So if you aren't in a foreign country where it's fairly obvious, how can you tell who the locals are? If everyone is abiding by the rules, then you aren't really be able to tell who the locals are. On an empty day when there is a lot of space then people can barely even see each other. So given all of this... How are comments like, respect the locals who have been surfing that spot forever, even valid? How do I even know who the locals are? Maybe the guy drove to that spot from far away or maybe he came out of that house right over there.
Dr. Tommy Pickles, what is your goal with identifying the locals? To make new friends? If the break is so sparsely populated that day where there is no actual lineup and everyone's in their own area with their own peak then localism is a moot point for there is no lineup. If you aren't getting rocks thrown at you as your stepping (or skipping) into the water and there is no real lineup, localism doesn't apply in that setting. If there is an actual lineup and more than one or two surfers per peak then you can tell the locals by the ones that seem to converse or at least know the others and you should be able to recognize that break's rules of engagement on right to wave vs placement by observing it for a bit from beyond the shoulder. Paddle in when you see how it's operating and not before that and you should be ok. Bring your rusty shank and brass knuckles in case. What's your point bro? You will find lots and lots of discussion on localism by using the search tab. FLY A BANNER FOR MICAH PUTTING A STICKY UP ON USING THE SEARCH TAB
the point is solely identification...there are many other related topics once identified...friends, rulers, respect, traffic cops, bullies, owners, etc....whatever else you want to lump into the locals category. but i was just wondering about how to identify who goes into that category first.
"respect the locals" is just a cliche... What people consider "local" is BS. No one is usually born and raised on a single stretch of beach and the walk right from the beach from the time they are born until the time they die... Locals are just the people that are in the lineup, speaking to one another on a first name basis, usually a little tighter in proximity than the rest of the lineup. Local to me, just means that you have been in a lineup, year round for numerous years. It doesn't mean you are born there, it just means that you have clocked a substantial amount of time in recent years, enough so that when you paddle out, everyone else that surfs there on a regular recognizes you and usually acknowledges you... SO I guess, you said it best... If YOU are not from there and don't surf there on a year round basis, than YOU should treat everyone else that is surfing there with the respect, as if they are local, until otherwise noted. If you see a guy keep blowing waves and getting spoken to and shunned by the other surfers for bad behavior, or failure to make waves when it's their turn, they you will identify who is a local. Like I said, EVERYONE is a local until you find out otherwise.... People could argue what "LOCAL" means for 25 more pages, but I think it's a BS reference. After living in CA for a couple years, literally surfing everyday, all year at the same spots, I became a "local" to the rest of the crew that had lived their their entire lives. I was treated as such, with respect and acknoledgement because of time in the water. Not because of my skin color, or any kind of accent or where I was born. I was a local simply because everyone saw me out there, day in and day out and eventually you just become part of the culture. People stop remembering at what point in their lives they started seeing you, and they just remember that they see you day in and day out.... To me, that's local. Then again, you could gain local status in just a few weeks. If you go somewhere, start standing out in a lineup and treating people with respect, you can gain immediate status as well. Just depends on where you go.... If you get a good run of waves for a week at pipeline, no one is going to consider you a local.... If you come here to Hilton Head for a week and start killing it, you will quickly get accepted into the group.
Yeah, and if you show up to a spot with the "Cliche" group of locals, they will identify themselves to you long before you even have the thought. They will stick out like a sore thumb and most likely make inappropriate comments to you before you even know what is going on. And if you are talking about coming down to the Cackilacks, just look for anyone with a mullet and a confederate flag on their boogie board, then you know they are local. Just keep your distance and hope that they don't cut your leash.
put your time in respectfully...locals is synonymous with usuals, and the usuals now how the beach/reef/break/ works and they like to have things done in a habitual manner - don't screw it up... and in short, always defer to those around you and pay attention to what others are doing and how skilled they are. if you've got someone going for the same wave and they're decent and won't blow it, even if it's a perfect gem all lined up for you, give it to them and wait for the next one...eventually you'll have the favor returned. competitiveness in the line up leads to dysfunction and dysfunction can at times lead to altercations (verbal or otherwise). defer, defer, defer. in short, locals = usuals (usuals know who the usuals are)
the whole "respect the locals" thing is total bullsh!t. especially on the east coast. i hear this crap all the time and it just pisses me off. its real simple: dont drop in on people, dont be a snake out there, dont paddle right in the middle of the pack (who the hell wants to sit with a bunch of guys hassling each other anyway), basically treat others the way you would want to be treated.
The men in the grey suits are the true locals. Everyone else is just playing in their house. Oh, the mermaids too, they own it out there in the deep blue sea.
Surprised you found California surfers so welcoming. The guys I have met "born and raised" (stupid popular California saying) would never consider an East Coaster a local within a few years even. Agree on North Shore though. I think you could live and surf there for a decade and still not be considered local.
I think its impossible unless you pay attention to who knows who in the lineup. In most cases only the locals know who's local from years in the water together. I remember when I moved to my current home over a decade ago and I thought everybody else lived right across the street. Turned out only 1 in ten actually lived within 20 miles and none lived closer than me. Since I run a business right on the beach where I surf most people who go to this beach on a regular basis, local or not know me. Not because of any great surfing skill just because I'm there everyday.
Locals are the ones who were there on every swell when it was working all winter long. Come late spring/summer they're the ones walking Out of the water as you're walking in saturday and sunday mornings and vice versa saturday and sunday nights. Smile and be respectful. The right people will give it right back.
I hit a lot of the same breaks on a regular basis, I'm usually first in and am out before the big crowd gets on it, don't really run into too many "locals", guess maybe I am one but I don't live there so I don't claim it. I know I get more water time than a lot of "locals", that's for sure. Sometimes I see the same people and usually after 2-3 times of seeing that person will I say what's up and maybe have a brief conversation with them. Then from that point on it's all respect and stoked vibes. Just be nice to people but get your fair share of waves to show you can hold your own out there, just look both ways before taking off.
