Surfing where you're not welcome

[Guest]

Before I get to my question, I have a story... Two friends drove out of town to visit surfing spot they heard about somewhere in Florida. Upon arrival a lifeguard approached to two out of towners and asked where they were from, to which they replied Melbourne (Florida). The lifeguard pulled out a switch blade and told them they were in the wrong place. He said while they were surfing something was likely to happen to their car. So my question is this; does anyone have any ideas or stories on how to con these protective locals into letting you surf there (at least for the day)? Or even any suggestions on how to not get beat up or have your property damaged. Don't get me wrong I respect that locals want to keep their spots private, it’s just that I don't live at the beach so I have to intrude on someone’s territory. Its not like after I have a great day at secret spot "X" I'm going to rant and rave and draw a freakin' map for other people to go there. Anyways let me know, or tell me to rot, thanks.

[k mac]

mate mabye thats a story made up by the locals for exactly that reason
to keep people away
i doubt anything that extreme will happen but just respect the locals and hopefully they should respect you back as long as you dont go storming in there with loads of you snaking people and dropping in you should be fine

[TokyotheKid]

thats something like out of the movie point break..... but yeah i dont live nowhere near the beach, but still dont take any crap, if someone cuts me off then i just do it back to them and if they get really cranky bout it i just till them that the waves will always be there and i wont so then they laugh, i laugh, we all laugh, and get on with our lives.

laterrr skaterrrs

[Brent]

It sounds like a load of fleshin' to me; firstly, a "lifeguard" is an easily identifiable person.... Secondly, why would a lifeguard want to localise a break? what interest have they in surfers or surfing?
If it actually happened I can't inagine it was a real lifeguard.
It sounds like your friends either cooked the story up or they heard it from somewhere else...
If a lifeguard pulled on me I'd just ring the organisation concerned (or better still the police) & let them deal with him.

Likewise I'd wrap his floaty-buoy thing or whatever they call them in Florida around his lifeguard head. *smirk*

If you want tips on dealing with those very rare seriously localised breaks check out www.surfline.com and go to bottom of front page, area called "surfology - bill of lefts & rights". Excellent tips on reading a break and spotting type-"a"s in the midst.

[Jbro]

I can't believe it was a lifeguard either. I worked my summers during college as a beach guard, and there is no way anyone I know would dream of pulling a stunt that like. That said, we did have a few scuffles that occured when locals got out-of-hand. Anytime a break gets excessively crowded, the chance of a fight increases greatly. Everything I've said pertains to SoCal. Hawaii is a whole different ball of wax.

[gulfsurfer]

Yeah, i hate it when people are jerks to outsiders, unless theyre are being gay and have no manners. If you go to a new spot its best for it to be just you, or 1 other dude if you have to. DONT bring cameras and all that xxxxx, thats just trying to stir crap up. Just respect everyone and you should be fine.

It doesnt sound like a real life guard either, and if that happens again and you are bigger then him, or have a bigger knife, just beat the xxxxx out of him.

[Brent]

Yea dismiss the whole thing as fiction.... With the exception of Hawaii, those nasty fella's are a whole different kettle of tostesterone...

[stoogepower]

geez .... now I'm having second thoughts about surfing in Hawaii .... but 30 years ago in Manhattan Beach, Calif. everyone was cool ... local or not. I did notice the younger locals "didn't feel good today" when the swell got big ... lmao I'm serious.

[gulfsurfer]

Dont have second thoughts about it, go, its a trip of a lifetime. Just dont be a jerk and show some respect and you'll be fine. Its just like anywhere else.

[sinistapenguin]

I've been to quite a few places that have been reviewed as having 'localism'.

My theory is 'treat everyone how you would want to be treated'.

If you make sure you get out of everyone's way, don't drop in on people and just generally surf with respect, chances are the 'locals' won't even notice you are there. They are only going to complain about people getting in their way.

If you don't do anything to interfere with their session, why would they notice or care that you are there. But then again, everyone should surf without interfering with other people's sessions.

'Locals' are more likely to complain about beginners on their break, because they have a harder time getting out of the way. But then again, most 'locals only' breaks tend to be places that beginners don't surf.

You can't live in a place like Newquay (UK) and complain about 'outsiders' on Fistral beach. It's the most famous surf beach in the UK and everyone makes the trek there at one point or another. It's also a beach holiday destination, so you will ALWAYS get loads of kids on polystyrene boards in the summer.

Just respect everyone in the water, local or visitor and everything will be OK.

Sinista

[deathfrog]

problem is everyone doesen't do that.

[sinistapenguin]

Too true - if everyone did, then the world would be a happy place!!

[deathfrog]

And eventually if you had gotten many people doing that at least one would start taking advantage of the situation... Just how people work...

[sinistapenguin]

Hey, I wasn't saying let the locals have all the waves, just don't get in the way when you paddle out, don't drop in on them.

But if it's your right of way, go for it!!

[deathfrog]

Well I was just kinda rambling about why it's almost imposible to have the perfect society.

[meister]

hmm yeah ive heard stories about locals and whatnot ... luckily for me, at my closest break boneyards is the only no-go area, and the waves there are pretty average neway.