They have put up the surf rulez thing at TP, dosnt seemed to have helped much tho

Yeah, doggie's on it. Try telling a group of 15 year old boogers what they should do at Pt Awesome.

It might work there if it's big, or it might work at bakesy's spot, or it might work at a few other places I surf if there's a group of locals out. But even then, if there's only one local, or a couple, all it takes is a few blow-ins to destroy the break for an hour or two. You need locals all day every day. Or a heavy wave like thommo's. That's got locals as well, so doubling up.

Nah, it's a waste of time. I'm just grateful that at a few places I can pull locals' rights. Best thing groms can do is pay their respects and try to integrate into those locals' groups and hold onto it for as long as they can.

If you're a tourist or it's a spot with no locals, try educating other tourists. Even worse, try educating locals if you're a tourist. Sometimes you've gotta take your lickings. One place I surf a good 30-50 days a year for the last 5+ years. There are guys who are straight to the head of the queue, and that's how it'll always be. They grew up there, they surf there all year for 20+ years. They earn a right by managing the place, all their life. There twice a day all year long. I wait my turn, wait my turn. They let you in occasionally, but you're always second tier. If there are more than 2-3 of them at one time, might as well go home. I hold that right at a couple of places, but it's a tenuous hold.

It's all good. Keeps things interesting, all the intricate politics. Sometimes I thrive on it. Sometimes I'm a bit aggressive and sometimes someone else is a bit aggressive. Can spoil a surf, can make it fun. What can you do?

It's not the learner surfer that's the issue, I live in a place that is reasonably localised. I go to one place more than others and don't consider it to be mine or that I have any more right than anyone who lives in WA, different story if you're a tourist. The first time I surfed my fave spot I noticed a system, the more I went the more I realised it was unique and something to be respected. This is the simple etiquette, if it's a free for all survival of the fittest with snaking and wave count heroes then use your brains and get fit or you will not get waves unless they view you as a charity case. One spot I love attracts all sorts with a few crew I recognise or have surfed with before, have a chat, say hello and compliment a surfer on a good wave or even ask about the board. It doesn't take much but if you travel to a spot you haven't surfed before suss out the lineup and say hello I think you'll find you'll get more waves,if you keep going back maintain the same attitude, if you get the stinkeye or monosyllabic grunt don't let it worry you, don't snake wait your turn and waves will come. As for metro spots, say Metts, I think it's too late for those crew. I've also noticed a happy disposition, like your just stoked to be out there really helps, Legion may need to force this one

I've been surfing for over 40+years and the thing I notice these days is the lack of respect in the water.
When I first started surfing as a grom you had to surf the crap waves down the beach, as you progressed you got to move up the beach to some better peaks and eventually you got to surf the 2 best peaks on the beach, but you would only ever take the scraps that the hot guys left, they respected you for this and would call you onto a good one every so often.Now days some bloke is pushing his 10 year grom son onto one of these waves that you have have just caught on the 2 good peaks, what the fuuck do you say, dad wants to look tough in front of his son and you don't want to get in a Shiite fight and spoil your day, does the grom then think its ok because you didn't say anything?
Another thing is that back then not many people wore legropes so if you weren't a good swimmer you weren't a good surfer, legropes have made it much easier for half arsed unfit swimmers to get in the surf.

Legion said...
I'm not intentionally picking on you gensec, but as a 50 year old, are you willing to do this:

riverider said...
When I first started surfing as a grom you had to surf the crap waves down the beach, as you progressed you got to move up the beach to some better peaks and eventually you got to surf the 2 best peaks on the beach, but you would only ever take the scraps that the hot guys left, they respected you for this and would call you onto a good one every so often.

because that's how it should be. But it's a bit hard to say to a 50 year old "just spend a few years floundering in the shorebreak down the beach there and maybe if you turn up every single day and pay respects you'll get a set wave".

The problem is more surfers than waves. If the inequality is reversed, no problem. But e.g. at my local, if every set a blow-in or noob thinks they can pinch one wave from the locals, then it leads to more competition between the guys who are there all their life. And competition leads to aggression.

There are always guys who turn up with good equipment and they can paddle and stuff and they come out and sit with the pack so you think, OK, give 'em a chance. And then they blow a set wave or just angle along. That's not how it used to work. So things are pretty ruthless nowadays, at least in the circles I roam in.

Having said that, you'd all be proud of me a few weeks back. Touring around at a strange spot and due to a few factors I did something highly unusual - didn't compete for a single set wave. Of course, it didn't hurt that the best waves were the little inside runners. Only a couple of us were called that. But very unusual for me.

Feel free to pick!! no problem..
I've sat wide enough, long enough , and fought with the groms and mal sliders on sht waves around the metro area. If its big enough, I'll still hang wide and maybe scamper for the inside runners. My window of opportunity is closing unfortunately, as I've been busy making a living and supporting my kids, now grandkids.. It's 'me time' I'm afraid , and here I come, ready or not. My brother says I'm too backwards, and last visit to surf with him at broken head east coast, he said harden the fkuk up and join the line up. 'Sure you gonna stuff a few up, but so will they'. I have huge respect for guys who know what they're doing. Even more respect when after they,ve had 2 or 3 rides call me up, and say go go go. And I do, and 3 out of 4 I'll make it..
I know the rules, and respect ,,,, but what 'goes around' I reckon..
By the way, I'm not sure how gensec got in there on my name,,, but to those who know me,,, (or don't wish to) 'quirky' is fine..
Off to Bali Lombok, and maybe Medewi in a few weeks again to find some softer lefts,, so I'll be outta your way for a while

if your off to Bali Gensec you'll learn a thing or two there! here's a photo of a guy 35 years younger than you, sat on the inside picking these off whilst wearing the set waves on his head for three hours, despite the ability to sit with us he respectfully stayed on the inside and had a blast.

Welcome aboard Grensec

Hope you post a few picks from your trips away

I don't know the answer, but from a teacher's perspective you have to remember we have the most under-parented generation to ever attend formal school in Australia.

This still doesn't answer but a couple of years ago I bought a DVD at a surf shop called fish (or something like that). It was made by lost. It wasn't totally bad, but most of the attitude towards surfing was disgraceful! Lots of waves had drop ins. I mean if I was some how making a vid, and there was footage of my person dropping in on someone, I wouldn't want it on the DVD, let alone glorifying it.

I know I'm not the best surfer around but I am better than some too. But that really doesn't matter. If a ripper covered in stickers, a old bloke with plastic knees and me are on a wave I believe it should be equal. Some people in Perth think ripability is a right to misbehave.

riverider said...
I've been surfing for over 40+years and the thing I notice these days is the lack of respect in the water.
When I first started surfing as a grom you had to surf the crap waves down the beach, as you progressed you got to move up the beach to some better peaks and eventually you got to surf the 2 best peaks on the beach, but you would only ever take the scraps that the hot guys left, they respected you for this and would call you onto a good one every so often.

This pretty much sums up what i do, no one has taught me (apart from what i have read up on online.) Too me this is just common sense/Basic respect.

Ill walk down the beach to a lesser/deserted peak so i can be a kook and not ruin anyone elses day. If im at a peak of better surfers, ill wait out the back, when its my turn ill usually take one of the lesser waves anyway- at my level it doesnt make that much difference and ill get just as stoked on a smaller set coming through. If its my "turn" and a decent wave is coming through a simple "You go mate" to somone else usually goes a long way.

My 2c, from what ive learnt in my short time of surfing.

Too right doggie it really is that simple!
Until someone else thinks their fun is of more value than yours, maybe they are local, rip , think they rip , have too much of their self worth wrapped up in their perceived rippingness or are just floggers or maybe they just think you have one of the above issues. Then it all falls apart.

All too often these days I find my self having to choose weather to go in or become one of the greedy wankers therefore i go in and do something else.

One more rant , the only reason locals should get more waves is local knowledge if you think your post code excludes you from any of the above rules then in my humble opinion you are a bell end.

In saying all that I find if you go out happy and respectful its often so , if you think everyone is aggro same same

Smile and the world smiles with you

jbshack said...
Welcome aboard Grensec

Hope you post a few picks from your trips away

Ta JB, If I can get some decent ones! I'll see if I can get my name changed somehow too..

doggie said...
Thing is, its so simple.

1. Dont drop in, if a surfer is on a wave do not take off.

2. Dont snake, do not paddle to the inside of someone paddling for a wave.

3. When paddling out do not interfere with a surfer thats up and riding, go towards the white water.

4. If there is a line up, respect it. Blow a wave, expect to wait

5. If someone is in a better spot to catch a wave call them in and get the next, with a bit of luck they will do the same

Not sure if Ive missed anything...

5 - 100. Always wear a leggie

couldn't be more simple, well said doggie

Hey Gensec, no need to change your name that's just JB's customary welcome, if he didn't have a typo in his posts we'd all be suss, thinking that he got a minion to type the post. He's also good at not reading your post or link and just chipping in with an opinion that is not exactly accurate, just giving you the heads up great contributor and could be elected president one day, if we did that sort of stuff

Higher cost of living so a lot more cases of both parents working. That's what I meant. In general, people don't have as much time to sit down and explain things to their children. That's in general though, some people put in a lot of effort.

OK,, apologies for the name change... makes a lot more sense now, (well to me),, Quirky was taken,,, Quirkus near enough.. !!
Was Gensec..