I apologise up front for a bit of a read, but as I typed it just kept coming

I thought Stuarts article was a great article, as I think it probably reflects the mentality of the general public in todays day and age, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS JUST A SWEEPING GENERALISATION AND NOT MEANT TO MEAN EVERYONE, JUST A LARGE PROPORTION. People are too angry with each other, they do rage at each other, the ocean is a mighty big place with plenty of waves for all to share on any manner of ocean fairing craft, short board, long board, kites, sups, canoes etc etc blah blah blah....

The fact the people react in such a way right here is testament to my point....

Why the rage ??? Just enjoy the water...

I agree with Stuart in that SUP has given me a new aspect from which to view the ocean from. It has given me a way in which to share my passion with my young children, I have 4 kids under the age of 6. They can be passengers on my board whilst I am paddling, and they love it.

Again I say, and I hope it sinks in to people who read, Why the rage??

Unfortunately I think the fact that selfishly, everyone is out to make the most of their own time. This means they don't really think of the guy that's sitting next to them, or the person thats in the car in front of them in traffic, or that guy across from them at work, OR that person in the same line up as them in the surf.

Early this year at Bell's beach, I was on my brothers new mal for the very first time. I missed wave after wave, probably looked like the ultimate kook and to be honest I probably still do, but I was getting used to the intricacies of the longer board.

At one point I looked to my left whilst paddling for a wave and didnt see anyone, I had all but stood up when I saw someone to my left, as I started to pull back the person called me in, "Go, Go, Go" he said.

I missed that wave, but the next wave was a similar thing.

I dropped in on that guy that invited me onto that wave and I rode that second wave for a good 15-20 seconds, with Ross Clarke Jones hot on my heels encouraging me, I will never forget it. He did the same thing to a couple of groms on the day. A Truly awesome, and humbling way to happen upon a childhood hero!!!

Why is it that these legends of the seas can be so accomodating, whilst Joe Blow with the chip on his shoulder rages against everyone and everything that is slightly different.

So many people seem to have so little time for each other I find it quite disappointing on a daily basis.

Enjoy the sea, enjoy the individuality of everyone you come across, you can meet amazing people and make lifelong friends in some truly random places.

Every discipline has its pros and cons, enjoy them all for what they are, above all, have fun.

Be nice, have fun.

goatman said...

I suspect also, that you would not have enough humility to go back to being a beginner again.

No, I don't have a problem with that. I love learning new things, do it all the time.

Nice post aussiefreebs.

Unfortunately in my case it's because I'm old and cynical. My time in the water is usually limited due to obligations and I want to catch plenty of waves in a very crowded environment. I have heaps of fun, but I'm very aggressive in the water. Conditions are rarely good and crowds are rarely small. I'm on a seek and destroy mission. Imagine how bad I'd be if I lived in Qld point country.

Legion, interesting thoughts. And I think I'm the one that your post is really aimed at. A 51 year old with only 5 years experience. when I first started I didn't really understand water etequite , a friend pointed out the rules of surfing society and after that everything has gone along well. BUT I just don't understand the whole pecking order thing. Now in the lineup I'm often not the worst surfer, that's a great feeling and now when I see real beginners and people struggling to stand it always makes me all misty eyed to think that they have that marvelous few years ahead of them where leaning to surf is the great reward. So for me if they look like they've got the wave , they can have it , there's plenty more. So anyway I have since moved to stand ups. great fun!, easier on my old arthritic body, I can stay out longer ,catch all sorts of waves etc etc. But the big change is the vibe of the people surfing with the paddle. they tend to look like the people catching waves for the first time all over again. Legion, you need to come and have a surf with us , It's good fun, Smiles, hoots, laughs. It sure is better than sitting in with a group of short boarders on a break where the wave pick up is confined to a small spot. Done that!. The vibe was like twenty people waiting to go to the dentist. log

Piros said...

... crawlers ...

I've been waiting for that term to migrate from the American forum to here . Original.

Piros said...

If a points too crowded I just don't out what do you do you ? paddle out like a grommet full of Red Bull going straight the front of the line up beating your chest fading and snaking and you call it fun.

No, I seek solitude and often forego better waves in search of it. Like you guys. But at certain places yeah, I paddle out full of froth. Love it. Never, ever drop in or snake though, just assert my position and don't back down. I won't even paddle for a wave if it's not mine.

We are all short on surf time , I'm so sick of copping sh!t ...

You (generic you) know it's not going to stop, right? I'm just here vocally voicing my opinion but as you're (generic you) all aware, most people in the water don't like SUPs.

Legion said...

On a more positive note, Piros' avatar pic is what I was talking about before. See, he's turning. I was (trying to) encourage OG SUP to encourage his daughter to learn to turn the board properly, instead of doing that pseudo-layback thing where you dig the paddle in behind and lean on it and use it to pivot rather than turn the board properly. And I copped it for daring to give advice . I like the Piros version of a classic cutback, hate the pivot version. Don't get me wrong, I love a layback if they're done properly, don't like the SUP version where you're basically falling with no way back up without a paddle to push off. Just MHO.

Legion you do realise that some paddles bend (flex) more than others.

So when you see a straight paddle in a laybay it does not mean that there is no pressure being put on the paddle.

I have Seen Chuck Patterson (large very strong guy) fully digging in and the paddle is dead straight. While on other occasions a 60 kg girl (no offense to girls) could make a paddle flex.

Again if you had ever SUPed you would know about paddle flex.

camo hosk said...

Gorgo said...
It's grown men playing with floaty pool toys.

While your at it Legion you may as well comment on this too.

I already did. I thought that was pure comedy gold:

Legion said...

Gorgo said...

BTW I'm also a bit tired of he "Aloha spirit" thing and all the neo-Hawaiian "guardian of the ocean" lord-of-the-ringsy stuff that gets said. It's surfing for ****'s sake. It's grown men playing with floaty pool toys.

I laugh, especially on American-centric forums, when everyone peppers their posts with "mahalo"s and "aloha"s. Reminds me of the Icy Hot Stuntaz.

I didn't think he was talking about SUPs as floaty pool toys (if that's what you're inferring), I thought he was referring to all boards. Hilarious.

My reply maybe focused more on the earlier part of his post but the whole thing was hilarious.

Legion said...

camo hosk said...

Gorgo said...
It's grown men playing with floaty pool toys.

While your at it Legion you may as well comment on this too.

I already did. I thought that was pure comedy gold:

Legion said...

Gorgo said...

BTW I'm also a bit tired of he "Aloha spirit" thing and all the neo-Hawaiian "guardian of the ocean" lord-of-the-ringsy stuff that gets said. It's surfing for ****'s sake. It's grown men playing with floaty pool toys.

I laugh, especially on American-centric forums, when everyone peppers their posts with "mahalo"s and "aloha"s. Reminds me of the Icy Hot Stuntaz.

I didn't think he was talking about SUPs as floaty pool toys (if that's what you're inferring), I thought he was referring to all boards. Hilarious.

My reply maybe focused more on the earlier part of his post but the whole thing was hilarious.

Agree, I thought he was referring to all boards too,interesting though you think the whole post is a joke,maybe you can explain here what surfing means to you.

camo hosk said...

... maybe you can explain here what surfing means to you.

I can't say it any better than Gorgo

Gorgo said...

It's grown men playing with floaty pool toys.

Aaaaah it's good to see the forum getting back to normal......

Legion was, is, always will be a troll. Doggie is his little accomplice.

Don't give 'em the satisfaction.

Maybe we should all move over to the SB's forum

And you all accuse me of being rude ...

dtm said...

Legion and Doggie you guys must have the most lame exsistance why would you care about and coment in a forum where you have no true interest ??????

grow up and get over it stand up paddlers are here to stay ! i would love to surf on a stand up or shortboard or whatever with you one day and take every set wave of your negative fat arse.
Mate you are a kook for sure as if you werent you would not be complaining about sups taking waves from u, as if you could surf they wouldnt be able to, so go back to whatever hole you can from .

Hahaha, you guys are funny! Suplove posted that on the shortboard forum so wtf??

62mac said...

As the sun comes up another day of

Have fun Guy's

Hello mac how are you? No biff today.