pigs will be pigs. also interesting that the longboarder had no idea that if you're on the inside you have right of way. not condoning the intensity/stupidity/aggro of the sup at all, as a quiet word would have had an even better effect all round, but i reckon the ignorance of learners on all craft is a real issue that could make a big difference for everyone, and I reckon surf shops and board hire places have a duty of care in explaining the rules/etiquette. I also had a quiet word to a bloke on a sup out at the point yesterday, who could barely get to his knees let alone his feet and was in the middle of the mob of 10-15 people trying to catch waves. He seemed appreciative when I pointed out how dangerous/in danger he was, and suggested he go to the inside and get the hang of it. A few more quiet words to fellow sups could go a long way.

Fair point, Weiry, and I thought about some kind of analogy with cars, but that'd lead straight to the issue of licences and testing and I didn;t want to go there. I'm not trying to blame anyone, totally agree re personal responsibility, but just saying maybe there are things that could be done that would help alleviate the situation. I find it incredible that someone surfing for a year or so like this bloke didn;t know about the most elementary of rules and reckon there's got to be a better way to deal with it before overcrowding/lack of waves results in even greater aggro and/or injuries and some bright spark in the Department of Nannyism decides we all need a licence test to surf or have crowd limits or dedicated times in the water. Just look at the PFD issue extending to SUPs.......it's only a matter of time before someone with enough ego/cash decides to go after someone in the courts and the powers that be respond with a preventative approach to reduce litigation etc etc.

Am so terribly bored that whilst trying not make a comment upon this topic find myself unable to desist ho hum....think the longboarder was extremely nice and polite......the guys I work with would have punched out the fat guy with the paddle big time many times over :)

Aspect looks like the SUP was a fair way inside at the start. Where I surf some of the learners on hire boards have no idea and usually just letting them know nicely how it rolls out in the water gets the best results.
I think the fat guy on the SUP needs to work on his attitude, poo-man stance and maybe hit the treadmill to get some of that agro out of his system before getting in the water again... Just a thought..

Apparently if you have been in the army its ok not to know the rules and drop in on people.........interesting!

I might try that one out at my local break some time and see how it goes, "I what, dropped in? what's a drop in, I was in the army BTW mate"

All I can say is I'm glad that sort of thing doesn't happen in Australia

husq2100 said..

ha! tables turned on the SUP for a change. I drop the F bomb at least once a surf at the Alley. Nothing like being dropped in on by guys paddling in on their knees, even after they have looked up and seen you coming?.worse still, after being told politely they do it again?then its a free for all IMO

Id bet its not just SUP dropping in on you . Shortboarders seem to believe that SUP are the only ones to do it

I don't think picture 6 is a SUP'er - it's a longboarder, which would mean this dude has dropped in on a few people, and maybe he needed educating.

Of course you can do that in a nice way...

weiry said..

It's just another give way. Like in a car traveling at say low speed, a car pulls out some say nothing.. some say fark you flash lights and give the bird and some peeps chase the person down and want to get violent , they all know no one was going to die but it's the point of someone wronging them or not playing by the rules... By the way sometimes I'm a fark you and the bird kinda guy

again, most people are in control of their cars/bikes and both these have brakes?..not so much in the surf. Not that it excuses either!