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seanross
4 years ago
Knuckledraggers: Although where I surf is pretty friendly overall, I definitely, as a SUP surfer (and an intermediate) try and find my own break. I am on the beach with lots of jetties, so I can easily do this. I also try to be super nice and am vocal about giving away waves. But occasionally there are jerks out there, and it does get crowded, and I try and stay away from them. The more local proners can be more aggressive, but it usually stays merely verbal. Only once in my 2 years at this break have I seen somebody… Read more »
Hey Sean, good to hear what your local vibe is like. Sounds like you are doing a great job at giving SUPers a good reputation. I think the line up is general is a happy place but it really helps if like you said you are vocal with letting waves go. Have fun in Santa Cruz :-).
jesjra
4 years ago
Hi Sorry to read about this incident, I appreciate the board was badly damaged, fortunate that Will got away without injury. Some personal thoughts based on my experiences, I started surfing as a teenager in the mid 70’s on the North Devon Coast and since moving to the South Coast near Brighton around 1980 have predominantly surfed the South Coast though of late more SUP’ing than surfing. Also have windsurfed a lot, though again, SUP’ing has taken a more predominant role in recent years. Currently SUP surfing in Barbados for 10 days as I write this. I’ve seen some pretty… Read more »
Hey Jeremy. Thanks for your comments and telling us about your experiences. You are right we shouldn’t call them Knuckledraggers. It’s a name that has stuck over the years but I guess it isn’t the best label to help the situation. Calling the police is a great idea. And somethings we have never thought about before. Good advice. Hope you get a few more good waves out in Barbados, enjoy the warm weather… a little jealous!
Hi Ruben, Thinking more on this, other ‘bodies’ to contact and share the story with could include local/regional tourist boards, national surfing associations. local and national press etc as well as, of course the usual options of social media. Surf Tourism, is, I am sure big business for many places in the world and reputations like this are bad press. I cycle a lot ( yes not all cyclists are saints) and have had all sorts of stuff thrown out of car windows etc, at me, the point being that there are so many analogous forms of unacceptable behaviour which… Read more »
Thanks for the updated comment. Yes we will all have to do our best to manage the situations. I have been SUP surfing for 10 years and only had heated moments with surfers about 3 times. So i guess it shows how if you respect the rules and respect other water users you are way more likely to make friends not enemies. Glad to hear you are getting some good waves.
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Knuckledraggers: Although where I surf is pretty friendly overall, I definitely, as a SUP surfer (and an intermediate) try and find my own break. I am on the beach with lots of jetties, so I can easily do this. I also try to be super nice and am vocal about giving away waves. But occasionally there are jerks out there, and it does get crowded, and I try and stay away from them. The more local proners can be more aggressive, but it usually stays merely verbal. Only once in my 2 years at this break have I seen somebody… Read more »
Hey Sean, good to hear what your local vibe is like. Sounds like you are doing a great job at giving SUPers a good reputation. I think the line up is general is a happy place but it really helps if like you said you are vocal with letting waves go. Have fun in Santa Cruz :-).
Hi Sorry to read about this incident, I appreciate the board was badly damaged, fortunate that Will got away without injury. Some personal thoughts based on my experiences, I started surfing as a teenager in the mid 70’s on the North Devon Coast and since moving to the South Coast near Brighton around 1980 have predominantly surfed the South Coast though of late more SUP’ing than surfing. Also have windsurfed a lot, though again, SUP’ing has taken a more predominant role in recent years. Currently SUP surfing in Barbados for 10 days as I write this. I’ve seen some pretty… Read more »
Hey Jeremy. Thanks for your comments and telling us about your experiences. You are right we shouldn’t call them Knuckledraggers. It’s a name that has stuck over the years but I guess it isn’t the best label to help the situation. Calling the police is a great idea. And somethings we have never thought about before. Good advice. Hope you get a few more good waves out in Barbados, enjoy the warm weather… a little jealous!
Hi Ruben, Thinking more on this, other ‘bodies’ to contact and share the story with could include local/regional tourist boards, national surfing associations. local and national press etc as well as, of course the usual options of social media. Surf Tourism, is, I am sure big business for many places in the world and reputations like this are bad press. I cycle a lot ( yes not all cyclists are saints) and have had all sorts of stuff thrown out of car windows etc, at me, the point being that there are so many analogous forms of unacceptable behaviour which… Read more »
Thanks for the updated comment. Yes we will all have to do our best to manage the situations. I have been SUP surfing for 10 years and only had heated moments with surfers about 3 times. So i guess it shows how if you respect the rules and respect other water users you are way more likely to make friends not enemies. Glad to hear you are getting some good waves.