I actually had a civil conversation with a gondolier about this very subject the other day as he was heading for the water and I was changing back into my clothes. I reminded him of the ugliness that went down around here a few years ago between surfers and kayakers and suggested that the same sort of confrontation is coming with SUP guys if they don’t start policing their own behavior. He actually thanked me and asked that I remind him if I ever saw him getting too greedy in the line-up. He struck me as a decent enough person and his response seemed to be sincere. I suggested that he pass my sentiments on to his fellow SUP-ers.
The problem is that it doesn’t take more than 4 or 5 of those guys with a wave hog mentality to push the vibe at a given spot over the edge.
One of our local, long-time shapers refuses to cash in on making SUPs because of the hostility they are provoking in the water.
A friend of mine invested in a few SUPs with the intent of giving lessons on local ponds and bays. He would not bring his clients to any surf spots. After witnessing a few idiots on SUPs commit totally stupid acts at a local break he sold all the gear he’d just bought. He didn’t want to be the cause of one more klown posing a hazard to others. Quite admirable, IMO.
This Summer, there will be “NO SUP” signs posted at a few select spots in my town.
Good advice from oneula. We only have ourselves to blame for lack of order in the lineups these days. Apparently millions of people ''learned'' to surf or SUP with no clue about the rules we all had pounded (sometimes literally) into us when we were groms. Sometimes action is called for.
Surf Expo last weekend was chock full of fire-sale SUPs. They've over-produced like mad and now the glut has to be cleared. An ominous sign for the coming summer.
i agree, but then lawsuits come into play. with that said, the other day i reached my boiling point and shot my board at the guy who snaked me . people were looking at me like i was out of my mind for doing such a thing. (they were all 18-24ish in age, thus htey have NO CLUE about how people were taught and dealt with back in the day.) like mike says-action is called for…
They seem to be multiplying at a frightening speed.
I have been bed ridden with Prostatitis for the past week, but have managed to check out the Wetsand Cam of Malibu Surfrider daily and have seen at least four of them in the lineup during each viewing. One is too many at 1st Point at any time!
They should all go to the vast extensive beachbreaks, where there are miles of openness, and less danger in the lineups. Zuma, Santa Monica, and Redondo/Torrance are Good for the Gondolier!
I beg to differ. LA county beach breaks are crowded and not good for the gondolier. I’ve kind of sat on the fence about the SUP guys. In reality, they’re no worse than an obnoxious longboarder (if you happen to be riding a shortboard). Beach breaks can dump a lot harder than First Point and are more unpredictable. And what I’ve noticed is that even the good SUPers have to bail their board when caught inside. That’s just a fact of life when you’re holding a paddle.
I did just have a incident with a SUPer at my local (afoaf knows him, that big guy on the orange sunrise board). He’s pretty cool and a really good surfer. But I’d been sitting a long time waiting for a set. He comes cruising by and finally the wave of the day comes, I’m in position, but he cruises in and I have to pull out. He knows the score and tells me, “The next one’s yours.” Of course the next one never comes… That day I have to say I was hating the SUPers.
Seriously, this thread is about SUP'ing at a few spots that have a bit of, shall we say, history. To have what amounts to small boats invade these line-ups disrupts what little equilibrium existed.
All surf craft are dangerous i have seen a beginner tear an other surfers gut open. I think the point is keep those things on flat water get some practise learn surf etiquette and we can all get out there and have a blast.
whatever happened to ‘carvenalu’ , and the awesome photos of him …what was thread called again ? [and then i get online , and the first thread i see is this …meant to be i reckon!]
carve nalu , are you still here at sways mate ?
i really ENJOYED seeing the stuff you were doing …it definately WASN’T ‘gondola’ stuff [how interesting that others call them that too !] heehee
I was minding my own business out at First Point in the rain this afternoon when a SUKker paddled out near sunset. He immediately back paddled me on a set wave when I'd been waiting outside at least 20 minutes before he paddled out. I took off on him without hesitation.
Until these people learn some freaking manners, it's going to be ugly. At least he had the good sense not to say anything to me, otherwise he would have gotten an earful (along with the guy on the soft-top who snaked me). For heavens' sake people, behave yourselves.
whatever happened to 'carvenalu' , and the awesome photos of him ...what was thread called again ? [and then i get online , and the first thread i see is this ...meant to be i reckon!]
carve nalu , are you still here at sways mate ?
i really ENJOYED seeing the stuff you were doing ...it definately WASN'T 'gondola' stuff [how interesting that others call them that too !] heehee
cheers
ben
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Hi Ben -
Blane frequents the discussion boards on Standupzone.com more than here.
The problem isn’t JUST that they can get in earlier. The main issue is that they can get back out to the lineup so damn quick and weasel ya after their LAST set wave. They’re back in position by the time the next set arrives. 3 or 4 of them at a spot can easily monopolize just about every decent wave that comes through. You can “wait your turn” all you want.: you ain’t getting any unless they wanna “play nice” and throw you a bone.
Maybe you miss the point that the guys who take over lineups are not complete watermen. And I’m confused how attacking me raises any valid issue about my respect for Duke, or the quote in my signature advocating the sharing of waves, regardless of equipment, or my own behavior in the water. Oh well.
I know that some of the Guards at 1st Point will allow certain local shapers and locally famous surf people to mat and not others. Happens quite often, from what I hear.
“Oh, look out! A mat is going to wipe out right in front of me! Oh the humanity!”
Very simple, kick out The Volga Boatmen and let in The Mat Men.
I’d be damned if I would sit and allow some paddle-monkey decide which one’s “mine”. If you use a paddle to catch waves, you go to the back of the line. There used to be a kayaker in my area who had no clue at all. He would hustle outside and glide into set waves long before anyone could stand a chance at catching them. I made it a point to blatantly drop in on him, every chance I had. I would fade toward him and look him straight in the eye while doing so.
You don’t just show up at an established spot that has a crew of regulars and dictate the rules.
"Stand-up paddle boards are a new hazard in the surf. They are a large difficult to control craft, they fall into the same group of vessels as surf skis and kayaks and they should keep clear of surfers and swimmers." - George Greenough, Broken Head
