I'm shy and I like enjoying the ocean with myself and my thoughts. Just like stone said you gotta be with friends to have a full-fledged conversation. Otherwise, I enjoy my time with surfing and the sound of silence. I'm a bit anti-social when it comes to surfing, not because i'm being a douche, but because I enjoy the solace of surfing, not conversing all the time. With that being said, if someone says hello to me, I won't turn them down. I'll say hello back if it's a friend or a polite "hey how's it going" if it is an acquaintance/stranger
I believe the consensus of this thread can be summed up by saying that the proper thing to do at the minimum, is to acknowledge your fellow surfer in the winter. Being respectful and nodding, waving, or saying hello is just a personal common courtesy and makes for less tension in the water. Keeping this vibe will keep the stoke for everyone. I'm glad this thread came out with positivity
aint talking conversation here! all i said was wassup? next time i aint sayin nuthin just goin for mine and anybody have a problem we handelin it!
i almost always surf with a buddy so im already conversing, talking, and laughing about waves that are being had. because of this it makes it easier for us to talk to other people by saying whats up, how's the session goin, and how were the waves earlier if we see someone who was there when we paddle up, or the opposite for people paddling out when we were there first. ECsponger, yeah if im surfing near someone and i dont AT LEAST nod/say whats up, i feel like theres an uneasy, awkward tension and im being rude.
I usually just spark up the usual conversation topics, you know "how does my bulge look in this wetsuit?" "How many sit-ups can you do?" "Do you like movies about gladiators".
I look at this this way. If i go out at a strange spot it is up to me to establish 'non-kook' status through action not words. I expect the cold shoulder in that case; I will give the nod or say hello but I rarely paddle to the main take off spot at a strange break. I always hang to the side and then size up the line up. if its made up of people better than me, I'll stay off to the side and pick up leftovers. If I am the better surfer, I will move to a more dominant position. Most likely, you got the cold shoulder because you paddled out in front of everyone and took up a spot right in the main pack. You don't get respect unless you give it first.
Well said If someone paddled up next to me I will give the nod of a friendly hello. I dont mind a little conversation when there is a bit of time between sets. I have heard some cool stories from some older heads and gotten some tips as well . Sometimes a person wants to tell you there life story which sometimes can be a buzz kill but I just try to be polite about it.
Oh ok, gotcha. Has anyone been in a fight or seen one for that matter over some waves? That's kind of sad, I mean we're supposed to be out there having fun and encouraging eachother. I've been surfing for a long time and the only thing I've ever had experience with were some harsh words. One time when I was a grom I was surfing Sea Girt during hurricane swell and I came out of the barrel to see one of the ole' timers right in my path. Neither of our faults but I guess he still felt the need to dunk me. I thought it was kind of funny at the time.
seen lots of fights and been in a couple. We ARE supposed to be having fun, BUT when someone is out who feels they can consistently interfere with that fun then action is sometime necessary. USUALLY a talking to will do it but once in a great while that doesn't work.
I agree, we're out there to have fun but some people are just morons plain and simple. I've talked to guys (and have been talked to) and it has never gone any farther than words. My usual problems are with the older guys that ride huge logs they can't control and are out there just to show their wives that they can still "hang" with the younger guys.
