This forum is like playing a game of telephone. Somehow 9 out of 10 times someone becomes a problem, 3 pages down becomes having a problem with 9 out of 10 people. Just know your limits and move away when the level of the crowds increase to a level where they impact your enjoyment of the day. I have no issues with anyone most of the time because I move away long before they become a problem. That ben stiller clip is one of my favorites, I see it a lot where I regularly surf. Pretty sure I have been on both ends of that situation, but wander off once I realize the vibe is getting too negative.
I always will at least say hi. I met one of my best surfing buds this way. Nice to have a buddy to surf with. Its usually pretty choppy here so there is not much dropping in. There will be another wave coming in about 5 secs. If I am too close, I will usually ask if they want that one. I definitely try to give respect and stay out of others way. I will paddle down if its getting tight, but most of the time there is plenty for everyone. If it was one set wave every five minutes I could understand it being different.
even the most introverted freak loner is capable nodding and uttering the word hey to another human. What kind of narcissistic douche does someone have to be to not extend or even just return the basic courtesy of acknowledging someone else in the lineup. I definitely loathe people like that but then I also feel bad for them because they're basically failing at life.
I say hi especially in the winter when it's more dangerous out there. But, where I surf everyone is really nice. I've met some pretty cool people surfing and it's great to see familiar faces. Only once in a while does someone not say hi. I think it's lame. Does anyone else notice that these types usually look like they've got a stick up their ass?
What surf dog said. I like that, "they have to earn my disrespect." I am not gonna talk anyone's ear off in the water, but try to bring a friendly vibe when I paddle into the line up. Life is too short to be angry while doing the one thing that keeps me sane. As long as you don't mistake kindness for weakness, we will have no problems.
Civility never hurts. We need more of it. If the other person doesn't respond in kind, that's not my problem. My problem is that without my glasses, I have a hard time recognizing faces while in the water. Sometimes I can recognize others by their board if it's a particular color or colors.
I tried to say "hi" to everyone yesterday. Most of the time it was cool. Sometimes it got weird. I came across this loon, 40 something year old guy, SJB maybe? out there just swearing up a storm. Not to or at anyone but the guy was irate. Also, I said "hi" to some kid and he started an entire conversation with me and chased me against the current to keep talking for about 20 minutes. This thread is dumb. I'm going back to shady eyes and RBF.
If someone is not receiving a warm welcome when they enter the lineup I can't help but wonder why. Are you on a longboard paddling out to a bunch of shortboarders? Are you on or have you ever been seen on an SUP?
Don't forget the guy with a funboard that makes mistakes, camps on top of the shortboarders and has a GO-Pro... I see this in my town. Sometimes you've gotta burn the bridge and ask "Do you really need to sit there Slater?" only to find out the guy works with you and is technically your boss...
Yeah, I see quite a few grommits with the go-pro thing lately. I think they are just overly excited. Cause lately, its been on Knee high days, and they have their shortboards and go pros. I'm like, I appreciate your enthusiasm young bucks, but you may want to wait until the surf is a little better to break out the video cameras. As I have said before, I used the original go-pro way back in the day. It was the single snap, disposable camera kind that you had to wind every time you take a photo. The only thing, IMO, still to this day that go-pros are really good for, is if you have someone swimming out in the water with it. You can trade off, but 95% of go pro footage is so freaking bad. Now, Slater's go-pro shot when he is in a standup barrel is pretty good, but most of the amateur footage is just terrible. Just have someone out in the water holding it, basically like the professional photogs do. The world would be a better place, with way batter video footage.
Take this morning for example: I'm sitting next to a jetty with about 5 other people and good vibe. Young fit guy I've never seen before on a longboard paddles between us and the jetty and parks it 15 yards outside of us in position A. He paddles his arse off like a fool from outside to get position and to get into set waves before us shortboarders. When he would get a wave he would go right to the head of the line. Keep in mind he could have sat right beside us and had 2 or 3 stroke takeoffs but then he'd have had to wait his turn. After he did this twice I was done with it. First I paddled under to block and take off then I blatantly dropped in on him the next time he went back out there. Then he finally got the hint. Later a Dbag on an SUP comes and pulls the same stunt and I give him the same treatment. This is the kind of stuff that kills the vibe. Just because you have a longboard or an sup and can get in earlier than anyone else doesn't mean you should. Don't be that guy.
I had a guy jump in up current from me on a day with a bad drift. The guy was drifting into me as I tried to hold my ground against the current. Eventually I caught a wave, rode it to the beach, got out and walked a couple of hundred yards up and around him. For the next hour he screamed and cursed at the top of his lungs as if he had been completely slighted. This was one time that I did wave at someone in the water. Let me just say the waving made him even angrier.