Hebridean SUrf...

[SingleFin]

I've got some kind of mad idea about heading to the hebrides for a week or two at the end of this summer... Any input?

[silver surfer]

stay on mainland,no waves here,only cold.dont beleive the stupid rumers of surf.u understand

[Local]

Hey mate theres loads of breaks up there, when i was out there in april i surfer foir 2weeks with no other surfers apart from my girlfriend and brother!! Im sure u can share ur wave.

you'd want to surf here in devon if we had what u have!!!

[silversurfer]

look w ha ts happening in ireland,crowds,lineups full of :?: it started 2get busy here on main breaks,lewis,and we,ve seen change 4the worst.there r a good few local real surfers here,and we dont want an invasion from the mainland,ok.there has been 2 incedents this year,involving ignorant outsiders.the message is;a few people is ok but not more.nothing personnel u understand.the devon and cornish scene sold out and lost its soul years ago,and we are not going 2 let that happen here.one surf hostel,shop owner in stornoway[only in2 the money and his ego],does not repressent the real view,of the 50 or so surfers who live here.

[Urban Ape]

I'm from the West Coast of Scotland originally, lived in San Diego for 2 years and now live in Oxfordshire (further from the ocean than I've ever been before).

California is super-super packed. Every decent wave (Swami's, Windnsea, Trestles) is crowded with 100+ surfers on a good swell; 30 plus people on a shitty day. There is no fun for me in dodging lemmings in the water so I came back to the UK.

Silver surfer, you're right in that Devon and Cornwall have sold out. This has only happened because it's the closest place for the surfers of the megacrowded South East to surf. THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES!!!! Not because the waves aren't amongst the best in the world but because it's so remote and so cold! There will never ever be the same surfing scene as has spoiled Ireland, Devon, Cornwall, California and every other warm surf spot. There are a limited number of surfers who will surf in cold water (and I mean proper cold water) and even fewer who will make the trip.

So come on, all that's needed is a little leeway and a little respect from "locals" and visitors alike.

[nelson]

dont know who he is but i like his attitude.
go to france
great waves &
its warm you know

[bus stop]

urban ape 10 yrs ago there was say a group of about ten that started to surf with the odd 1 or 2 travelling surfers visiting the island every year and for years now people have said "so remote and so cold" but still every year it gets busier and busier.now we understand the concept of secret spots.the thing is the people that come from crowded breaks bring along the arrogance that goes along with crowded breaks and that is so wrong in a surfing destnation virgin. for years know we have read and seen how other surfing destination have been spoilt by crowds.WE DONT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN HEAR!go the silver surfer, you are the man

[silversurfer]

we will not stand by and watch the island be swamped by the masses.a few people,is acceptable,but more than a few,and there will be a very strong backlash.we will fight 2 keep our beaches clear of the commercial hordes,the surf industry generally.we have many ways of doing this and steps have already been taken in this direction.u have been warned,tread carefully. :x

[Urban Ape]

Silver Surfer, you clearly didn't listen to anything I said in my last message. I'm wondering why I'm replying when it's unlikely you'll take heed.

I visited the Hebrides a few weeks ago and surfed Cliffs, Butt of Lewis and some other breaks on Lewis, the Uists and Barra. Maybe that makes me one of the infidel. Should I be pleased that my car wasn't burned out or that I wasn't shot on sight? However, at no point were there any more than two people in the water at any of the breaks. There was one day when it was really small and only rideable on a longboard. I didn't bring one. There was an older guy in the water (maybe it was you if your silver surfer id relates to your hair colour) and when he came out I spoke with him and explained that I didn't have a longboard, he offered me his 9 foot board to go out and ride some waves.

In California to be a surfer it's cool to be an arrogant ass. Maybe it's worldwide but the old guy in the Hebrides gave me hope. Don't spoil the Hebrides as a destination for the fanatical few who want to see these magical islands and want to do some surfing as well. Did it ever strike you that Derek (the guy who runs Hebridean surf) is proud of his islands and wants the world to know how amazing surfing in the Hebrides can be?

If the Hawaiian tribal kings hadn't passed their sport to their offspring, if visitors from the American mainland hadn't visited Hawaii and witnessed the sport for themselves, surfing would not exist as a sport today. Travel and cultural exchange are all part of surfing. Grow up and accept this. Treat visitors with respect and it's probable that you will be respected. Quid Pro Quo. You cannot stop the halt of tourism or visitors to the Hebrides. Accept this as well! People will come to your islands to surf and to observe..........FACT! You can welcome the few visitors to your islands, surf with them, exchange stories, share a few beers and enjoy. .....OR.......... You can grow old and cynical and reflect on how things used to be, you can try and burn their cars, slash their tyres and behave like animals. One thing's for sure, the visitors will keep coming.

Another thing's for sure...............I'll be surfing the Hebrides again. Look forward to seeing you there.

By the way, have you ever surfed anywhere other than the Hebrides?

[silversurfer]

urban ape,my friend,i understand your frustrations,but u must not be so naive.fact 1,when swell gets good,there r many local surfers who come out of the woodwork.with smallsurf,there is only a few.fact2,we r actually trying 2 preserve the islands,and not let them go the way other places have gone,but i some how think that will go over your head.a few surfers is ok,of course,it a free world,my friend,but more will not be tolerated.fact 3,ive surfed many countries,and continents,and have seen the soul of wave riding,destroyed by the masses.a few feet become many and then the damage is done. i hope my friend,apeman,one day,you will understand,that what u represent is the beginning of the end. i think i might be bitter if i lived where u live,but i understand,my friend,it is not your fault. :lol:

[Urban Ape]

Referring to my original response (AGAIN). The Hebrides will never become a mainstream surfing destination for the masses. In addition to the reasons I gave in my first response to why I don't think the Hebrides will ever become mainstream; another reason is that, thankfully, there's not a lot to do for post-surfing fun for those that are into clubs, pubs, bars and the "scene". THAT is a significant reason that Devon and Cornwall, California, Hawaii, Indo etc etc etc have all lost their soul. A mass influx of holiday makers who want apres-surf (for lack of a better phrase).

Another point worth noting is that the extreme sports band waggon is full speed ahead at the moment. Everyone's jumping on it. Surfing appears to be the trend of the moment. Probably over 80% of people who surf in the UK have been on a surfboard less than 10 times. Once the trend wears off and the masses realise how difficult surfing is as a sport, numbers in the water will dwindle.

I hope the Hebrides doesn't become mainstream; maybe I didn't make that clear in my initial responses. What I am trying to say is don't spoil the beauty of surfing the Hebrides by threatening abusive behaviour to the dedicated few who make the trip.

Naivete does not come into it!

Urban Apes: It's what we are. The separation of humans from less successful species is intelligence, the ability to facilitate concious thought and the ability to cooperate. Try it sometime!

:lol:

[Karma]

I was doing some web search and stumbled on to this web site and a few of us have been following the heb discussion ever since. I finally decided that I could not stay silent anymore!

As one of the local surfers I am wondering with a few others who is Silver Surfer? If you surf with the all year round crew you have kept your discussion panel pretty quiet!

Although seriously questioning the validity of Silver Surfers claim as ‘local’ I will contribute an other view from a local after which I will disappear to calm waters of Hebridean living.

The fact is, more people are visiting the Hebrides. What do you expect when the island has been in most of the major surf magazines in the past few years? Did you not know that word does get around?

On the whole visitor issue my experience so far has been a mixed one. I have met some fantastic people and made some good friends but on the other hand I have also shared waves with some arrogant people with serious attitude problems although I am happy to say that the latter one has only happened a few times.

We have a choice here and using the Urban Apes words we can either welcome the visitors to the islands, surf with them, exchange stories, share a few beers and enjoy. .....OR.......... we can grow old and cynical and reflect on how things used to be, try and burn their cars, slash their tyres and behave like animals.

In the end it will be all down to the visitor and to the local and having mutual respect to this beautiful island, to the ocean we all love so much and the way we will interact in the waves.

One more thing, if you do visit us please don’t leave rubbish behind or burn holes in the machair and if you do happen to be at Dalmore, don’t hang your wetsuit on the graveyard fence and leave it there when there is a funeral going on!

[Urban Ape]

At last, a true reflection of the warmth of the Hebridean people. The key word in this whole issue is respect.

It's been emotional. Signing off and wishing everyone happy surfing.