nathan fletchers beats up sponger

A wave like that at a place like that, that is the code. It didn't matter if it was a sponger or a stand up surfer. Maybe they had some history. Maybe a random encounter.

I wouldn't have been out there to begin with (too scaird), so I can't predict what would happen if it was me.

The dropper inner deserved it. I hope he got more on the beach.

 

While I can understand Fletchers response, I would be remiss to not say he is guilty of "assault & battery", or felony assault.
This is surfing; nobody owns the waves. There is no "right of way", there is no "code". This isn't "lord of the Flies".

 

The guy did not look. The wave is Pipeline, not the Wall. Serious injury can and will happen to the best surfers if they get stuffed repeatedly on the best waves so some sense of respect must be given and paid. Otherwise it would be total chaos. I don't think the guy got choked out and died, just scuffed up a bit. So Lord of the Flies is a bit overblown. Maybe Lords of Dogtown.

 

Doesn't look like those punches did any damage but maybe he got him on the beach

 

Beat downs like that are a daily thing in the islands.
Witnessed it first hand.
Hawaiian justice.
Learning the hard way.

 

May not be a law or actual code written but there is a code and if you dont know it by now then your a fraud barry.

 

Maybe next time he'll think twice about burning a mutha fukka.

 

You believe in a "code" because you allow yourself to be intimidated.

 

It was deserved, and I wish that that type of response was more acceptable -I'm sure if you did that at most places on the east coast someone would press charges and you'd wind up in court. If you could get away with that type of instant retribution, I guarantee that we would see a lot less drop ins and stoopid sh!t in the lineup.

 

No barry i show respect.

 

barry shut the **** up you dirty hippie

 

Yes you do--you have been intimidated to do so!!
By "the code".
Revised Statue Annotated works "mo betta".

 

WHAT!!??!! Hey, I took a shower last year!!!

 

cep this so 2,000 and late.

that being said a drop in at pipe deserves a beat down, it's a safety concern

 

Be careful what you wish for.

 

http://5ones.com/the-808-action-spo...40c25b=7SiAIFVcxeqJSe0sHwXlx1Qda90CAAAAN78wAw==

Older blog but forever relevant

 

Guaranteed you would abide by the code "if" you ever paddled out to pipe. Otherwise, you would get the same beat down as the sponger (then you would run off to your attorney and sue....blah blah blah).

I don't think that was wave of the winter quality but it was still lame.

 

That's a fair point. Ultimately I think the whole issue is a lot more nuanced than either the video or that blog post make it out to be. I think there is a fine line between knowing that if you act like an ass out in the lineup that you will be hassled, told to get out, and potentially slapped, and having people act like thugs to try and intimidate people out of the water/away from a given spot just because they don't want to share waves. Waves of consequence like pipe kick it up to a whole other level where dropping in like that can cause serious (if not fatal) injury.

Regardless, due to the litigious direction our culture has taken, anything of that sort is now verboten in most places. The reality is that when I paddle out at a given spot in vee bee, at some point during almost every GOOD swell event, some a$$hat will drop in on me, try to snake me, etc. I'll give you the stink eye, yell at you, whatever, but I'll be honest: I have never hit anyone, nor do I plan to. yes, there have been times where I felt people (grown men, not some prepubescent boy) absolutely deserved to be slapped for being a complete douche canoe in the lineup, but I'll never do it because of the potential legal consequences. As a result, the lineups are chaos, and on the really bad days, I have had to leave and get 5 staples put in my scalp because someone dropped in on me and their fin hit my head in the process. My belief is a moderated physical response (or threat thereof), might prevent that crap. Then again, maybe not. What the hell do I know?