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WhatSUP?

18/01/2012

I received the mail below today from The West Coast Boardriders who asked us to publish it. In the interests of constructive debate we've decided to go ahead. We welcome your comments.
John

There has been an ongoing debate regarding the sport of SUP riding and how it affects surfers in the line-up. Without getting into the personal contrasting feelings everyone has regarding the two sports we would like to just shed some light on the obvious. SUP’s in general are ridden by inexperienced people trying to enjoy what the ocean has to offer, there is nothing wrong with this, but because SUP’s are extremely heavy and difficult to control they pose a huge risk to surfers and bathers at popular beaches. The inexperienced SUP riders have also not taken the time to learn the basic rules in the line-up, which surfers and bodyboarders naturally do as they learn to surf, so there is obviously an aggressive backlash toward them from the surfing community. As surfers /waterman the safety of friends and people around us is very important, the Ocean is a wild animal that can not be predicted or controlled, which is why there are basic rules when entering a line-up. We kindly ask that if you are a SUP rider please refrain from riding in and around crowded line-ups, you will just aggravate the mood in the water and place others at risk. There are numerous beaches in and around Cape Town ie, Camps Bay, Tableview, Muizenburg where there is more than enough room so as to avoid confrontation. If SUP riders insist on riding at crowded ‘localised’ surf breaks, they must deal with the obvious consequences. If you have a friend who SUP’s please forward this message on as we want to eradicate the tension between SUP’s and surfers by placing all of our safety first! - The West Coast Boardriders.

Got something to say? Then leave a comment!

Posted by mark snowball on the 18/01/2012 17:40

It would seem like most of them have just picked up where the paddleski of old(for those who can remember those terrible days) left off in terms of etiquette-sit(stand) way out and take off,ride the wave,paddle out to the same spot and do it all over again right away whilst the shortboarder is still waiting for his first wave.This is so obvious between the piers in Durban where they can get out so easily as well.The shortboarder is starting to feel at the bottom of the foodchain to them,mal riders,longboarders etc.Me,bitter?Not at all,you know who you are,live with being greedy!

Posted by Zot on the 19/01/2012 08:48

Been down down to Addington on a few occasions to teach a friend. This has and always will be a groms beach and we must repsect this. There are often 5-6 SUP's out who on the whole did not know what they were doing. They have no repsect for the beginner surfers and saw a couple of near misses. Some one will get seriouisly hurt very soon. The paddleski guys are very good and and 99% of the time give the surders a wide berth and keep their eyes open, why cant the SUP guys be the same? Lets not go onto the lycra clad cyclists , worse the SUP and longboarders put together...going to spear me one one day on the nose of my board!

Posted by mark on the 19/01/2012 09:18

I just feel that no matter what craft you ride there are always going to be those people that are just plain greedy and inconsiderate of everyone in the line up. Be it a SUP'er, Longboarder, Shortboarder, paddleskier, bodyboarder... and to those idiots I say "karma will get you". The ocean is there for everyone to enjoy, so be considerate to your fellow ocean lovers and spread the aloha instead of bad vibes, South Africa really does have enough waves for everyone (they are talking about policing some surf spots in Oz!) so just look a little left or right of your normal spot and I am pretty sure you will find something to ride with just you and your mates!

Posted by jean elgato on the 19/01/2012 11:04

Aaah a contentioues issue to say the least. The basic premis here is the lack of respect for other water users and lack of understanding demonsrated by SUP users. Six waves versus the short boarders one is the deciding factor this coupled with lack of control and or understanding of how the line up works is driving SUP rage to new hieghts. I want to be fair and non partisan but alas I am a surfer(Shortboard) and have been on the recieving end for too long so here goes Dam these kookie uneducated mens health johny come latelies to hell let them eat poo and croke THAT IS ALL

Posted by Terrano on the 19/01/2012 22:29

I hate them quite simply , there is only one guy amongst them who knows whats up and will let some waves go. The rest are clueless here in Durbs. They have the shittest attitudes , not to say some short boarders are not big pricks themselves. How can you not know what you are doing is wrong to catch a set wave stumble back out and catch the next wave while all the surfers stare on with hate in their eyes. AAArgh and now i heard they are even heading to our cooking waves on the coast , that is a sin and should be punished.

Posted by André on the 20/01/2012 10:54

This is a VERY touchy subject – I have (on many occasions) experienced the greedy and inconsiderate A-hole who snakes and burns you all the time and then still has the damn cheek to give you the finger when you call them on it. And it is not just the 1 group it is any Sufer /SUPer / BoadyBorder where this jerk makes an appearance. I short board, Long board and SUP and make a point to talk to the guys in the back line to ensure that we all speak the same language and follow surf etiquette whatever I am riding and it works well; we share waves and hoots and beers afterwards. For the jerks… get some manners or get out ! WC4L !!!

Posted by SUP/Surf/FUN!!!!!! Aloha on the 21/01/2012 08:37

Contentious is an understatement. I surf and SUP. Admittedly I haven't surfed prone for a while as the workout on an SUP is 20 fold to surfing. Yes that probably means I am a men’s health blah blah - Jean (haven't read one of those mags in years but have seen an improvement in my posture and body shape since SUPing. I also note your six to one comment. Interesting how you have time to sit and count waves. I sit deeper than you on my SUP and when I have paddle out after a wave and wait for the shortboarders to catch a few first I frustratingly watch wave after wave peel past and several surfers’ just duck dive. What’s up with that. I have had some near missus with shortboarders. I have had some surfski guys running inside the break parallel to the beach in front of me at addington. But, more bruises and fin cuts taken home surfing prone. And on the subject of addington. I SUP there often with some very well established surfers who have been around a long time, surfers, shapers, store owners, so I don’t think these guys are kooks in any respect. Watermen indeed. Aloha spirit amongst them that I never experience with surfers. We share waves with everyone, whistle for a great set rolling in and hoot for everyone in the water, no matter what you ride or how well you ride it. I have noticed some surf school guys paddle out to the busiest part of the break, stretching from ushaka to new beach, with 8 kids who can hardly surf. This doesn’t make sense at all. If you are a kook choose a quiet shoulder and stay out of trouble. I don’t mean that in an aggressive or arrogant way, but think before you go. Surfers remember when you paddled for 20 waves and never stood up on one. Catch a wave into the beach, look left or right when it gets too crowded on one place you will be amazed how we are all surfing in the "wrong" spot all the time (north beach included). Since the waves are for everyone’s enjoyment let’s give a little, Aloha!!! remember. We surf to get away from the road rage and supermarket rage and now you want to introduce, wave rage. I don’t remember getting any title deed to waves when I got my surfboards or my SUP that entitled me to anything more than paddle out and sharing what the ocean has for us on any particular day. I don’t see any pro surfers in the water at our Durban breaks very often, and I don’t think any of the waves we are fighting over is going to earn us R1 000 000 in prize money or a 7 figure sponsorship deal from O’neil any time soon. So let’s just get along and have fun.

Posted by Sean on the 21/01/2012 09:49

Sigh. It was only a matter of time before a SUPer called himself a waterman.

Posted by Bushy on the 22/01/2012 14:10

The difference between the guys who surfed first before starting SUPing and those who are exclusively SUP riders is pretty obvious and anyone clueless on any sort of watercraft is a liability in the lineup. Seems to be 2 issues here - safety is compromised by inexperienced SUP riders who have no place in a crowded lineup and secondly, the more experienced, skillful SUP riders who use their paddling power to get way more than their fair share of waves. Both these scenarios need to be regulated for the safety and enjoyment of all. Interestingly enough, the only other topic besides SUPs that generates this much response on any SA surfing website is sharks. Culling of both of these hazards can't be far off just judging by the emotion they generate!

Posted by Byron Yates on the 22/01/2012 20:37

I agree that a lot of the SUP riders have never surfed and don't have a clue regarding the correct etiquette. Call these these guys out and maybe they surprise you and start learning the unwritten rules! What pisses me off is that I have been a waterman for 30 years in and around Durban and have never snaked or taken more than my fair share but still get the look from some short boarders who obviously have just jumped on the bandwagon of hating anyone on a SUP regardless of their abilities!! Shine up guys some of us have been surfing longer than you been around.

Posted by Salternator on the 23/01/2012 08:30

Agree in principle with WC boardriders, surfers or SUPpers riding dangerously need a bit of "Old Testament Education". I have noticed that in CT suppers seem to stick to one peak, away from the surfers, keep this up when possible. I have also seen that there is always a mullet (swimmer/surfer/bodyboarder, even SUPper) who seems to gravitate towards the SUPpers surf line, again a little education may be necessary. Guys get on with each other, enjoy the surf and relax a bit and dont hog everything.

Posted by Daryl Stroebel on the 23/01/2012 08:33

I think that the fustration comes in when you have SUP guys sitting on the take off spot or just ahead and they feel that because they can catch the wave alot further out they forget that there is a line up 20m down. I have surfed all my life and have Started SUP ING for fittness, and for when the waves are not good to paddle into or it is breaking way to far out then i sup. Sup guys should not try and start hassling surfers at the breaks, just go and find your own spot, As Sa has a abundance of waves, you can surf anything on those boards.(Try sup in jhb the traffic is hectic)

Posted by Ant on the 23/01/2012 08:36

Can i be the voice of dissension here? It seems the article is griping about the obvious under the guise of public interest. SUPers grab more waves than shortboarders. Obvious, they can paddle faster and from further out. So, yes surfers are frustrated at this. Also, there seems to be an assumption that there is etiquette still at play in the water amongst surfers. Is that really true? It seems to me that the rule in the water is: "I surf better than you, I get more waves than you." As for the article alluding to "basic rules in the line up" amongst surfers AND bodyboarders. Honestly guys, how many give way to any booger, even if it is his chance? The Article does make an true point; SUPs can be very dangerous in the wrong hands. But the facts are we all share the ocean with different people on different water craft. Instead of making surfing the Alpha sport of them all, how about we do something really controversial? Discuss our backline rules? I think every surfer understands the etiquette totally different from one another. It seems everyone might have to go to school for that, and maybe there might be a bit more joy in the water.

Posted by Mouse on the 23/01/2012 08:38

Unfortunately lots of them have never surfed and have no manners in the water - reep what you sow - if they can hussle you just drop in simple .

Posted by Bob on the 23/01/2012 08:55

Stand up paddle ski? Get fit and paddle around all you want, just don’t hurt anybody with your oversized toys. Use some common sense if you are a beginner and stay away from crowded line-ups. Personally I find the way they ride waves rather unattractive.

Posted by Jman on the 23/01/2012 08:57

Ha! I laugh out loud when South Africans talk about 'Aloha spirit'.

Posted by Richard on the 23/01/2012 08:57

MOST ARROGANT BUNCH OF PRETENDERS EVER SUP SURFING IS NOT FOR SEALS, SUPERS, ELANDS, NEW PIER, EAST BEACH, POINT, PIPE, MILLERS, SOUTH BROOM. YOU ARE NOT A WATERMAN IF YOU SUP JUST A PERSON WITH A LOT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME. THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAVES TO ENJOY AWAY FROM THE MADDING CROWD ON AN SUP. SO THERE IS NO NEED TO SHOW OFF AT A KNOWN BREAK. GO FIND UNCROWDED WAVES

Posted by 321 on the 23/01/2012 08:59

Well put. SUPs please, yours is not a compatible craft in a crowded line up, or any line up with non-SUPs in it - surf somewhere else. It's comparable in a way to tow surfing - the unwritten rule that when ous are paddling, you don't tow. When ous are surfing, don't SUP

Posted by Stephen on the 23/01/2012 09:09

Well, well, well! It appears the chickens have come home to SUP. Having surfed for most of my 45 years, I have come to the conclusion that surfers are amongst the most xenophobic self-entitled water-users of all. There's no doubt that the recent infestation of inexperienced SUPPERS are potentially dangerous, and yes, in most cases these wannabe gondoliers have no sense of wave etiquette, but then again when have surfers ever practiced what they've preached. At best, there's a stressed and very fragile balance of power within the line-up that's cobbled together by the so-called unwritten rules of surfing. More often than not it dissolves to the old "stink-eye", localism and at worst "Bra Boys" type thuggery. The root of the problem has less to do with the type of wave-riding vehicle, but more to do with self-entitlement and greed. Exercising common decency and respect goes a long way. Would you shove your way to the front of the queue at a bank or Pick 'n Pay! The question we should be asking ourselves is what makes the ocean any different!

Posted by Corne on the 23/01/2012 09:34

I agree with ant, this letter is more about SUPers are taking "my" waves. There is no way an newcomer to any form of board riding can know the "rules" if you don't educate them. And it sure is not going to help shouting and swearing at them, they are not going to understand what you are on about. Paddle up and talk to them. WCB you have taken the time to voice your gripe to people who understand what you are talking about, I suggest taking it to the water and doing it constructively.

Posted by Zen on the 23/01/2012 09:55

As a beginner SUP'er it's always a little vexing to read the vitrilol that flows from those that feel entitled to the ocean due to the size of their board. I SUP with a number of 20 year+ surfers who have all made the change over for various reasons. As a rule, we SUP away from the line-up, but when not possible a little conversation never goes amiss and alleviates most concerns. I often wonder what it must be like to harbour so much venom and angst towards something. I think we'd get along much better if people were a little more accepting of each other. I'm very aware of the animosity towards SUP'ers and regularly try to make a point of being pleasant to others in the line up - it doesn't always work - but a friendly greeting goes some way to breaking down the perceived hierarchy of entitlement in the water. And not everyone's a hater - just the other day my leash snapped in unseasonably large surf and of course that let my SUP loose headed towards shore and me in the mid-break. Kudo's and genuine thanks to the two surfers who helped me out - one of them got my board for me while the other offered me his assistance in getting me back to my board (I was swimming with a paddle). Both surfers offered the assistance without batting an eyelid. A bit more of that in the water and we'll go a long way to getting along better.

Posted by kel on the 23/01/2012 09:59

Here lies an issue with me, I too have been surfing for 30 years, I surf a "short board", I dont care too much for long boaredrs but I detest SUP riders in the line up ! this is for a very simple reason, SUP riders have two main advantages, paddle ability due to surface area and less drag and with a propeller have this massive advantage, now couple that with the height advantage to be able to see the sets and more importantly the peak, makes for the more proficient SUP er to be come a pig, we all want our wave count and a little hustling is needed on crowded beaches bot out and out pigs who just pick at will are annoying, then the ability for them to NOT get out of your way is an issue too. I surf away from crowds for a reason and it makes my blood boil when I see any SUP walking down the beach at my beach of choice. 1 sup in the line up is too many , its like have 10 ASP surfers in the water on a good day, no respect and no showing of manners, just as tow in guys loose respect and manners when towing in where guys are paddling in !!!! stop and think about your actions, the annoyance of a few are effecting many, not to mention it is a very regressive form of surfing, but most guys my age have boeps and need the SUP to feel like they belong. YOU DONT, and to my mates who do, sorry boys your as annoying as body boarders, paddleskies and long boards, loose the attitude, the boep and come scratch for a few on the inside when its 6' draining barrels on a short board and lets see the 6 x workout. not kooks by ability , DORKS by attitude. on the beach mates in the water dorks !!

Posted by Jamii on the 23/01/2012 10:14

Riding a SUP, longboard, bodyboard, shortboard, a surfski, paddleski or even an alaia all share the enjoyment of wave riding, but the etiquette of sharing the ocean is often the determining factor that sees the discipline as accepted or not. Personally (apart from paddleski & boadyboard ) I regularly participate in all these wave riding options to improve my waterman skills and rarely have a problem, as I am mindful of my fellow surfers. But you often find seasoned surfers/locals will exploit their domain or pecking order whilst novice just don't know any better. Just yesterday I was doing some surfski training and I kiter kept riding into a swimming area that the nippers were learning in. As a lifesaver, I needed to advise he that he was infringing into a demarcated swimming area and could easily cause injury, but this 50 year old novice said he was struggling in the light conditions and protested. Once I pointed it out that the lifesavers could close the beach to kiters access, he quickly understood and stayed away. Regardless of what you chose to ride, the bottom line all comes down to respect and clear communication to tolerate a crowded line up. If some one is being greedy, a nuisance or potentially endangering others, have a friendly word with the guy and hope he wises up. Most people will, but a few idiots don't.

Posted by Anton on the 23/01/2012 10:44

I think it boils down to one rule and one rule only for wave-riders: don't be a dick. If you're taking more waves than your fair share - dick. If you think you can take a wave off someone else based on their craft/ability - dick. If you're a hazard in the line-up because of your craft/ability - dick. I also look at the explosion of different craft - from alaias, the SUPs to bodyboards and this a reason to thin line-ups, not crowd them. different crafts mean different waves can be made accessible and fun. I had a blast this december by taking the fins out of a fish a trying to ride it finless in slop that would otherwise have had me sulking on the couch. I think the best solution is a positive vibe. The only thing that has no place in the line-up is anger - something i've been guilty of too many times. If you catch some tosser breaking the only rule, let them know about it, with a smile. If they want to carry on being kak - that's their burden to bear... Now, if i could just see better through the smudge on these rose tinted lenses...

Posted by volker on the 23/01/2012 10:55

in my opinion the world/water is far to crowded to still solve problems with karma,respect,understanding...there need to be some written rules,like bigbay defines the areas where kiteboarders/windsurfers are allowed and where not (which I would love to see for elands bay as well ) And in case of an accident it will help to get your hospital bill paid.Well I am a shortboarder and obviously german.

Posted by John Whittle on the 23/01/2012 11:33

There's not many ways I have not expressed myself in and on the ocean surface, along it's shores and from shore to distant shore. From the intense crowd at New Pier to the solitary anchorage off a coral reef with a few friends off my own boat. At every place the potential for controversy exists because of our inate selfishness! I'm not going to debate this issue, instead make a statement of balance: When I ride my SUP at Dairy beach I'm considered the enemy, dispite having the skill to ride in the pit better than most of the 'short boarders' out there who are claiming their rights, upholding the unwritten code of ethics regarding 'the inside' and 'wave count' etc. but when I exchange my craft for an Alaia, those same guys have no regard for my 'rights' within that same code - dropping in & paddling on my inside like I wasn't in the line up. I'm not complaining cos it won't help - it seems it's the way it is. As a 'short boarder', when the New Pier is firing I find the biggest problem is the large number of incompetent short boarders who in my opinion should consider their participation at crowded spots. the number of short boards that have nearly pierced the head of good tube riders is far more dangerous than that from SUP's on the smaller days. Seems each water user should honestly grade them self to determine their danger to others, then go surf where they pose less risk to others, that SUP riders and Short boarders alike.

Posted by Zaheer on the 23/01/2012 11:39

hi guys, thanks for continuing an important discussion. I have a question to add ask of the West Coast Boardriders, but I'll digress in to a point of my own before I do so. When the voice of a few loudmouths begins to impinge on personal freedoms, and the average citizenry sit by quietly, we are all in trouble. The point I want to make therefore is not to advocate one way or another. I want to re-frame this statement. There is some merit to the point WCBR make, and there is some lunacy too. The points about safety in the water and inexperienced SUP's in crowded line up is well made, and very valid. The threat of physical violence has no place in modern democratic society. So WCBR, What does this sentence really mean? "If SUP riders insist on riding at crowded ‘localised’ surf breaks, they must deal with the obvious consequences." I see this as a blatant threat of physical violence. I also see this statement as saying, right, now we've warned you, so we have a right to resort to physical violence if this continues. The statement begins reasonably by making valid points and degenerates in to real hate speech. I feel so strongly about this, that I am going to ask that WCBR retract that part of the statement. If they don't I will be filing a criminal charge of hate speech with the human rights commission. What is proposed in this letter is violence against civilians based on their choice of recreational activity. It has no basis in law or in civil society, and I will not sit idly by while bigots threaten my rights. I've been chased off a beach for not being white. Anyone who tries to chase me off a beach because of their own ignorance and hatred will find themselves in jail fast. Personally, I welcome all water users to share the ocean and her bountiful gifts in a safe and responsible manner.

Posted by TrevorG on the 23/01/2012 11:44

As a Weskusser, I am continually exposed to the SUP phenomomen. Whilst I agree that every person has a right to enjoy the pleasures of the ocean, the reality of the situation is that it only takes a handful of these practitioners to totally dominate a line-up. My case in point is the wreck which overnight became their unofficial clubhouse. I gave up surfing there as a result of the swarms of them. The wave itself was not properly maximized due to them getting in early and missing the good drop. Sadly the wreck broke up and the banks deteriorated. This resulted in them needing to find a new spot to congregate at.This has resulted in similiar issues occuring at other defined spots. I try to avoid them but seldom succeed as there are times when only one particular spot is consistent. What then? A superior buoyancy and vantage allows them to dominate and their willingness to snag set waves continually is a major negative.There are certain individuals who do with no concern for any one else and I will drop in on them if they overstep the boundary. I do not enjoy doing this but what is the option? Tuning them does not work. Often the type of personality that Sups is a selfish stereo type and drawing attention to their boorish activities reaps no rewards.It has to be said that all types of surfers can exhibit the same poor behaviour, however the SUPs tend to exhibit these tendancies more readily. The answer is probably designated areas, however who wants to relinquish a fairly decent spot like Big Bay? . other.

Posted by wyn on the 23/01/2012 12:23

sup must stick to the rules! and not paddle past or deeper than other guys in the line up waiting for a wave, they must wait in the line up like everybody else and take off in the same zone! the rules apply to everybody doesnt matter if u sup,shortboard,bodyboarder,paddle skier!

Posted by Mark Becks on the 23/01/2012 12:31

If you put 30 surfers, Boogers, or any water craft users together at restricted breaks, there will always be tension, because some people feel they surfed longer, have more experience, or are entitled to the wave. Its very easy to understand that the underlying problem is South Africans are an aggressive nation, and want to fight for what we feel is right (pity we dont put that much passion into getting this country right). I would honestly say that the only way to sort out differences between different craft users, is zone the beaches for specific users, there is no other way, because it only take one dick in the water, and believe me, theres dozens out there, and if you drop in on me, I can be one to, enough said.

Posted by Joe on the 23/01/2012 12:32

@Zaheer (Mr Chip on shoulder).......not even going to comment on that drivel except the part where you say share - that's all anyone would want - when SUP's or anyone else do not know how to "share" and are greedy, is when people get upset!

Posted by Bismarck Meyer on the 23/01/2012 13:21

Don't be a dick! I like that......I too have strong feelings regarding this, but it seems we've covered most of the points - I'd just be repackaging them.... SUP-er's (that are surfers) OK. SUP-ers that are not - mmm study the etiqette and take a back seat until you're ready to be in the line-up. Thanks Liard!

Posted by James on the 23/01/2012 14:03

I remember when I was a lighty on a 'doormat' - being gunned for by shortboarders all the time. There was no sharing of waves then... Now as a ballie on a longboard, I get the evil eye just for being in the line-up. Shoe's on the other foot now? Stop whining - cut the SUPpers some slack!

Posted by andre on the 23/01/2012 16:41

Hassle, husssle, snake , drop-in whatever!!!! This is as old as the first surfer in the water!!!!!! The bottem line is greediness, respect and a no-brainer that does this! Ask any surfer and yhe will tell you a bunch of stories of this nature. In legal terms it's what we call common law status! The public(water users) don't like it so make a law prohibiting it! I know this sounds radical but what is going to happen when someone is killed ! Better even, get the municipality to restrict them to certain beaches! All you need to prove on a balance of probability that it is dangerous for the majority of the water public! The same they used to ban surfing in or near swimming beaches !

Posted by Pedro on the 23/01/2012 20:33

I find that every time i go for a wave, i get irritated by people who don't follow "basic rules in the line-up". It seems that there are more and more of these people not following the rules and it actually puts others in a bad mood and causes friction in the water. Longboard rider are huge culprits of not waiting in the "line up". What line up? Line ups don't exist at some spot anymore. Guys please lets have some respect for each other. We all have a common love for the waves and we don't want our precious session to put us in a bad mood. We want surfing to de-stress us and we want to enjoy wave riding weather it be boogie, short board surfing, long boarding or sup ridding. no matter what you do we all have to share the ocean and waves we get, so lets all respect each other and we will all enjoy our session a lot more......

Posted by Budha on the 24/01/2012 09:07

This is a ridiculous article. 1. "SUP’s are extremely heavy and difficult to control they pose a huge risk to surfers and bathers at popular beaches." I mean, have you seen Dave Lipschitz's surfboards? The WCB facts are inaccurate and many SUP's are shorter and lighter than many Surfboards. 2. "SUP’s in general are ridden by inexperienced people" Again not true and another example of the WCB's inaccuracies and ignorance. Go to Muiz, Big Bay, Tableview.... most "People" are inexperienced regardless of their methods of surfing. 3."The inexperienced SUP riders have also not taken the time to learn the basic rules in the line-up, which surfers and bodyboarders naturally do as they learn to surf," Contradictory and assumptive. It is okay for a Surfer or Boogieboarder to learn but not a SUP right? 4. "You will just aggravate the mood in the water and place others at risk" No, people who are intolerant of others change the mood, not SUP's. Angry haters cause the problems, not happy go lucky people on a variety of boards. 5."As surfers /waterman" So the WCB consider themselves watermen.... you surf so you are a waterman? I think you should look to Hawaii and their idea of a waterman. Haven't seen the likes of Dutchie on an Outrigger, Paddleboard, Surfboard, Windsurfer, Kiteboard, Lifesaving, et al for a while.... 6. "If SUP riders insist on riding at crowded ‘localised’ surf breaks, they must deal with the obvious consequences" So the WCB is condoning acts of violence and promoting them. Tolerance and anger management classes should be offered to those at the WCB who wrote and support this. This whole article is a joke, yet the basics of it could have been written without the agression, hatred and ignorance it shows to create an informative message for ALL new people into the water without singling out SUP. The WCB obviously has an agenda and wrote this article with it in mind. This whole concept of "I ride better than you, so I sit further up the ladder" is the primary problem within surfing. I watch many "Good or Experienced" riders snaking, dominating and generally ignoring the principals of the "code". So now the shoe is on the other foot, they come out hating... it's actually amusing to watch. The principals of "newbies" into the water applies across the board and to try and take ownership of the water or break is the age old problem within surfing. A few a$$holes create too much hatred and change the vibe for so many. Guys/girls... learn some tolerance and chill out. Your life and day will be so much better. Our beautiful fish own the water and we are just visitors. Kama has a way with dealing with this sort of thing, so try loving in future.....

Posted by jackp on the 24/01/2012 09:32

All this talk about the basic rules or code os surfing...why doesnt bomb surf do a little write on this 'code' as there are always newbies learning in the water...but lets be serious SUP is generally made up of 30+ retired golfers/ironman/runners etc who havent got a clue!

Posted by Grant on the 24/01/2012 14:31

WOW, makes me want to get on my SUP and go have some fun! From what I read here, it sounds like a localized surf spot is anywhere that the short boarders want to surf. Yawn this is boring

Posted by Millerslocal on the 24/01/2012 15:43

Budha - Big Dave's going to be lank peeved to hear himself compared to SUP's! He hates the things, and refuses to stock them in his surfshops. So yah, he has a huge board, but still maneuvers it like a champ. And most importantly he NEVER uses it to grab more waves. He'll get a wave, then go sit out at the back for another 30 minutes, letting set after set run under him, before catching another one. He's old school, he knows the rules :-)

Posted by Budha on the 25/01/2012 08:41

@Millerslocal - read my post. Nowhere has does it suggest anything you are going on about. The reference to the size of a board is all it is doing and suggests nothing about the owner in anyway whatsoever. Anyway, MrL would love SUP, he's just in denial.

Posted by Glenn Smith on the 25/01/2012 11:03

I Surf and SUP. I understand what it is like having an SUP rider in the water paddeling around everyone catching waves that are for others, so when I SUP I go were no one is surfing regardless of the conditions!

Posted by Graeme Bird on the 25/01/2012 13:00

SUP's are an abomination of surfing culture and they need to be wiped out like paddle ski’s were in the 80's. And whether SUP's are ridden by competent surfers or not, they should not be accepted in a lineup that includes surfers. In fact surfers who ride SUP’s are directly responsible for the clueless idiots at backline who have zero understanding of surfing etiquette. It’s also time we got over the waterman tag that attempts to justify this abomination and remembered that we are surfers. So what if we don’t want our waves taken by Gorilla’s who could main us with their boats. Ours is a proud underground culture that shouldn’t be intimidated by the controversial nature of our position at the top of the wave riding chain. So let’s follow the example led by Australian surfers in Sydney who rebelled against these apparitions and had them banned from the line up. And to squeeze them out financially, stop supporting surf brands that associate themselves with SUP riding. Why should brands who survive on our largesse make money out of something that impacts so negatively on our lives as surfers?

Posted by Joe on the 25/01/2012 16:20

It's safe to say that the overwhelming amount of comments do support the article as posted by WCB. It has also received the majority of comments on thebombsurf.com as it is obviously a heated debate. There are of course a lot of guys who do ride them well but the article does clearly state - "SUP’s in general are ridden by inexperienced people". But when you lose an argument in a democratic setting by such a large percentage it is safe to say that the "general" opinion about this is overwhelming.

Posted by Joe on the 25/01/2012 16:45

Budha - When you are the person having to dodge a SUP or duck dive under it, get hit by it etc. and not the person just falling off it because he cant control it you may have a different opinion. No one is saying don't ride a SUP, it's merely being considerate of crowded lineups when you aren't the person having to dodge the SUP's in the whitewash... surely you can have a similar experience at any other less crowded spot? And if anyone is suggesting

Posted by Budha on the 26/01/2012 13:20

I too dodge boards ridden by people and last week I was hit by 2 boards on one wave. However, unlike the uneducated author of this article, I paddled back with a smile and had a nice talk with the guys who said they had no idea what to do when in the position they found themselves. A few pointers later we were all having a great time and the vibe on the water was great - one was a 9' longboard and the other was a 6'2. Now, if I took the attitude of the author, I'd have punched his lights out, shouted and general caused havoc on the water. Instead I chose to be nice..... I guess the problem exists with the general attitudes of many water people who feel that they are beyond all others even when they can't surf that well. I've been sitting in the ocean for 38 years and have seen too many angry people come and go, unfortunately some stay around and ruin the time for many. Nobody owns the "spot" or the ocean, get over it, you may enjoy yourself more. "Haters" are just that, and truly sad people who should just learn to relax and enjoy life. After all, you could be living in Jozi FF'sS!

Posted by Rob on the 26/01/2012 17:30

What's this talk by all these "shortboarders" about etiquette. I've been surfing for the past 45 years and experienced the evolution of boards and ridden them all. We used to have etiquette and consideration in the lineup which I'm afraid to say is long gone. I still ride a range of boards from 6'4" to 9'6", and enjoy what each board brings to the wave. Instead of whinging about the explosion of SUP's, why don't you try riding one? I intend to try one day, and then you'll have another ballie to hate!! Stop critising others who are different from yourself and start appreciating what every craft offers. There are always going to be kooks and dicks in the water riding all sorts of boards so stop targeting one set because they take more waves than you. Weed out the kooks and dicks, practice etiquette and be considerate towards each other and you'll have a much more rewarding session in the water. I've come across far more kooks and dicks in the water riding shortboards and boogie boards than those riding longboards and SUP's.

Posted by Hugh on the 27/01/2012 13:26

All those complaining why not get a SUP think of all the waves you can have.

Posted by Grant on the 28/01/2012 02:16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfJ_bb0Nw68&feature=player_embedded#! You short boarders sound a bit like these two guys on the beach.

Posted by JP on the 28/01/2012 07:34

Check Twig, clearly he has no problem on a SUP. He got into it because he was injured and couldn't surf 'conventionally'. He used SUPing as a way to stay in the water and stay in shape while in recovery. Sounds like a good idea to me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGHcQytegIU&context=C3cc7e89ADOEgsToPDskLi_E87Mol9t8R2YcIWelLR

Posted by Cyrine on the 20/02/2012 20:21

to my irnteview talking about SERIE WAVES for the site Surfers Soul, was very good, can see this link. Etiquetado como:Interview, Serie Waves, Surfart, Surfers Soul, Tom

Posted by Jared on the 21/02/2012 00:22

What a cool alircte. I'm no scientist, and just the other day I was looking at the 98 peak wondering what on earth could cause that. Then I remembered seeing that Freak Wave documentary, and wondered if this was anything similar :-)

Posted by Akhmad on the 22/02/2012 09:49

When we're in sync@ with what the Lord is doing & mviong in God's direction, then it's Him mviong us like wind in our sails . Totally awesome. Only sad part is that it seems to happen so rarely!