"Back Paddling, Hazy Etiquette and “The Enforcer”

Sounds like you inadvertently sorta snaked him. But this is one of those things that's pretty unclear, and there are different rules depending on where you go. Some say closest to the peak/curl... some say whoever is outside furthest and starts paddling into the wave first... some say whoever's up and riding first. If it was a longboard spot, the local code is probably whoever is outside and paddles into it first.

Personally, if somebody snakes me, I just go anyway, and not make a big deal about it. Same thing if somebody drops in on me... I just try not to hit him, and hope he tries not to hit me. It's kinda fun sharing waves with somebody who knows how to do it right.

 

just fight

release your aggression on him

 

ok - I get it now.

 

good luck pressing that claim. can refs in the line-up be far away?

 

agreed. lol.
sounds like several ripper guys (one of them being a stranger to the lineup), sitting way on top of the point or whatever, taking all the good set waves from the older fat guys riding longboards and such sitting more inside. in turn, this causes frustration on the part of the old fat guys sitting in the more predictable lineup spot. i get it. it happens everywhere. you were probably both being dooshy in one way or another. if someone flipped their lid like the angry bald buy as described, there must have been something going on for him to get so frustrated. one can play by the "rules" surfing, but even if you're technically doing everything right you can still piss people off.

 

That's why i surf gassy and naked, I get my own spot in the lineup.

 

I'm more of the violent type myself....

There's a lot of individuals out there though they have some surf skills they really lack in etiquette. There are also some spots around the world in which the locals kind of make up their own pecking order.

When I surf other breaks I try to be a little less aggro and play by their rules. I've found that if you piss them off you'll pretty much find yourself surfing leftover shore pound. If you paddle out, make friends, shoot the $hizat for awhile, give a few waves etc... you'll find yourself a lot more receptive to the locals. Also buying beers the night before for locals helps too!