The local surf community at Encuentro beach on the north shore of the DR have decided to ban all sups as of 2 days ago. They claim it is a safety issue. I won't go into the details, but I wanted to hear about how it is accepted or banned at other surf beaches around the world. Are sup surfers (not beginners or cruisers), but proper surfers accepted anywhere where there are surfers in the water? I have not sup surfed in many places but I was in France (seignosse) and a surfer yelled at me saying he thought sups were banned here. I do get the impression that there is a really bad vibe between surfers and sup'rs, and it seems like its getting worse. Would love to know a little more what its like elsewhere and if its worth going to certain places or not.

JohnnySUP said..
I was in France (seignosse) and a surfer yelled at me saying he thought sups were banned here.

Some local was just yanking your chain Johnny, I hope you surfed on. There's some surf-sup stress here in France but low levels compared to California or Oz. No official bans here, just a tad of locallized enforcements.

You're a clown. I think you will find semi-automatic weapons are illegal in Aus.

Sounds like an f88 austeyr being at a local military base or on exercise (blanks)

PTSUP said..

In New Jersey SUPs are classed as Kayaks and have designated areas,you can't SUP surf near any prone surfers.Similar surf craft zones in Cali with large black or red dots on the beach designation no SUP ares.

How ridiculous, and unfortunate!

so its kind of a unique situation here, i get the impression that it is more the revenge of the fustrated surfer, taking out their aggressions on the sups, when clearly the problem we have at enquentro is too many people in the water, too many surf schools bringing the beginners to the peak, and the random sup that is on vacation and thinking its no big deal to paddle around in and amongst the surfers with a 10'6 and a big smile. I found myself apologising to the surfers the other day for the actions of some other sup'ers...its hard not to be catagorized into the same group when there are sup'ers next to you on the peak that clearly dont have a clue about etiquette and respect in the water. And to SurfinJ I did stay in the water in Seignosse, and had the most amazing surfing I've ever seen, end september max 3-4 people at each break (but about a mile walk to get to the beach with a sup).

I kited/surfed Cabarete and Enquentro for a few months in 2008. It cracked me up all the "rules" written up everywhere about respect and everything and the locals all just did their own thing, great kiters and surfers but total disrespect for their own "rules" or any other kiters/surfers.
A lot of learner kiters and surfers there but if you can hold your own on a SUP and have some manners you should be able to SUP where you want, just use your own judgement, like why would you even want to SUP (or surf for that matter) somewhere like Snapper with 200 guys out?
BTW I SUPped Angourie on a pretty average weekday mid-morning, about a dozen guys out, had a ball, no bad vibe but the backpacker kook on a longboard who kept dropping in on everyone.............they had a word with him, he had no idea.

I feel very lucky not to have to deal with all that crap.

I think that you will find that not being able to use a SUP in a specific area is the very definition of banned!
Is riding a short board at coco pipe that goes left banned?

E T said..
Regulation - that's the problem it seems.

It is often brought about by people not being aware of their surroundings and others around them.

Farken hell I wish it was the seventies again.

ET.

Yep just like this