New Non Surfing Sponsorship

[GnarActually]

Kolohe Andino has left billabong and signed with Red Bull, Nike 6.0, and TARGET. Red bull is his main sponsor. Carrisa Moore also has the same sponsors. Now my question is, do you think this is bad for Surfing? These larger companies can dish out more money for the phenoms and WCTers, but do you think this will be good or will it make surfing more mainstream.

[zach619]

money + surfing = always a good thing. Every young american has an interest in surfing, even kids in Kansas. It is intriguing to everyone, but fear not, they can buy boardies and flipflops from target, but there will never be waves in Kansas. And even if people in Baltimore start rocking surf gear, they will still never touch the water...

Its a style for most people, a lifestyle for us. They can market all they want, its great for the surfers. I have taken every random dollar ans sponsor i could get my hands over the years. I wish Target was sponoring 5 years ago when I was competetive.

I know most soul surfers will disagree, but honestly, money is good for surfing.

[GnarActually]

I kinda think it's just weird that target is sponsoring surfers.. is it because there trying to get hip? I think it's stupid. if i had the option on sponsorships between target and billabong, i'd chose billabong even if target offers me more money...well depends on how much more. Kolohe probably got a huge check from them.

[SethC]

How do you know Kolohe left Billabong?

[zach619]

I kinda think it's just weird that target is sponsoring surfers.. is it because there trying to get hip? I think it's stupid. if i had the option on sponsorships between target and billabong, i'd chose billabong even if target offers me more money...well depends on how much more. Kolohe probably got a huge check from them.

Yeah, I just look at it is a huge, faceless corporation, with really deep pockets that are willing to help kids travel and sponsor equipment and other expenses for surfers trying to make it. I think its great if they fund travel, and contests and equipment... And if they attempt to market BS to the surf community, its not like we will listen to them. It is just a technicality. They will be paying a few kids bills, which to me is good. Billabong are super localized and have very slim resources in the big picture. They rely on surf products and surf only marketing. Target has endless ammounts of funding. I mean, its not like Target can buy reefs or beachs... They can just slap stickers under kids feet, and every other sport in the world does it, why not us?

I understand 95% of surfers are all about soul surfing and secret spots and preserving their lifestyle, but when I was younger and competed, I wish there a target sponsorship out there. That would have been siock. So, for all the kids who want to make a career out of this, and move to where all the action is, and get to travel etc, then its great.

My only point is that I can't come up with any really negative side affects from this.

[GnarActually]

How do you know Kolohe left Billabong?

http://surf.transworld.net/1000094515/news/nike-60-signs-kolohe-andino/

[LVl<E]

why do you care?? if you have sponsors like that youve obv. forgotten why you love surfing. i dont surf bc i wanna get sponsored and make money. i surf because i enjoy it. yes these sponsors are making it mainstream but you even quesitoning it is what makes it mainstreaml. stop questioning it.

[no6rider89]

no disrespect to "soul surfing", and surfing for the fun aspect of it. but if someone would pay me to do something i love whether it is surfing, photography, eating or sleeping i would gladly do it. just becuase your getting paid doesnt take away any aspect of it at all unless you allow it too

[frylock89]

its a free country, who cares, if ur worried about people stealing UR style who cares, come up with something new. let these guys make thier money and live thier and prob most of ours dream.

[MATT JOHNSON]

no disrespect to "soul surfing", and surfing for the fun aspect of it. but if someone would pay me to do something i love whether it is surfing, photography, eating or sleeping i would gladly do it. just becuase your getting paid doesnt take away any aspect of it at all unless you allow it too

You can be a soul surfer and still get sponsered or paid to surf . Its when one starts to demand more money or take money from anyone to rep there company or product.

When making money surfing becomes your priority compared to having fun surfing and you lose the stoke that surfing gives you then its time to hang the board up .

Its my perosnal opinion that Nike 6.0, Target, and any other non surifng companies have that are trying to get there peice of the money pot with surfing have no buisness in the sport. The same thing happend to the X-Games once main stream companies to there hands on it .

[no6rider89]

i agree Matt completely, but another way you have to look at it is those "big companies" like target and nike give plenty more money than most sponsors do which in theory should provide the necessary funding for the athletes to learn new things, get better gear, and progress. but like you said a lot of them just end up hoarding it instead of putting it back into the sport to make it better.

example- bucky lasek- he has some very large sponsors and recently he just built a new massive bowl in his backyard which he keeps open to pretty much anyone who wants to skate it, and he has his backyard jam fest contest.

or the big MTV star Rob Dyrdek has his own charity which he started himself through a lot of his sponsors which builds skateparks for kids all over the country.

[CSB]

get that money kid! while the gettin is good...

[MATT JOHNSON]

i agree Matt completely, but another way you have to look at it is those "big companies" like target and nike give plenty more money than most sponsors do which in theory should provide the necessary funding for the athletes to learn new things, get better gear, and progress. but like you said a lot of them just end up hoarding it instead of putting it back into the sport to make it better.

example- bucky lasek- he has some very large sponsors and recently he just built a new massive bowl in his backyard which he keeps open to pretty much anyone who wants to skate it, and he has his backyard jam fest contest.

or the big MTV star Rob Dyrdek has his own charity which he started himself through a lot of his sponsors which builds skateparks for kids all over the country.


What could Nike 6.0 do to progress the Surfing industry???? They are the biggest corrupt company in the work. They pay there help 35 cent per pair of shoe they make. What wil there get for bordies and rash guards a woping 15 cents .

I surf dosent need big money from major companies to progress them selves . You only get better with water time.

Look at Liard Hamilton he has take surfing to a level that nobody could ever imagine. I didnt see Nike there. Target didnt get a memo on it and neither did Redbull. All those companies are looking for is to make money . Those companies fall into the same list and Hollister and American Eagle Outfitters. Making money on a image and pushing a product to people they know nothing about.

Yeah there are those people like Buckey , Rob , and Tony Hawk who give back the to the sport which is all good.

If I ever decide to take my surfing to that level to where I wanna get a sponsored. I want people to sponsor me who belive my surfing and I repepresent them well , Not cause I have a image which is populare in today's main stream

[zach619]

no offense, but you guys sound like a bunch of guys who don't undnerstand competition. First of all, I rock nike 6.0 shoes all day. I got like 10 pairs. They are sick. Not to mention that fact that the Nike 6.0 surf team is ridiculous, and if you are seeing their travel videos and the radical sh** these guys are doing, you maybe would stop questioning Nike. They make money where there is money to make. I mean, If there is money in surfing today, they are in, if there is no money in to tomorrow, they are out...

But Laird Hamilton had no problem selling out to American Express, one of the credit companies who has KILLED our nation and destroyed our economy. He is Towing into Jaws on AMEX gold commericials..

I mean nike is no different than Voclom, a copany who got into surfing cause there is money. They put kids up on the north shore but dont care about them... Its all the same, but if target and nike want to back someone, they better take the backing, cause when you are rolling around islands in Indo on the Nike 6.0 Yacht, getting filmed from Helicopters over perfect surf, I bet you wouldnt question it...

Soul surfing is just an excuse that gusy use when there are older, no longer able to compete, or were never good enough to compete. I mean, even when I free surf, I pick out the best guy I can find and stick with him, trying to out do them... Anyone who says there is no competition in surfing probably never took it that seriously. I love finding empty waves, and surfing by myself, but what I love more, is to have a crowd and a camera on the beach. It pushes my surfing to be a ton better than sitting in an empty lineup in mexico.

Thats just my opinion... Everybody I know personally that gives me all this soul surfing sh** is always the guy saying, Ohhh its too small today, or ohhh its too crowded, then when it huge, Ohhh its too big now... Always something...

[MATT JOHNSON]

no offense, but you guys sound like a bunch of guys who don't undnerstand competition. First of all, I rock nike 6.0 shoes all day. I got like 10 pairs. They are sick. Not to mention that fact that the Nike 6.0 surf team is ridiculous, and if you are seeing their travel videos and the radical sh** these guys are doing, you maybe would stop questioning Nike. They make money where there is money to make. I mean, If there is money in surfing today, they are in, if there is no money in to tomorrow, they are out...

But Laird Hamilton had no problem selling out to American Express, one of the credit companies who has KILLED our nation and destroyed our economy. He is Towing into Jaws on AMEX gold commericials..

I mean nike is no different than Voclom, a copany who got into surfing cause there is money. They put kids up on the north shore but dont care about them... Its all the same, but if target and nike want to back someone, they better take the backing, cause when you are rolling around islands in Indo on the Nike 6.0 Yacht, getting filmed from Helicopters over perfect surf, I bet you wouldnt question it...

Soul surfing is just an excuse that gusy use when there are older, no longer able to compete, or were never good enough to compete. I mean, even when I free surf, I pick out the best guy I can find and stick with him, trying to out do them... Anyone who says there is no competition in surfing probably never took it that seriously. I love finding empty waves, and surfing by myself, but what I love more, is to have a crowd and a camera on the beach. It pushes my surfing to be a ton better than sitting in an empty lineup in mexico.

Thats just my opinion... Everybody I know personally that gives me all this soul surfing sh** is always the guy saying, Ohhh its too small today, or ohhh its too crowded, then when it huge, Ohhh its too big now... Always something...

NIke and Volcom are like apples and oranges. Volcom is a surfing brand . Nike is Sports wear that tries to stick its nose is everything . Target is a Department store . Have you ever seen and surfing gear in Target??? I know I havent. Nike is gonna suck the surfing lifestyle dry and leave it when they are finished. I personally hate Nike they run sweatshops in China and Taiwan and treat the help like crap. If nike offered me a sponsor ship I would turn it down cause it goes agianst my morals.

Laird did end up in a AMEX comercial. It was footage of him at Jaws that he gave them and the short interview Amex shot with him . I didnt see him rocking and AMEX Gear or stickers???

If a person is really a Soul Surfer is a choice one makes early on to me . I didnt wake up 30 years old and say I am a Soul Surfer . Soul Surfer compete but its more with ones self to make them selves a better surfer. I have always considered my self a Soul Surfer but is still enter the local contest. I could care less if I win or lose its all an experience for me.

[stoneybaloney]

Target is a Department store . Have you ever seen and surfing gear in Target??? I know I havent.

Dude they carry Mossimo. :)

[MATT JOHNSON]

Dude they carry Mossimo. :)

Yeah and Walmart has OP cause they own the rights to it.

I doubt anyone has ever bought real surfing gear from Target. I know all the Rippers are getting there boards , Wax, Leashes and whatever else they need to take there shredding to the next level

[Shakagrom]

Thats just my opinion... Everybody I know personally that gives me all this soul surfing sh** is always the guy saying, Ohhh its too small today, or ohhh its too crowded, then when it huge, Ohhh its too big now... Always something...

Not me. I go out when its any size: shin to OH (unless its over 10 ft. or so cuz i dont have a board that can handle that ****).

[r donofrio]

nike 6.0 is a surfing company they are nike's shoe sponsor for surfing. Red bull is sort of a surfing company but targets not. I never knew target sponsored people??:D

[old_boy]

Surfing is suffering from the tragedy of the commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons). Overcrowding is a very real issue that even the dedicated surf companies ignore in order to maximize profit by getting as many people as possible into the water, buying as much gear as possible in the process. Faceless corporations out to make a buck are making it worse. This is all very sad.

All you groms hoping for sponsorship money will one day realize that it is only the lucky 0.1% that can make a living surfing and you would have been better off learning a set of marketable skills and enjoying surfing in your free time. I understand it is the world that we live in, but corporate money is dirty and it is ruining surfing.

[zach619]

I wasn’t trying to call out soul surfers really, so my bad for even including a generalized comment like that. So, Matt, I respect your issues with Nike and child/slave labor aspect of things. I agree with you there. But if we get into that conversation, we may as well throw every corporation in our country into that mix, regardless of industry. I hate Sprint, Wells Fargo, BOA, Verizon, IT companies, collection agencies, pretty much every large company in the country. Because the outsource American phone center jobs and basic things like that over to India, where they pay pennies on the dollar. Its just a “Legal” but equally unfair way to runa business. Proftitting from our people, and using third world countries low wages… That how America was built. Using other people to make money for us… So with that being said, I group damn near everything in the USA into that Nike argument. If you aren’t truly a local business, you are probably involved too.

When Clark foam went out of business, I didn’t hear shapers complaining cause they were buying cheap foam from asia and sh** for two years and still selling boards at the same price. I mean, when money is involved, people will resort to anything..

And yes, Laird wasn’t putting stickers all over his board with AMEX logos, but ask yourself this, other than blatent financial gain for him, What does AMEX have to do with surfing? You think when you call AMEX’s customer service line, it is an America. Hell no. It’s a guy in India again saying his name is “Timothy” or some BS…. So, my point with Laird, is that just because you don’t slap stickers on your board, doesn’t mean you didn’t sell out just the same. Some company gave you a couple hundred grand for them to use your footage and put whatever they want to sell on top of it. Simple and plain. No different to me that putting the stickers on first.

So, again, you can go tit for tat on this company or that, but its all about money.

What pisses me off more than nike, is my local surf shop in OB brining 30 idiots from a surf camp out every hour on the hour and creates dangers in the water for real surfers. That’s a perfect example of the contrary to what you are saying. Almost every shop I know offers classes and rentals to maximize profits. Its every worse than Nike when its you own shop putting kooks out in the water by the three dozen. And im talking every day all summer. A lot of days out here are big in the summer. Head high for a week, and the idiots are still binging people out, getting in my way,inviting anyone who wants to learn to come do it…

So, my point is, from the Nike 6.0, to AMEX, to Malibus in OC MD, to OB Surf shop in SD, to everyone else down the line. They all sell out one way or another. They fill our lineups with unwanted people every season. So EVERYONE in the industry, from Shapers, to Shops, to clothing makers to marketing firms are all to blame.

Probably including every one on this board…. We have all fed into this one way or another… So to say that keeping things local makes it better isn’t always true.

[MATT JOHNSON]

I wasn’t trying to call out soul surfers really, so my bad for even including a generalized comment like that. So, Matt, I respect your issues with Nike and child/slave labor aspect of things. I agree with you there. But if we get into that conversation, we may as well throw every corporation in our country into that mix, regardless of industry. I hate Sprint, Wells Fargo, BOA, Verizon, IT companies, collection agencies, pretty much every large company in the country. Because the outsource American phone center jobs and basic things like that over to India, where they pay pennies on the dollar. Its just a “Legal” but equally unfair way to runa business. Proftitting from our people, and using third world countries low wages… That how America was built. Using other people to make money for us… So with that being said, I group damn near everything in the USA into that Nike argument. If you aren’t truly a local business, you are probably involved too.

When Clark foam went out of business, I didn’t hear shapers complaining cause they were buying cheap foam from asia and sh** for two years and still selling boards at the same price. I mean, when money is involved, people will resort to anything..

And yes, Laird wasn’t putting stickers all over his board with AMEX logos, but ask yourself this, other than blatent financial gain for him, What does AMEX have to do with surfing? You think when you call AMEX’s customer service line, it is an America. Hell no. It’s a guy in India again saying his name is “Timothy” or some BS…. So, my point with Laird, is that just because you don’t slap stickers on your board, doesn’t mean you didn’t sell out just the same. Some company gave you a couple hundred grand for them to use your footage and put whatever they want to sell on top of it. Simple and plain. No different to me that putting the stickers on first.

So, again, you can go tit for tat on this company or that, but its all about money.

What pisses me off more than nike, is my local surf shop in OB brining 30 idiots from a surf camp out every hour on the hour and creates dangers in the water for real surfers. That’s a perfect example of the contrary to what you are saying. Almost every shop I know offers classes and rentals to maximize profits. Its every worse than Nike when its you own shop putting kooks out in the water by the three dozen. And im talking every day all summer. A lot of days out here are big in the summer. Head high for a week, and the idiots are still binging people out, getting in my way,inviting anyone who wants to learn to come do it…

So, my point is, from the Nike 6.0, to AMEX, to Malibus in OC MD, to OB Surf shop in SD, to everyone else down the line. They all sell out one way or another. They fill our lineups with unwanted people every season. So EVERYONE in the industry, from Shapers, to Shops, to clothing makers to marketing firms are all to blame.

Probably including every one on this board…. We have all fed into this one way or another… So to say that keeping things local makes it better isn’t always true.

Yeah I am not saying Nike is the only company that does that. Most Major companies do it . Credit Card Companies are the worse with it.

Yeah If your into the Mainstream what is cool cause we say it is companies that kool . It dont affect me or my stoke. I just dont follow the hype I never have . I am not gonna run out and grab this board or that set of board shorts cause Pro Sufer So and So is rideing for them and he's #1 in the world right now.

As for your local surf shops filling the water with the safety risks as I call them . Thats a issue with you and the shop owner. If it dont go anyplace from there I would take it to you city hall and or head life guard to resovle that issue.
Are surf camp here are done once or twice a week and they realy take everyone's safty in consideration.

I am just a Old Salt I guess thats just how I grew up in the water. I am not to run out and buy the latest fad in surfing. I dont wear Flashy board shorts or have a board with more that 3 fins on it. I stick with the basic stuff nothing fancey or flashy just time proven to work and be good

[MATT JOHNSON]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbu9ZTLLefE


Here's the comercial gotta admit it the best one ever put on TV

I dont really think he "sold out" doing this comercial

Really How many Surfers are gonna run out and grab a AMEX card cause he has one

[zach619]

Yeah I am not saying Nike is the only company that does that. Most Major companies do it . Credit Card Companies are the worse with it.

Yeah If your into the Mainstream what is cool cause we say it is companies that kool . It dont affect me or my stoke. I just dont follow the hype I never have . I am not gonna run out and grab this board or that set of board shorts cause Pro Sufer So and So is rideing for them and he's #1 in the world right now.

As for your local surf shops filling the water with the safety risks as I call them . Thats a issue with you and the shop owner. If it dont go anyplace from there I would take it to you city hall and or head life guard to resovle that issue.
Are surf camp here are done once or twice a week and they realy take everyone's safty in consideration.

I am just a Old Salt I guess thats just how I grew up in the water. I am not to run out and buy the latest fad in surfing. I dont wear Flashy board shorts or have a board with more that 3 fins on it. I stick with the basic stuff nothing fancey or flashy just time proven to work and be good

Yeah, when its all said and done, we are both on the same page. I wear boardies that are on sale and look cool =) I will admit that. I have no cares who is wearing them. All my boards are thursters too. I don't do four fins... I don't follow all the other idiots in San Diego who all went out and bought Two fin Retro Fish from the 70s, I mean, every summer, all the guys here are surfing on these old, out of date, out of shpe fishes. Struggling through turns etc... cause its the "In thing", or it was for a few years. Other guys think its cool to look like a guy from the 60s and surf single fins no matter the conditions...

The only things I really try out that are new are wetuits. That stuff is pretty cool, and important.

As for the surf camps. SD is a surf city. You can't control the surf zones really. Its just sucks in OB where I live, cause the reefs basically turn off in the summer, so we are all packed into the same 1/2 mile stretch in bewtween the pier and couple jetties. And the problem is, that on south swells, every wave basically connects through multiple sections. So the all of us right up against the pier, take off, make a section that beginners wouldnt think you make, then all the sudden you aer going 100 MPH on the face and 7 foma boards are dropping in on you. I stink eye the teachers and give them **** sometimes, but again, its the summer, its usually not that big, so who cares... But still, those shops, ALL OF em, love taking that 20 bucks per kid every day and throw them in my lineup. Then they are the ones after work, surfing with us complaining abotu crowds. I'm like DUDE, you just pushed like 20 kids into mushballs all day in our impact zone and now you are out here acting like an angry Local? F U!

[CSB]

my orioles colored nike dunk high tops are the best shoes in the world. period.

[CSB]

[QUOTE=zach619;53315]What pisses me off more than nike, is my local surf shop in OB brining 30 idiots from a surf camp out every hour on the hour and creates dangers in the water for real surfers. That’s a perfect example of the contrary to what you are saying. Almost every shop I know offers classes and rentals to maximize profits. Its every worse than Nike when its you own shop putting kooks out in the water by the three dozen. And im talking every day all summer. A lot of days out here are big in the summer. Head high for a week, and the idiots are still binging people out, getting in my way,inviting anyone who wants to learn to come do it…[QUOTE]

I work for a surf camp in VB in Sandbridge, so I have a little input on this issue.
First off, the last part your last sentence is completely ridiculous. So you were born paddling around in the lineup with a surfboard? Please...
I do agree that camps bring people out into crowded lineups is a dangerous practice. Our company brings the kids down the beach, well away from the nearby lineup. I don't know what camp is putting kids in danger out there, but they should have their business license revoked, especially if they're taking them out in head-high surf.
That said, surf camps are a great summetime activity for lots of groups. Most of the time, they go surfing with a YCMA group, have some fun, and never do it again. Surf shops see sharp decline in business on the East Coast, so camps can float the boat throughout the winter months.
Right on about Laird, by the way, but lighten up on kids learning to surf...

[SUZY93]

Target&other non surfing sponsors are able to reach a larger group of people
I think if anything-will promote surfing
Many people were not happy when Harley Davidson opened boutique stores
&pushcarts in malls
I guess it helped their bottom line
Sports&money go hand&hand
non surfing sponsors are still sponsors
Most people go with the best offer
Good Luck to all

[matilda]

I agree with everything CSB said. Surf lessons should be conducted in a safe manner.

Every one of us has had to start from the beginning. That means learning how to paddle, duck dive waves, etc. are part of the learning process. Newbies should stay out of the main pack until those basic skills are learned otherwise they can cause major safety issues.

I would rather see a bunch of people taking surfing lessons from a reputable company than to just see them try it on their own. A good instructor will teach the basic skills as well as good surfing etiquette. I'd also like to see more experienced surfers help out the beginners instead of coming down on them. You don't own the ocean.

Most of these people that try surfing will not continue to surf anyway. The only things that thin out the lineups are cold weather and/or a heavy swell. Pray for surf.

[zach619]

I work for a surf camp in VB in Sandbridge, so I have a little input on this issue.
First off, the last part your last sentence is completely ridiculous. So you were born paddling around in the lineup with a surfboard? Please...
I do agree that camps bring people out into crowded lineups is a dangerous practice. Our company brings the kids down the beach, well away from the nearby lineup. I don't know what camp is putting kids in danger out there, but they should have their business license revoked, especially if they're taking them out in head-high surf.
That said, surf camps are a great summetime activity for lots of groups. Most of the time, they go surfing with a YCMA group, have some fun, and never do it again. Surf shops see sharp decline in business on the East Coast, so camps can float the boat throughout the winter months.
Right on about Laird, by the way, but lighten up on kids learning to surf...[/QUOTE]

Im not sure what comment of mine you are talking about, but I told the kid from this post earlier, that WE HAVE ALL had to learn the hard way. When I was younger and some guy screamed on me for duck diving the face of the wave instead of going behind him and taking the closeout on the head.... After that, I learned. Just like everyone else....

You missed my point about surf camps. Its not that these kids are in a TON of danger, but that is only because the rest of us know what we are doing. But it just pisses me off, cause the camp guy know that we will get out of the wave and not run them over, but yet they still drop in all day. And like i ALSO said, I NEVER say sh** to beginners, ever. I don't waste time explaining the rules to people. They are in a surf camp, and yes, the camp stays all the way up against the North Peak, as far as you can get away from the pier in the surf zone, but my point is, everyone who is a decent surfer can connect the lines all the way down, so on a normal summer day, THERE ARE NO FREE waves left for the newbies to surf. EVERY set wave has one of us on it. And we connect it all the way. Most people have to sit next to the pier and dont get waves all day, because there are only 3 waves per set... Yet the surf camps are dropping in 10 at a time on the final section, as one of us flies towards them to make a final turn, and we just jump over the back.... Its just annoying. If someone doesn;t know what they are doing, take off, makes the section, then there is a 10 person/board pile-up... It just pisses me off that because we can get out of the way and not hit the kids, they still feel ENTITLED to get waves, cause the kids paid for it. I dont give a sh** if you paid 20 bucks. If you dont know how to surf and you go to the OB pier in the summer, where there are already 50 talented guys out, YOU WILL NOT GET WAVES.... So for these shops to even SHOW UP in the summer pisses me off. We have good water temps all year. Run them in the winter... These camps have NO BUSINESS in surf zones in the summer... Take your little camp down to a beach in mexico that you can have to yourself.... Anywhere around here in the summer is a danger. There just arent any empty waves left..... Thats the problem. And we dont want to give waves to a class of kooks just cause they paid for it... Go back to Arizona, ya know... I had to surf that place every day for years to earn my stripes, so some class of goobers has no place there.... You gotta laern somewhere, but coming out in packs of 20 ANYWHERE is retarded... Period. RETARDED@!

[CSB]

Sounds like your spot is a cluster-ef. Sandbridge is way more wide open and it's easy for us to find our own little peak well away from people, but we don't have the same kind of waves or crowds as SD.
Apologies if I took your comment out of context, but the text just sounded way elitist. Ideally, those shops should hold their lessons somewhere else, somewhere more forgiving like we do.
PS, I've taken plenty of lumps coming up surfing the crowded spots in VB. Def learned the hard way, but I listened, knew my place and respected the order of the water...