What pumpmaster and SoCO Mofo or whatever the F#ck his name is is saying is true. That's reality. People want what we have-the ocean. However, can the influx be stopped? no? Can it be policed? It can and it should. If you can't catch waves at a certain peak because A) Your ability is lacking for the conditions, B) Your not a regular C) The other surfers are "hogging" the peak because of A and B, then move to a different break!!! This isn't friggin Hawaii or Puerto Rico, it's New Jersey. Find some beach break. You and every one else will be better for it and you'll have more fun. And guess what? This applies to me! I'm 42 and now live and work in PA. Grew up in Sea Isle, spent my 20s living and surfing in Rincon, PR. I teach MMA. No land lubbin, Kook am I! HOWEVER, I now know that I am like the old lion that can no longer catch the zebra. Cast out by the pack. But I still know how to have fun. I just go find a jetty or a small peak with no one else out and surf with a big smile on my face. Moral is: Know your place, don't be a dumb a$$, give the locals the respect they deserve.
A dikhead is a dikhead... no matter how long they've lived somewhere. Paddle around me one too many times and I'll make sure to ruin your session, too. Why should I be the only one? Tough sh!t for the both of us then.
you are clearly in the wrong sport so why continue? like many, you get into surfing without a clear idea of what its all about, especially how to deal with crowded breaks. so, instead of adapting to that reality, you expect everybody else to adapt to yours and that is never going to happen. the reality is that surfing is not this idealistic thing you saw in an endless summer movie. within the safety rules, its a cut throat as anything at good spots. The Earl/Duke, made a great point about finding another spot and having fun, but people like you never seem to get it. You feel entitled to paddle out where ever you want and that magically you will be accepted and people will give up waves. not going to happen.
The amount of respect locals deserve is directly proportional to A) How hard they work for it and B) How willing they are to fight for what they believe is there's. The days of crony capitalistic feudalism in the lineup are over. Here's to the new meritocracy. As Sunny Garcia said at the World Cup, "I don't go out looking for trouble. I just don't mind trouble..."
I'm glad that there are people posting that have both viewpoints and I really do understand both sentiments. I'm a sad and landlocked man -- live in Baltimore and I work super hard all week teaching kids in Baltimore City so I can only make it to the beach on weekends. I'm not asking for you to push me into waves because of that or to pull out of 1/2 of the waves so I can get my share while we're sitting near each other. Nah, I'll work for mine, too. However, I really do enjoy it when I get the chance to surf with a local (or a non-local for that matter) who is out there for the very same reason I am, to enjoy being in the ocean and to have fun with the wonderful gift we've been given. It's even better to have a conversation or two out in the lineup, to trade stories and ideas about the spot we're both allowed (and privileged) to surf WHILE competing for and catching waves. Local or non-local, we're all humans out there, and the ocean is equally NOT ours. Call me what you will, but I truly believe that, and I would challenge anyone on either side of the argument to disagree that the ocean should not possessed by any of us. If you think the waves should only be for locals, welcome to Hollister Ranch! Enjoy the waves that NONE of us on this forum will ever be able to surf without a boat or a prayer. But you're right, Pumpmaster, surfing is not a group hug. On the other hand, if it's the exact opposite of that for you, I would simply say that it seems like you and I take COMPLETELY different things away from the few hours we spend in the ocean. I walk away with a peacefulness that I can't find elsewhere. I also walk away with a feeling of great happiness from catching a handful of waves and making a few smooth turns on my -- gasp -- LONGBOARD. All of that said, I'm happy that we ALL found surfing, regardless of where we live or when it happened. See you guys in the water.
i find it helps to remember that the wave you're paddling for or riding isn't your last. there will always be more so getting aggro over any one wave just isn't worth it. and that's true for everyone from the wave hogs to the beginners and everyone in between.
I was actually hoping we could meet up this weekend! What's your home break? Jokes. Yeah, most days I head to my favorite pony-filled island in MD because I know that the spots in DE, which are often a bit better with the right conditions, will be too crowded for everyone to have a great time. I'll head to one of those spots every now and again, sure, catch a few nice waves, but then I probably won't go back for months because I prefer surfing with fewer people on (possibly) lesser waves than sitting on top of a jetty and battling 30 other people fighting over one peak. In other words, I choose not to surf those spots very often, not out of some form of "respect" for locals, but because I have less fun when I'm there.
ok, Gurvy I was like that when I lived in OCMD when I first started in 1980. Dumb kook with a board made for Hawaii and no clue (NOBODY rode longboards then). Paddled out at 8th my very first day and got promptly vibed out of the water. The guys in BB Bombers took pity on me and told me to go hit Assateague until I got the basics. From there it was a block or two down from the old jetty at 118th which was sweet in its day. After months of hanging there I inched closer. After a awhile guys would see me in the streets gearing up and finally a few 'invited' me out on a snowy day. even then, i stayed well off to the shoulder but that respect paid off and eventually I got good enough to compete with those guys for the best waves. took about 2 years though, but those lessons go along way with me and I firmly believe it is the correct way to learn.
Keep throwing your feces monkey... Awful presumptuous to think that you are the dictator of what surfing "is all about". And you call me "entitled"... pot... kettle... black... yep. You're just making an arse out of yourself by presuming to know anything about me.
Ive never in my surfing life have heard people complain about the lineup etiquette before coming onto this forum. Basically in my mind if you are complaining about others in the water you either really suck as a sportsman or haven't learned to surf properly.
