Who knows?
Hate to say though, from my experiences SUP surfing the equally popular tourist beach on the northern side of Sydney and elsewhere, something like this was bound to happen. I am just glad it was not me getting charged (again???).
What seems to happen on a regular basis is some idiot will explode with threats of extreme violence including death against the SUP rider (me). Typically this is done as a show of bravado by the prone rider to their surrounding mates. Yes, these heroes are a pack hunting animal. It is undoubtedly a bizarre ritual display of immature behaviour by the wannabe alpha male seeking the recognition of the tribe.
As this often happens BEFORE the SUP (again me) has even had a chance to catch a wave, it cannot be said to have been caused by hassling. More likely, SUPs are the new "enemy". The latest accepted target of the above novice alpha - no age or gender restriction - in their quest for acceptance. It is nevertheless hard to discount the SUP being judged by the behaviours of others before him?
Yes, I am expecting the typical bashing for having posted this honest reflection about the ongoing conflict that can underly these incidents. Sorry also for the verbosity. If I wrote in plain English there would be a lot of # @?? going down!
This guy was a ticking time bomb.
He first appeared at Bondi a couple of months before the incident. He was quickly making a name for himself with the local guys due to his very poor surf etiquette. Dropping in and snaking with great regularity. Two weeks prior he was in the water sharing a bank with several guys that I know. He had dropped in aproximateley 4 times before one of the boys very respectfully advised him that he may need to take it a bit easy and share a few with the other surfers in the water. His response was fairly heated and contained a few threats. Shortly after that one of the boys dropped in on him to make a point. The reaction was borderline insanity. I was adivsed of all of this the following morning at a regular coffee gathering of some of the local surfers. Short, long and SUP boarders alike. I had seen him
In the water previously but had not yet been out at the same time as him and had decided that the first time I found myself in the lineup with him, I'd paddle over and introduce myself and have a friendly chat. I was sure that it wouldn't be long untill I'd witness his behavior and thought I'd be able to talk with him respectfully about it and maybe get through to him without any angst or embarrassment on his part. Unfortunately this never had a chance to take place and the incident reported in the media happened. In summary, being a Bondi local and SUP surfer, I can accurately report to all that this individual was well known for his poor behavior well before the ugly incident. It was also later discovered that he had been moved on from a few other Sydney beaches in months prior which looks as though lead him to surfing Bondi.
Bondi is a very tolerant surf break of all craft and skill levels. Like anywhere, respect is freely given to all and there is almost always a friendly vibe in the water. I can assure all that it takes a lot to upset the balance and have nasty incidents occur there.
Yep,.who knows? Obviously one of the people whose bad deeds I seem to end up paying for?
What really concerns me is that episode like this will give potential "heroes" a reason to tell all SUPs to f#ck off?
Back in the day, I surfed through some serious violence against body boarders, not saying I am totally innocent either. Nevertheless, they have established a respectful place in the water, from intense slabs to a safe soft way for kids to play in the wash.
Hopefully we can learn from these past lessons in the evolution of surf craft? SUP has a legitimate place in the line up. It wouldn't be nice to think the next 54 year old past prone surfer with a back injury who moves to Sup is going to cop crap because of this idiot before him?
On the dark side, I hung with a Bondi "local" in the mid 1980's when things in the water and on the beach were a lot heavier. Thankfully, what he would have done to the SUP rider at issue is no longer socially acceptable?
My situation exactly. Back injury has lead me to surfing a sup, which is unreal because I can still surf. The difference from being in the water prone surfing to being on a sup I have found quite incredible. While I was prone surfing all my life I never seem to have any problems. I haven't changed anything in the way I surf, but the attitude towards me now that I'm on a sup has changed considerably.
Yes, I am back on my 10' with bigger fins after straining my back dragging an anchor out of the mud a few weeks back. It has been fine on the back and I am slowly freeing the fins up.
On the otherhand, the day after I did the strain, I was stupid enough to jump on a super fast prone. It was uncomfortable even to sit on the thing. My idiocy ended in a visit to hospital, CT scans and a LOT of pain!
Should have mentioned my "go to" board for Bondi would be my daughter's 4'9" keel fin softie. I had so much fun on a mate's girlfriends soft top out there last year. Might even have to think about updating my daughter to one of those smick Tom Carroll pro models?
