hi guys,

I'm very new to surfing (and the forum, but i have read a lot on here) as the name suggests, so i haven't learned all of the etiquette as yet (but i'm trying).

I went out surfing today, surfed the same spot for about 1 and half hour. i like to surf just behind the second break (i mean closest to the shore if that's wrong...) to catch the break pretty much into the beach. i just dont have the confidence to try to surf the bigger break at the moment as i've just moved to catching the wave face rather than white water. i turned around and a surf school had set up behind me "great, ah well i'm off now anyway i'll just paddle in down the side of them and go". so that was what i did...

as i get out of the water and start to walk away i hear "Oi, you!". i turned around and the surf instructor is running up behind me. he says something at first i can't comprehend, then begins off on a little power trip. he was saying he pays so much to the council to surf here and i dont, i need to go find another spot to surf in as i have a hard board and he's teaching new people to surf (so am i, myself..).

As i say i'm not sure about the etiquette so i just said sure buddy no problem, i'm off now anyway.

i wouldn't intentionally surf near a surf school, i don't really have enough control to make sure i don't hit anyone, which is why i didn't try to catch any waves on my way in, but can he come and set-up behind me and just tell me to move??

thanks all.

Plain and simple answer here. Tell him to **** off

He may pay the council a fee for having backpackers destroy the beach and use the facilities but he has no rights below the high tide mark. That would be the waterways authority and there are not many events that have exclusive usage of a waterway and certainly not on beaches for surf schools

Where was it?

http://www.surfline.com/surfology/surfology_borl_index.cfm

This is a good link about surf ettiquette.

Select to expand quote

SP said...

Plain and simple answer here. Tell him to **** off

He may pay the council a fee for having backpackers destroy the beach and use the facilities but he has no rights below the high tide mark. That would be the waterways authority and there are not many events that have exclusive usage of a waterway and certainly not on beaches for surf schools

Where was it?

ditto

Select to expand quote

asea said...

SP said...

Plain and simple answer here. Tell him to **** off

He may pay the council a fee for having backpackers destroy the beach and use the facilities but he has no rights below the high tide mark. That would be the waterways authority and there are not many events that have exclusive usage of a waterway and certainly not on beaches for surf schools

Where was it?

ditto

+1. The guy sounds like a goose.

Cheers guys, and thanks for the link SP - its difficult to keep up but ill have a good read through.

It was down at surfers paradise on the gold coast, it's the only beach i've really tried to be honest.

Cant see he has any rights. But check with the council. Enjoy

Select to expand quote

newbie2012 said...

Cheers guys, and thanks for the link SP - its difficult to keep up but ill have a good read through.

It was down at surfers paradise on the gold coast, it's the only beach i've really tried to be honest.

Select to expand quote

newbie2012 said...

Cheers guys, and thanks for the link SP - its difficult to keep up but ill have a good read through.

It was down at surfers paradise on the gold coast, it's the only beach i've really tried to be honest.

Yeah the surfline one is good it just doesn't say do this or do that, actually explains it and why.


& the council has no rights to legislate anything below the high tide mark, just ask any farmer where there property goes to, they will tell you I don't own the river, it's commonwealth land.
As for a surf school, they are a pest, old mate is just pissed he's not making a dollar of you, he has no right to tell you to move on. Just Ask a beach inspector, these blokes are pretty knowledgable and will give you the truth and most would probably have put old mate in his place.

If it was me, I would of just paddle back out and extended my sesh No one in this world has any right to talk to people or anyone like that. If he was polite about it, you could just take him as misguided but geez the lack of respect for others!

Sounds like a bit of a wanker, and no he doesn't have the right to say that.

He certainly sounds like he's in the wrong, as mentioned by SP, his rights under the provisions granted by Council probably only extend to the use of public areas such as car parks.

Another tactic to use could be to place the burden of proof back on him by asking a variety of questions such as.

Can you show me the documentation relating to your exclusive rights for use of the surf zone?

Can you please give me the name of the Council person or other authority that granted you these rights?

Can you direct me to the web site where I may find details of these rights and privileges
You're claiming?

Stuff like that.

This has little to do with surf etiquette, this is more about making sure an ill informed nob does not spoil your right to the quiet enjoyment of a public space.

He did go about it the wrong way getting in your face.

Without taking sides I ask this question. When surfboard riding clubs hold their events or monthly club comp, do they get exclusive permission off any authority, how does that work.

My local point break would see upwards of 30 surfers in the water of a Sunday yet twice a month a couple of clubs claim ownership for a club comp so there must be some sort of leasing agreement.

Select to expand quote

stuk said...

He did go about it the wrong way getting in your face.

Without taking sides I ask this question. When surfboard riding clubs hold their events or monthly club comp, do they get exclusive permission off any authority, how does that work.

My local point break would see upwards of 30 surfers in the water of a Sunday yet twice a month a couple of clubs claim ownership for a club comp so there must be some sort of leasing agreement.

Nope they have no authority, bells and the GC event are the only ones. .& I'm not 100% sure on the GC
Board rider clubs are working on fear of numbers mate and the fact they're "local"
As OBCT said just call them on it

As a former member of a longboard club for 7years any one can surf any where but usually most surfers see a comp on and leave that one take off bank to the club.Mind you i have surfed my heats with other surfers and it didn't worry me as no one owns the ocean its there for every one to use.You often get locals who think they own that bank but at the end of the day they don't imo.

Sharpen your fin [}:)]

Select to expand quote

obct said...

He certainly sounds like he's in the wrong, as mentioned by SP, his rights under the provisions granted by Council probably only extend to the use of public areas such as car parks.

Another tactic to use could be to place the burden of proof back on him by asking a variety of questions such as.

Can you show me the documentation relating to your exclusive rights for use of the surf zone?

Can you please give me the name of the Council person or other authority that granted you these rights?

Can you direct me to the web site where I may find details of these rights and privileges
You're claiming?

Stuff like that.

This has little to do with surf etiquette, this is more about making sure an ill informed nob does not spoil your right to the quiet enjoyment of a public space.

Surely a swift f@ck off would suffice. and what about clubbies has anyone ever had their board confiscated ?Years back I was surfing a left up the north end of Maroubra on a weekday and the swimming season had just started but it was still cool and there was no one around. I rode this left about halfway into the flags and this fat clubbie comes down with a loud hailer yelling that he will take my board off me if I do it again. There was nobody swimming.
Pigs arse I thought there's no way I'm going to hand my board over to this bloke.[}:)]

Select to expand quote

asea said...

As a former member of a longboard club for 7years any one can surf any where but usually most surfers see a comp on and leave that one take off bank to the club.Mind you i have surfed my heats with other surfers and it didn't worry me as no one owns the ocean its there for every one to use.You often get locals who think they own that bank but at the end of the day they don't imo.

True and who in their right mind would want to hassle for waves with 6 mal riders catching everything. I had a longboard video and it was a comp at Malibu I think and this knee boarder paddles out and Joel Tudors father tried to tell him to move out of the contest area resulting in an underwater headlock and push and shove and then one of the Hawaiian competitors paddles over and punches the kneelos lights out resulting in him leaving the beach in an ambulance and the Hawaiian taken away by the cops. Things can get out of hand .

Select to expand quote

smh said...

obct said...

He certainly sounds like he's in the wrong, as mentioned by SP, his rights under the provisions granted by Council probably only extend to the use of public areas such as car parks.

Another tactic to use could be to place the burden of proof back on him by asking a variety of questions such as.

Can you show me the documentation relating to your exclusive rights for use of the surf zone?

Can you please give me the name of the Council person or other authority that granted you these rights?

Can you direct me to the web site where I may find details of these rights and privileges
You're claiming?

Stuff like that.

This has little to do with surf etiquette, this is more about making sure an ill informed nob does not spoil your right to the quiet enjoyment of a public space.

Surely a swift f@ck off would suffice. and what about clubbies has anyone ever had their board confiscated ?Years back I was surfing a left up the north end of Maroubra on a weekday and the swimming season had just started but it was still cool and there was no one around. I rode this left about halfway into the flags and this fat clubbie comes down with a loud hailer yelling that he will take my board off me if I do it again. There was nobody swimming.
Pigs arse I thought there's no way I'm going to hand my board over to this bloke.[}:)]

Clubbies suck balls, we have had them paddle out on their ski thingies and jetskies but Ive never seen them take anyones board.

Saw two clubbies fall out of an IRB one day and a surfer rescued the boat and gave it back to them. Bloody d!ckheads imo, they have never had to save me.

Select to expand quote

doggie said...

smh said...

obct said...

He certainly sounds like he's in the wrong, as mentioned by SP, his rights under the provisions granted by Council probably only extend to the use of public areas such as car parks.

Another tactic to use could be to place the burden of proof back on him by asking a variety of questions such as.

Can you show me the documentation relating to your exclusive rights for use of the surf zone?

Can you please give me the name of the Council person or other authority that granted you these rights?

Can you direct me to the web site where I may find details of these rights and privileges
You're claiming?

Stuff like that.

This has little to do with surf etiquette, this is more about making sure an ill informed nob does not spoil your right to the quiet enjoyment of a public space.

Surely a swift f@ck off would suffice. and what about clubbies has anyone ever had their board confiscated ?Years back I was surfing a left up the north end of Maroubra on a weekday and the swimming season had just started but it was still cool and there was no one around. I rode this left about halfway into the flags and this fat clubbie comes down with a loud hailer yelling that he will take my board off me if I do it again. There was nobody swimming.
Pigs arse I thought there's no way I'm going to hand my board over to this bloke.[}:)]

Clubbies suck balls, we have had them paddle out on their ski thingies and jetskies but Ive never seen them take anyones board.

Saw two clubbies fall out of an IRB one day and a surfer rescued the boat and gave it back to them. Bloody d!ckheads imo, they have never had to save me.

Doggie i have noticed as of late you are becoming rather viscious i suggest you come back to QLD for a holiday and by the way you're shout for breaky

Select to expand quote

smh said...

Surely a swift f@ck off would suffice. and what about clubbies has anyone ever had their board confiscated ?Years back I was surfing a left up the north end of Maroubra on a weekday and the swimming season had just started but it was still cool and there was no one around. I rode this left about halfway into the flags and this fat clubbie comes down with a loud hailer yelling that he will take my board off me if I do it again. There was nobody swimming.
Pigs arse I thought there's no way I'm going to hand my board over to this bloke.[}:)]

Newbie Welcome
This Clown does not stand a chance so do what ever you feel like, if he can't hack it BOO HOO!

Yer SMH I had my board taken off me once when I was a grom. The guy told me to give him my board because he thought I had surfed into the flags. BS, he was a full of it and i told him to piss off![}:)] Then he basically ripped out of my hands and told me he was keeping it for 24 hours and I would have to get mum or dad to pick it up.
So I went home and the old man and I were back down there in like 2 minutes and the old man was pissed that this wanker had basically ripped the board out of my hands. I was about 13 - 14 at the time.
When the Clubbie saw us walking towards him he went from looking like king dick to a shivering b!#ch in the blink of an eye, he looked at his mates for back up but they all turned and walked , After we got the board back the old man got up in his face and gave him what for, by this stage a small group was watching on and the clubbie couldn't apologise enough.
Never had anymore problems for the rest of the summer after that.[}:)]

Mate I would have given him the bird and walked off go to the car and slash his learn to surf van[}:)]

He does NOT own the beach and YOU have EVERY right to surf where you like other than between the flags.

Select to expand quote

62mac said...

Mate I would have given him the bird and walked off go to the car and slash his learn to surf van[}:)]

He does NOT own the beach and YOU have EVERY right to surf where you like other than between the flags.

Trouble is Mac they stand a better chance of standing over kids . Good story Locky.

agree with everyone plus you should have said nothing and just paddled back out

phew, i just posted a topic and then saw this

As you can tell from the above I have not had a good relationship with these tools!
But there is a difference between the two (IMO)
Lifeguards - do this for a living and actually know what they are doing and are also pretty good guys.

Life savers ( weekend worriors )- not all but some come down to the beach from a crappy city job slap on a cap and a shirt and think they rule the beach.
Set up the flags on the best bank.
Come out for a group swim and decide to body surf on any other bank that is half decent and then get in the way of the guys surfing.
Love the sound of there own voice over the PA system.
And (this is the most annoying) will ALWAYS fang past a line up just as a set is approaching and stuff it up with the wake off the jetski or IRB.
Don't know how it goes in other states but in QLD I am pretty sure that anyone operating a boat or jetski must keep to 6 knots within a 200 m area near swimmers or surfers??
Why are these clowns different?
Is it because they strap on a red & yellow knob cap that makes it ok
OK fair enough if they are actually performing a rescue I understand that,
But how many of us have witnessed these goons zipping in and out of the masses just for the hell of it.
CLOWNS!!

OK glad that's off my chest

Select to expand quote

SP said...

Plain and simple answer here. Tell him to **** off

He may pay the council a fee for having backpackers destroy the beach and use the facilities but he has no rights below the high tide mark. That would be the waterways authority and there are not many events that have exclusive usage of a waterway and certainly not on beaches for surf schools

Where was it?

Na sp, when you are talking etiquette it's "pretty please fark off"

Select to expand quote

doggie said...

smh said...

obct said...

He certainly sounds like he's in the wrong, as mentioned by SP, his rights under the provisions granted by Council probably only extend to the use of public areas such as car parks.

Another tactic to use could be to place the burden of proof back on him by asking a variety of questions such as.

Can you show me the documentation relating to your exclusive rights for use of the surf zone?

Can you please give me the name of the Council person or other authority that granted you these rights?

Can you direct me to the web site where I may find details of these rights and privileges
You're claiming?

Stuff like that.

This has little to do with surf etiquette, this is more about making sure an ill informed nob does not spoil your right to the quiet enjoyment of a public space.

Surely a swift f@ck off would suffice. and what about clubbies has anyone ever had their board confiscated ?Years back I was surfing a left up the north end of Maroubra on a weekday and the swimming season had just started but it was still cool and there was no one around. I rode this left about halfway into the flags and this fat clubbie comes down with a loud hailer yelling that he will take my board off me if I do it again. There was nobody swimming.
Pigs arse I thought there's no way I'm going to hand my board over to this bloke.[}:)]

Clubbies suck balls, we have had them paddle out on their ski thingies and jetskies but Ive never seen them take anyones board.

Saw two clubbies fall out of an IRB one day and a surfer rescued the boat and gave it back to them. Bloody d!ckheads imo, they have never had to save me.

Heh Doggie...bit harsh
for years I was a clubby and no there was no ball sucking :).... sucked on lots of bundy..but no balls
As for surfing...yes clubbies tend to take out those ski thingies, mals and jet skis,BUT a significant portion of true SLSC guys do surf and surf very well, Unfortunately, I do agree that the SLSC movement can get very "cop like" on the beach, something that burrs even me up,(often I agree they do get full of themselves) and yes they can be a pest in a break agreed. (I for one bloody hate it when a good break get ruined by SLSC craft and I am quite verbal about it in the break).

However, I have seen and been part of some very serious rescues in big seas that the SLSC guys have truly put their own life at risk and yes I can give a very good recount of a surfer that owes his life to a so called ball sucker.

We could all point to stories about who did what and where and to whom, but we really do need to look and strive for tolerance and education. The SLSC ball sucking movement is a volunteer movement, run by very well meaning individuals and manned on the beach (at time given) with some of the best watermen you could ever meet.
Hopefully they will never have to pull you out of the water god forbid..I really do hope that, but if that ever happens, mate, a fully committed clubby is far better than many of our paid "special opps" guys... generally far freakin fitter at least.

Apologies for the Hijack of the thread, but back on topic,
As for the surf school operator, yep ....f@rK orf.. A simple request politely put would have been more appropriate.
Just because he is earning a living, does not give him ownership to the surf, It gives him the right to operate in the area and this links back to insurances and liabilities etc. His right to operate does not mean at the exclusion of others.
Geez...what would happens if his competitor turns up..game on
cheers
Climber

to reply to the clubbies. one time we were surfing a very nice bank at kingie. next minute all this paddle boards were all over it- a club race. a guys in a rubber duckie came out and went oh ****. he said sorry fella's, we'll move down the beach a bit, then proceeded to radio in and tell the club they were going to move the buoy off the surfing bank.


i thought that was unreal of them

Select to expand quote

Locky24 said...

As you can tell from the above I have not had a good relationship with these tools!
But there is a difference between the two (IMO)
Lifeguards - do this for a living and actually know what they are doing and are also pretty good guys.

Life savers ( weekend worriors )- not all but some come down to the beach from a crappy city job slap on a cap and a shirt and think they rule the beach.
Set up the flags on the best bank.
Come out for a group swim and decide to body surf on any other bank that is half decent and then get in the way of the guys surfing.
Love the sound of there own voice over the PA system.
And (this is the most annoying) will ALWAYS fang past a line up just as a set is approaching and stuff it up with the wake off the jetski or IRB.
Don't know how it goes in other states but in QLD I am pretty sure that anyone operating a boat or jetski must keep to 6 knots within a 200 m area near swimmers or surfers??
Why are these clowns different?
Is it because they strap on a red & yellow knob cap that makes it ok
OK fair enough if they are actually performing a rescue I understand that,
But how many of us have witnessed these goons zipping in and out of the masses just for the hell of it.
CLOWNS!!

OK glad that's off my chest

Locky if their not doin all that they are asleep with their feet out the windows of the ute

Select to expand quote

Locky24 said...

As you can tell from the above I have not had a good relationship with these tools!
But there is a difference between the two (IMO)
Lifeguards - do this for a living and actually know what they are doing and are also pretty good guys.

Life savers ( weekend worriors )- not all but some come down to the beach from a crappy city job slap on a cap and a shirt and think they rule the beach.
Set up the flags on the best bank.
Come out for a group swim and decide to body surf on any other bank that is half decent and then get in the way of the guys surfing.
Love the sound of there own voice over the PA system.
And (this is the most annoying) will ALWAYS fang past a line up just as a set is approaching and stuff it up with the wake off the jetski or IRB.
Don't know how it goes in other states but in QLD I am pretty sure that anyone operating a boat or jetski must keep to 6 knots within a 200 m area near swimmers or surfers??
Why are these clowns different?
Is it because they strap on a red & yellow knob cap that makes it ok
OK fair enough if they are actually performing a rescue I understand that,
But how many of us have witnessed these goons zipping in and out of the masses just for the hell of it.
CLOWNS!!

OK glad that's off my chest

Yep I agree,I see this every weekend and often think oh my, us sufers have so much more water skill than the weekend city clubbers have,there's only one guy I see that could pull me out of danger the others would have no hope,so knowing a lot of guys that surf I have a good feeling one of them would bail me out of trouble if it came my way

Select to expand quote

smh said...

asea said...

As a former member of a longboard club for 7years any one can surf any where but usually most surfers see a comp on and leave that one take off bank to the club.Mind you i have surfed my heats with other surfers and it didn't worry me as no one owns the ocean its there for every one to use.You often get locals who think they own that bank but at the end of the day they don't imo.

True and who in their right mind would want to hassle for waves with 6 mal riders catching everything. I had a longboard video and it was a comp at Malibu I think and this knee boarder paddles out and Joel Tudors father tried to tell him to move out of the contest area resulting in an underwater headlock and push and shove and then one of the Hawaiian competitors paddles over and punches the kneelos lights out resulting in him leaving the beach in an ambulance and the Hawaiian taken away by the cops. Things can get out of hand .

It's not that bad SMH especially if there only local guys, they still are fat and slow with a comp vest on .

Na we get heaps of them, probably one somewhere on the town beaches every weekend during summer so most of the time they will just get surfed through. The way is see it is a comp has no more right than anyone who lives there and shouldn't be able to exclude all others so they can have some meaningless comp, well it is to me.
There was a certain LB club that used to try this when we were younger so guess my attitude comes from that.

But having said that ... yeah pick what you surf through, I saw a mate get absolutely belittled for about half hour on day by some guy with a microphone and PA, the whole car park thought it was piss funny. He deserved it though, he paddled out solo into a semi of the juniors at surfest