Don't do it right in the center, inside of the take off peak where 10 other surfers are fighting for priority. In the setting sun. Or right by the jetty. It's Summer. I get it, we all get jammed into the "surfing" beach. But am I the only one with enough sense to teach my kid down at the end of the line?
You can't control the actions of others. If you notice it, so have others. Equally, others have noticed your choice in "teaching" spots. Keep setting the example.
personally I would never take my kid to a surf beach. find a quiet spot after hours or in the morning.
Haha, do you live in VB? I hear pooping in the water can clear a peak. Perhaps the solution is a large lunch with lots of fiber!
I get the feeling that those people think that just because they are teaching their kid, they should be untouchable and should be able to break all rules of etiquette. I love seeing parents teaching their kids how to surf, but in a crowded main peak, I agree w/ you that its just rude and obnoxious. Try and do that at a packed spot like Lowers or something... that should be a good father/son(daughter) bonding moment.
Had this happen in Beach Haven last week when myself and 2 buddies were the only ones in the water. A guy and his young daughter paddled out directly where we were and proceeded to sit on the inside for their lesson. If he really wants to test my slalom surfing and/or bowling abilities, then so be it.
urgh! I had a dude giving, what I assume were paid for lessons (judging by the matching soft tops and on the beach warm ups), do this sorta the same thing. First they paddle to the peak, well he paddles and she flails, then he swims her out and pushes the chick into waves. Granted this is NOT at a "known" surfing break per say but a fun sandbar in plan sight of other sandbars on Jax beach and not a place where daily lessons occur. Literally no one for 150 yards on either side of me, the sole person on this peak. I buzzed or sprayed them on a few waves and when that didn't work I told them that I wasn't from here but where I am from what they were doing was rude. Dude said something about how he rips harder than I do and me being an A-hole but they drifted on down to the next peak... Sometimes ya just gotta tell people about themselves.
I'm bumping this for creativity. The next time I talk to one of my VB friends: "Dude, I hear people sh!t in your water..."
Not to mention the fact that yesterday was the most crowded I've seen it at my usual spot since last fall. I was there early and it was fine but totally covered up by 9am. There are other sandbars to be had...
You guys are comical. Complaining about dads teaching little girls to surf in the NJ summer beach break, comparing it to Lowers (seriously), and throwing space in surf small enough for lessons. If somebody drops in on you and its 6' by all means get pissed. But doing flippy little turns in 1' surf doesn't mean everybody needs to leave the water for you.
That's not even good instruction... I teach my kids to surf. And I teach other people's kids to surf. I go to a spot that's a right, and sit inside, to the left. It's a short, weak, mushy wave, I'm in nobody's way, and it's a perfect wave for learning how to split the peak, do a backside bottom turn, go down the line, and kick out gracefully right into the rip, which takes you right back out into the lineup. I wish somebody taught me how to surf at a spot like that.
Nope ... not pissed at dads teaching little girls ....not claiming that everyone should leave the water because of me.... no lowers comparison here... obviously you just used the quote function without bothering to actuality read what I wrote. However, if you see nothing wrong with walking down an empty beach to paddle out at no name sandbar on a weekday morning, when literally I'm the only person in eyesight surfing because there is just that much open beach, only to crowd the takeoff by standing on the sandbar to push a total spazz that can't even paddle out let alone ride a wave a while collecting a check to "teach surfing" and encourage this behavior in others... then you sir... have no surf etiquette. Therefore I will spray you and tell you about your rudeness.
it seriously makes me laugh so much,hearing people complain about kooks or beginners surfing on a crowded beach.here on the east coast,you dont know what a crowd is.i was born and raised in san clemente and moved to jersey 10 years ago.i havent been out there in a while,my aunt is still out there,but i grew fond of living in jersey.all tho u cant surf everyday here like back home,but you dont have to deal with the crowds like you do on the west coast.im talkin goin to the beach 530 in the morning and there will be atleast 60-70 guys in the water.by 9 am,your lookin at over 200 people at the break,scattered everywhere,and they are all great surfers.so when people here ***** about 10-15 guys in the water at their local break,learn to share asshole!!!you come with that attitude to ca and they will beat the living poop out of u!i like jersey because i can surf anywhere when its good with no one around,or maybe 10 guys out at my break during the day of the decade.be greatful you dont have to take off on a wave with 5 other guys on both sides taking off on the same wave....and thats why i love the east coast!!
It appears you've missed the point. What I'm saying is that if you're surfing waves with some much signifcance and consequence that a guy can stand on the sandbar and push a little girl into them, and the waves themself are not a big enough deterent, then you're getting upset over nothing. If you have so much skill and there's nobody els in the water try going left instead on right, try turning, or how about just letting the guy know that your working on your el-rollo and ask for a little space without being a tool. As for my surf etiquite, it remains unscathed. I grew up surfing Jersey and lived/surfed Hawai for 20 yrs. Nobody,and I mean nobody, gives grief to little girls trying to surf little waves and nothing you say changes the fact that your behavior stinks.
+1 I won't teach my kids to surf in a crowd, but he's right....it's east coast summer dribble we're talking about here isn't it. I had a different experience with lessons. A few years ago I found a nice spot on a small summer day in Lavalette. A surf camp paddled out right where I was...there were at least 5 or 6 kids getting lessons. It ended up being the best thing that could have happened. All the other surfers that came up wanted no part of a spot crowded with all these people getting lessons, and everyone moved on down the beach. About every 10 minutes a nice belly high set would come through, and the instructors kept everyone out of my way....it was great. A crowded spot with no competition. Like camoflauge. Plus I got to watch the stoke these kids had taking off on their first waves. I recognize dthe instructors too. They all rip, better than me I think it was some kind of Sam Hammer surf school or iit had some affiliation with him.
Again reefscar, I never said anything about little girl's learning to surf. That was someone else's post. Not sure how I'm wrong here but if you walk a couple of blocks down an empty beach full of the same unimpressive beach break to the specific peak the sole individual in a couple hundred yard radius is riding, to push a paying customer into waves then you have no surf etiquette. Why am I asking for space... he didn't ask for space or seek out space to give lessons. The point is there was no one else in the water why should I go left, I'm already there. Why doesn't he go left 50 yards and have the whole beach to do lessons. Yeah EC conditions suck but that doesn't make it any less rude. I bet when someone side swipes your Hyundai don't you say "Ehhh. It wasn't that good of a vehicle. No worries." Nope. You'd realize that your ride however crappy is still something you'd like to enjoy without crumpled metal and a missing sideview mirror.
I have been paddling out just about every weekend with my daughters. We go to a spot that also has a surf camp so the line up is always a mix of beginners and veterans. Besides the basics, I do think surf etiquette is a very important aspect of surfing. I do try to explain to my daughters about not dropping in and basically looking both ways before taking off. I find the "veterans" are a lot more receptive when they overhear that part of the teaching process going on. We try to stay away from the main peak, but when crowded surf "rules" come into play at every part of a break. I did have one notable screw up on Saturday. The swell was pretty big for my 13 yr old, but she wanted to give it a shot. As we just about got to the line up a nice set came through, and we were floundering a bit on the inside. I am sure we screwed up waves for a couple of people. After getting her back in safely, I paddled back out and apologized to a couple of guys who were very cool about it, and gave her credit for giving it a shot. As for the bond that surfing has created for my daughters and I, it's all good.
