Originally Posted by
stayabovetheweather
I have been on both ends of surf rage over the past few years. I was working in Manhattan and living in the Rockaways from mid 2009 till mid 2011. The lineups are infested with kooks who are completely unfamiliar with surf etiquette. I was dropped in on, had boards ditched at me, and had people take off on top of me with no control of the board and no chance to make drops. When I felt that people would endanger me in the lineup, I typically reacted with 5 minute verbal tirades. On occasion it resulted in some jarring on the beach, but never anything too physical.
My reaction may not have been the best, but it seemed to work. I often saw people I had chewed out in the lineup later on being respectful and giving me a friendly wave when both checking the surf. In cases where people violate surf etiquette b/c they simply don't know the rules, I think regulating is the right thing to do b/c it will make the lineup safer and can even breed people into \"locals\" who regulate a spot rather than make it dangerous.
I have since moved to Ocean City, NJ as I no longer had work in the big city. I have since been on the receiving end of \"surf rage.\" It turns out that a few older locals, whose surfing ability is mediocre at best, think they own surf spots because they have surfed them the longest. I first learned this when paddling out at a certain spot on the north end of the island on a chest high day. I got dropped in on by the same local about 4 times. I wasn't hassling him, nor had I disrespected anyone, and I took the drop ins silently. Finally I got fed up and decided to race him down the line. I caught him about 30 yards down the line and as i passed him, he grabbed my leash and we both went down. He started yelling about how this spot was not a \"democracy\" (I think he meant meritocracy) and demanded to know my name and where i was from. I told him it was none of his business and he came at me and slapped me in the face. I was taken aback, and decided to just paddle back towards the peak. He hasn't dropped in on me since.
I had a similar altercation surfing the same spot with a friend of mine. A different older local dropped in on my friend, and my friend hollered, letting him know he was there. The older local did not cede the wave, and on the way back to the lineup started talking smack, telling my friend to shut his mouth and that it was HIS Jetty. Being in earshot, I calmly told him that he snaked my friend and he has no reason to complain. The local told me it was his jetty and I should go home. He then paddled right up next to me and sat there. Then a wave came and I got shacked off my gord. He doesn't drop in on me or my buddy anymore.
I think the the lesson of this all is that regulating when people don't know any better might make you look like an ass, but it actually does keep things safer. When old entrenched locals try to intimidate people out of the water, and claim the waves are \"theirs\" even though they don't want to work for it, it's important to just stand up for yourself. Those guys are typically cowards and don't want to actually fight. They're just looking for a way to pad their waning egos. The cream will always rise to the top.
Reply With Quote
