surf schools

OK-should they be abolished?or, should they be subject to some sort of regulation/licensing commission?around my parts there are at least 4 surf schools owned/operated by folks who can barely surf themselves,don’t know the rules/etquette out in the water and therfore are teaching their classes some bad surf habits,eg dropping in , paddling around those waiting in the correct spot,etc., not to mention clogging lineups that were once uncrowded without a care in the world.Should these owners/instructors be required to go through some sort of training in order to obtain a license to operate their surf school?

OK-should they be abolished?or, should they be subject to some sort of > regulation/licensing commission?around my parts there are at least 4 surf > schools owned/operated by folks who can barely surf themselves,don’t know > the rules/etquette out in the water and therfore are teaching their > classes some bad surf habits,eg dropping in , paddling around those > waiting in the correct spot,etc., not to mention clogging lineups that > were once uncrowded without a care in the world.Should these > owners/instructors be required to go through some sort of training in > order to obtain a license to operate their surf school? I think the schools , in general, are a good thing but I don’t believe they stress enough about etiquette and surf conditions. What I’m getting at is where I surf in SC there is a couple of schools that bring their students out into the line-up on small (beginner) days. Those same student return to the same spot later on a different day or tide and plant themselves in what is now a bowling, walled section and get creamed or screw-up others. Fairly often I will talk to these folks and point out that with the changing tide and wave conditions the same spot they learned at is now an advanced/expert break and that they would have more fun if they moved over to easier break. They usually listen and move but occassionally I get an attitude from them and I’ll just sit and wait for them to get cleaned-up by the next set. Some of us have even talked to the instructors out in the water and usually get a polite but cold response. I don’t know the solution to this situation and it has gotten worse over the last few years.

Man, how bout this surf media blitz going on now. I’m sure those who’ve been surfing longer than I have seen it before but we got lilo and stich for the kids and blue crush for the girls, sheryl crow’s vid, bruce brown month on tcm, rocket power, that silly rabbit chasing cereal on waves, only to name a few…looks to me like media has jumped on surfing in a major way latey (surfing and bombing iraq). I have never seen so many beginners as I’ve seen the last 3 weeks, mostly young girls (I love it! bring on the girls!)… newbies never bothered me that much, as long as they’re not too close they are usually easy obstacles. If they are close, you can usually look at them and tell if they’re about to f*ck up.

I think the schools , in general, are a good thing but I don’t believe > they stress enough about etiquette and surf conditions. What I’m getting > at is where I surf in SC there is a couple of schools that bring their > students out into the line-up on small (beginner) days. Those same student > return to the same spot later on a different day or tide and plant > themselves in what is now a bowling, walled section and get creamed or > screw-up others. Fairly often I will talk to these folks and point out > that with the changing tide and wave conditions the same spot they learned > at is now an advanced/expert break and that they would have more fun if > they moved over to easier break. They usually listen and move but > occassionally I get an attitude from them and I’ll just sit and wait for > them to get cleaned-up by the next set. Some of us have even talked to the > instructors out in the water and usually get a polite but cold response. I > don’t know the solution to this situation and it has gotten worse over the > last few years. yep.the real bummer is when you politely offer some advice regarding etiquette,techinque, positioning etc,and they turn it back on you like you’re being the ass or in the wrong.That’s when Ilose it.f-em.

OK-should they be abolished?or, should they be subject to some sort of > regulation/licensing commission?around my parts there are at least 4 surf > schools owned/operated by folks who can barely surf themselves,don’t know > the rules/etquette out in the water and therfore are teaching their > classes some bad surf habits,eg dropping in , paddling around those > waiting in the correct spot,etc., not to mention clogging lineups that > were once uncrowded without a care in the world.Should these > owners/instructors be required to go through some sort of training in > order to obtain a license to operate their surf school? Ya got me thinking… I used to surf the Cove in HB back in the early 80’s before they changed the parking set-up to a bunch of mini parking lots. Archie, Doc, Caveman and the rest were the few, the proud, the Cove Crew… Nowadays it has to be breaking real nice for me to make the walk down the cliffs. However, at the Cove some fine person takes the time to post a monthly tide chart in a plastic protector sleeve that they print off of the net (I think). It stays there for all to use. Personally I think that this is: Very Hip, Very Now, Very Shaka-Zulu (any movie trivia buffs out there?). So, Why not do the same and post the rules of engagement and etiquette for all to see at your favorite break? I think I just may do that… Magoo

Ya got me thinking… I used to surf the Cove in HB back in the early 80’s > before they changed the parking set-up to a bunch of mini parking lots. > Archie, Doc, Caveman and the rest were the few, the proud, the Cove > Crew… Nowadays it has to be breaking real nice for me to make the walk > down the cliffs. However, at the Cove some fine person takes the time to > post a monthly tide chart in a plastic protector sleeve that they print > off of the net (I think). It stays there for all to use. Personally I > think that this is: Very Hip, Very Now, Very Shaka-Zulu (any movie trivia > buffs out there?).>>> So, Why not do the same and post the rules of engagement and etiquette for > all to see at your favorite break? I think I just may do that…>>> Magoo think we’ll give it a go as well-thanks!

The rules are posted at Cowell’s and the Lane in Santa Cruz-it hasn’t made a difference.Being a beginner is fine, not being cautious and endangering others isn’t.I don’t have an answer-just a bunch of rail gashes