Just read a Surfer Mag on the culture at waimea bay and was wondering if anybody has surfed there and if all that intense localism is true or is just urban legend to scare away mainlanders.
I surfed the shorebreak at Waimea once. None of the locals seemed to have any problem with me pile-driving myself into the bottom 30 feet off the beach. Seriously though...have you ever seen vid of Waimea on a 15 foot day? 50 white guys all paddling for the same wave doesnt look to me like a locally regulated lineup.
i surfed a lot of the north shore and their was a little localism but nothing bad at all, just respect everyone and wait your turn. same as it is anywhere.
Consider it only breaks a few time a year & when it does, the lineup is in one area the size of one football field. Been there, never surfed even on the N. Shore (wayyy past my prime). Did surf on the West side of the island. There was localism, a couple of older locals on 10ft boards owned the place. I made sure to not cut anyone off or even get close. After a while, one of them gave me a wave - I thanked him. But thats nothing compared to the big name spots on the N. Shore. I watched Pipeline go off for 2 hours & did not see 1 person get cut off- it was packed too. They are pros, I'm not & would of had no business being out there.
thanks for the feedback, i surfed a very mellow Kona break once but didn't do the N Shore--and if I did while it was breaking I wouldn't know what to do with a 30' wave so those guys get my respect.. yes, always follow dem rules--even on a 3' day at the Jersey shore.
