Here is video of a collision at Ventura Point, Cali. Who has the right of way? [video=youtube_share;_oe1E2k6lig]http://youtu.be/_oe1E2k6lig[/video]
Agree with Sloop. This isn't even close to questionable. If this is a heat, and the contest area had been "cleared",(usually voluntarily), then this could change how it is viewed; however, in 99.99999% of cases, this is blatant, and asking to get schooled. More than one of these, at almost any break, will get you a talking to. Do it again after that, and the smart money bets that you get run off.
Funny, people defending the self-important jerkoff who can't seem to find another peak or break and let some kids have a contest for a day. Is that how it is in California? It's too much to expect for people to respect a surf contest (nssa school teams at that) enough to stay out of the lineup? If so, it just reinforces my lack of desire to ever go there. If I were that kid's dad I'd be waiting for that piece of chitt when he came to the beach.
the first guy in the vid obviously has the right of way.... and in the slow motion you can see the contact was very minimal. the guy simply raised his arm up and the kid just sort of jumped off the board. BUT... I mean c'mon if they are trying to have a contest show a little heart, you know, let them have some waves... that being said, if they couldn't lock down the spot or a section of the spot as contest only then they should have held it elsewhere. and as a general rule of thumb... I have the right of way in 99.9% of situations.
This is a high school surf contest. There's no reason for someone not competing to be sitting at the peak taking waves from competitors; its just disrespectful to the students and NSSA. Obviously the first guy had priority on the wave, but i think its a very grey area as to who was in the wrong, but i think the locals should have cleared out for the contest.
I remember as a kid one time I inadvertently paddled out in the middle of a contest... felt like a total jagazz
The difference is, you have to obtain a PERMIT to run a contest. Permits with municipalities are for specific dates at specific locations. It's not like you can just pick up and move a contest because some localistic piece of carp decides he has a "right" to the spot.
load the Fitzpeeedo bay doors!!! lol. So, the universe gave me a little payback for sitting waaaaaaay outside! I drive to a spot about 15 minutes from where I usually surf yesterday, no one out. but the wind just shifted and now its chop and slop but decent size for the day. I paddle out and catch a few waves.... when I glance a look at the beach and like 4 softtop gnarlaroo kooks start paddling out and are flopping all over the place... it ruined any chance of surfing there.... I picked up and moved to a lesser but empty jetti left.... I felt I owed it to the cosmos to move this time and let the newbs have the spot. lol.
Good for you Fitz, fighting those inner deamons is tough at times, especially when you see a handful of softtops headed in your direction.
Oh this was during a contest? How did I miss that? If the guy was sitting in the middle of a contest and taking waves I guess he was in the wrong. I hate contests when they shut down a beach but you should fight it someother way other than paddle out in the middle of it and snag waves. How could that be fun?
the kid's jersey is pretty clear...green, i think it was. in normal day-to-day surfing, the bald dude definitely had right of way...but surfing in a contest area? c'mon...what is this? california in the anti-contest 70's? get over it & go surf someplace else for the day. bald dude's a douchebag, no question.
