Why Is it???

I'm not intolerant of new surfers. I'm intolerant of ANY surfer who doesn't understand etiquette and puts the safety and enjoyment of others in jeopardy. Unfortunately, most of the time, those are new surfers.

When I first started out, I WOULD NOT paddle out into a crowded break, even with my friends. I knew that I didn't have enough control over my board to be around that many people. So for a few months, I surfed alone at a place a little further down the beach where there was barely anyone else out. After I got comfortable and in control of my board, I paddled out with the rest of the pack.

There is nothing wrong with learning to surf, but I wouldn't recommend paddling out into a crowded break until you:

A: Know your limits

B: Know etiquette

C: Can control your board

Just some advice. Best of luck to you.

 

in my 25 years of surfing, I've had waay more problems, mostly being dropped in on, but overly aggro exerienced surfers than beginners. I can't remember the last time a beginner got in my way. I've been dropped in on twice in the past week by guys who either weren't looking or didn't care.

 

No need to say anything else...........Karma

 

I help kids all the time, and some adults haha,

 

Yeah, If i see someone who is obviously starting out I give em a few pointers on paddling and let them know to avoid the rest of the pack and watch to see who has priority on the wave. Of course if I vibe that they are an ass hat then no...I'm going to paddle around them an be on my way.

Growing up 35 minutes from my local break i was treated as an outcast, even if I was first in last out of the water. Local-ism is not cool, go get ****ed if you think you own a break. I get that seniority plays a role and wave priority is key, but I ****ing hate it when I'll be in the water for an hour and some twat paddles out and completely disregards rotation or wave priority.

Respect, and quit being a twat.

 

here on the gulfcoast the waves are few and far apart.i think that plays in good surfers not
helping anybody with tips or help,cause they have been dropped in on good waves by said
learners.when we do get surf it breaks the same 300ft down the beach as it does where
most people are sitting and beginner's don't seem to understand that.as a pro photographer
i have seen this happen.
ronindex.

 

you bought into the hollywood portrayal of surfing. in reality its a dog eat dog scramble to getas many waves as each person can get. hopefully within the boundaries of etiquette.

 

every break i've ever surfed in CR that had people out was like that. there was tons of respect too so snaking and the like were non-issues. BUT everyone knew you had to compete to get your share.

and btw, the mayhem and a$$hole happens when etiquette is NOT followed. if those rules are observed, sessions with even the most aggro surfer are usually fine.

 

I agree with these statements wholeheartedly.

Let me make an analogy to the sales business I'm in: if they hire some "green pea" what is my motivation to teach him all the subtleties I've acquired in 10+ years (unless they somehow ingratiate themself to me and even then it will inevitably burn me at least once)? I'm gonna give him pointers so later he can beat me out for a winner takes all bonus? Sure I'll help a little here and there for the good of the business and depending on if they have any discernable raw ability, their attitude and how they approach asking for assistance. It's competition for a limited resource and people aren't inclined to give their hard earned insight away to someone who will then compete with them for the resource.

To the second point there is a set of rules and if everyone is competing for the same resource while following the rules than it works out. You play fair but tough. New people work hard but don't know enough to work smart and many with experience work smart but not hard. I try to do both. Trouble arises when someone wants the rules to be bent either way each time to however it benefits them. That's when things need to be resolved- one way or another.

 

surfing cannot be taught, only learned. If I tell some dude to stop paddling into closeouts and get to his feet faster he is still going to eat it all day. You will eat it until you find ways to not eat it, that is human nature. You learn to surf by surfing. Some pick it right up, some suck forever. Personally, I don't think it's my responsibility to interfere. If you are drowning, I will save you, but that is about where I draw the line. Good luck with that! And as said above, pura vida!

 

True, but etiquette can be taught, and that is the singlemost important thing a beginner can learn. If you get dropped in on by some kook, yelling at him may work, but so would teaching him about priority. If he drops in again after getting the initial polite lesson, then yell at him and beat him up if you want to. A lot of the etiquette rules seems like common sense to people who have been surfing for awhile, but common sense is not so common.

Some people (including experienced surfers who should know better) are just jerks and think the rules don't apply to them and that's where we run into problems. You see it every day, in and out of the water. Yeah, we're all competing for a limited resource blah blah blah, but it doesn't give you the right to act like a dbag and snake people or drop in on them just because they're not as good as you. If they are respectful and are in position, it's their wave. I don't care if it's their first day or their 5000th.

 

localism is great

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXoY-qCNxFU

 

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?desktop_uri=/watch?v=Ig1ytto6rNg&v=Ig1ytto6rNg&gl=US

This is great!

 

no one needs help.i got a board,stayed away from everyone,and learned how by paddling out and dropping in.if you want to do it,you'll make the effort.i knew enough to never go near anyone when i was a beginner.common sense.looking for a quicker way,wanting someone to hold your hand and explain everything when you don't know how is not how it works when everything is split-second the entire time from the moment you hit the water.paddle out and pay your dues and shut up.bunch of babies on this forum for years,now.

 

There needs to be a law that says this post most be read and understood by every newbie who buys a board!!