't even up yet when I took off. Anyways, I get my bottom turn in, turn back up the wave, cut back and come straight down...at which point I see him to my left about 10 ft. away. Anyways, the wave washes out and we both sink into the white-wash and begin paddling out....then it starts, "you saw me didn't you???!" My initial thought was "no" simply because he didn't have the initial drop and I did (keep in mind that I was closer to the peak of the wave and he could have taken a left instead of a right, and we were plenty far apart to begin with). Anyways, he goes on this tirade about me dropping on him and cutting him off, etc., etc. At which point I simply said, "I'm sorry man, didn't know you were there."

Well, as the session carries on he is continually taking jabs with his buddies. You know, the "talking loud enough so I was sure to hear him" bullsh*t. By this point I was thoroughly annoyed and I said, "Dude, get over it, I said I was sorry." Meanwhile for 20 more minutes all I hear is "drop in this, go straight that, I was here when this beach was empty all the time, I am the best surfer ever....yada, yada, yada ....."

My thought are this, the place was empty today. So why the hell did you have to paddle over by me, when I was essentially 50 yards away from anyone all morning? Also, if you care about crowds so much and people supposedly dropping in on you, i sure hope you don't come to this break when its really going off...cuz I'm sure that would send him over the edge. If anyone here surfs El Porto in Manhattan Beach, then you know what I'm talking about! I have surfed at this spot for quite a while now and have never had any issues (even on the super crowded days when you can almost literally spread out your arms and touch the guy next to you).

So why the attitude today? Why the attitude at all? It was a beautiful morning, plenty of space to move around and just very relaxed...until this douchebag came along. I get localism and there are places around the South Bay I won't bother with (Lunada Bay), but come on...Porto???!! I guess I just don't get it...you surf to have fun and enjoy yourself, not get all bent out of shape over stupid sh*t.

I can't be the only one who surfs for pure enjoyment and can do without the b.s. attitudes that some people have?

Rant/

[jaffa1949]

I guess I will never get why people have to have an attitude while surfing, especially when there are very few people on the waves and there is more than enough for everyone

I can't be the only one who surfs for pure enjoyment and can do without the b.s. attitudes that some people have?

Rant/

No you're not, but the neighbourhood is full of the usual mix of human behaviours and their own sense of entitlement.
You are still relatively new at the surfing having read through your posts and your may have put yourself in a situation where you got snaked or where you dropped in I'm curious about your first drop rule because if you are calling that then you may have been too far out on the shoulder and the "cool cat" could exploit that and snake you or just take the drop closer to the curl. Occasionally this gets even more confusing where a peak can be split and one guy backdoors the peak and pops through inside. Often a little communication
Are you going , I'll take this one , you take this one, left, right

The mouthings and snide comments, phhtt much easier than physical confrontation and since you are a big guy probably safer for them too especially when the guy can talk himself up to his friends. Some guys feel good abusing other people and blaming them for why they are having a bad day/life. You actually helped him a lot

It is amazing how on a long beach with several breaks if you are one of the few surfers the next lot in the water will often come and sit with you

Don't buy in just enjoy, my attitude, if the break I'm surfing becomes a stink eye zone I move even if I was there first, I don't surf in polluted water

[bomber35]

Yeah, I hear ya on me being fairly new. I will say though, I have been going consistently to Porto since I started surfing. I go 2-4 times a week and have progressed relatively quickly...coming from a 9' longboard to a 7'6" and being able to consistently catch and ride waves now...even performing slow cutbacks at this point. I have been at my local break enough to experience 10'+ days, crowded 4-6' days with off-shore winds and 1-2' dumpy days that I relish just because I can be there, in the water. I have even surfed 10'+ waves at this point, with moderate skill. I would also say that I definitely avoid issues by respecting the guys with real talent and generally staying out of super crowded line-ups.

I guess my big issue with today was the fact that it was not crowded in the least and the waves were breaking enough that this really didn't need to happen...especially on a day like today. Just kills me that some cats are so damn miserable that they cant just get over it and move on with life. Ironically, it still bugs me but I'll get over it when I go back out tomorrow...and I'll be happy I'm there and smiling (like I always do) when I catch that first good wave of the day!!

[surf patrol]

I'll agree with you, it's really annoying when this thing happens, especially when the waves are empty.
However, there's always one, no matter where you are. Supermarket, pub, in the line up. As Jaffa says, "the neighbourhood is full of the usual mix of human behaviours"
Someone will eventually drop in on you, and you'll eventually drop in on someone else. Someone will take offence, someone will have an attitude problem. These things happen. You've just got to try not to let it bug you.

[jaffa1949]

I'll agree with you, it's really annoying when this thing happens, especially when the waves are empty.



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[jaffa1949]

Wendy stop your nonsense spamming and contribute something rather than a paraphrasing to support your spam.
If the waves are empty fill them!