Was out at my local break today, which had a few bombs coming through, and not very crowded. One thing that amazed me was the amount of people that paddle for waves, without quickly glancing inside to see if anyone is on the wave. I must've seen at least 15 drop ins as a result. And I'm not talking about when someones too deep and can't make the section. Guys just can't be bothered turning their heads! Luckily I didn't have any drop ins, but felt for the guys whose waves got stuffed. Does this piss any one else off??

All the time, worst one is if your surfing reef breaks and people shoulder hop and dont look, frustrating

No excuse imo for that type of crap. Takes nothing to have a quick look back up the wave

Slowly I'm learning and doing my best and when I do accidentally drop in or do something stupid I definitely apologize!

What I hate is when I walk couple 100m to find my own break and everyone suddenly paddles to where I'm surfing! Then cos I don't want to drop in when like 3 guys go for the same wave, I pull out. Geez, bunch of sheeps. Maybe I'll just wear a 'I'm a kook, I'll drop in on ya' sign and give caution to the wind!

Yeah nutsy, it's a pet hate of mine too. You have to pull people up on it. I do it often, even if it wasn't my wave that they screwed. People do it because they can because over time with less aggression and more political correctness in the water they can get away with it. So I try to be polite, but occasionally blow up. It helps keep up my aggro persona.

It shouldn't happen at all. I won't even paddle for a wave if someone else is in position. Sure, I might miss waves if they occasionally mess it up, but then after a chance or two I'm going to let them know that I'm dropping in but it never comes to that - they realise their limitations and won't put themselves in the position anyway. Otherwise yep, have a word and let them know you're not going to let them waste waves.

newguy, more skilled surfers will take advantage of less skilled surfers. That's just the way it is. I use that approach quite often, e.g. sit in the middle of a pack of kooks and from the shore it looks crowded so people might not be inclined to paddle out, but I can get lots of waves by exploiting weaknesses in the pack.

I'll drop in on you any chance i can get nutsy.

there is no political correctness at my local
you may get away with it atm 80% of us are in bali

The key to it all is to apologise when/if you drop in on someone. Accidents happen, take responsibility and say sorry...it's just just surf etiquette it is etiquette in general.

I can't see how a drop in can be accidental. Maybe in 0.01% of cases. How hard is it to have awareness of where people are? It's like if you were driving on the freeway. Do you just change lanes at will? Or do you look around, not only in the mirrors but check by turning your head? And anticipate other people's intentions?

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spot1 said...

there is no political correctness at my local

I've got to say, I've encountered more intentional drop ins at your local than anywhere else ever. Mostly from average surfers. There are a few good surfers who don't. E.g. a guy who drives a blue modern (dual cab?) 4wd tradies ute who I've chatted to a few times. A few others, not sure what they drive or who they are. But I only surf it midweek, with all the tradies and FIFO workers and retirees.

There's also the occasional guy who paddles straight out from shore to the inside so you think maybe he knows what's up, but then completely blows a set and reveals he's a kook but by that stage a juicy wave has gone by unridden.

I sort of prefer N____ because of less crowd pressure. If there's a tight pack I'll often paddle over to N____ instead.

I haven't really had any good days there this winter anyway. It seemed to line up last winter better.

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Legion said...

I can't see how a drop in can be accidental.

True.
Only time I've really dropped in one people is on a split peak when you think they're going to go the other way and then they don't.

Just as bad as drop ins are people calling waves and then not even making it in. Can't stand that 5hit

Then they drop down the ladder. If you call, you better have a good excuse if you don't catch it. And splitting a peak, you've got to communicate - "which way you going mate?" - and if he says the wrong way, then try to paddle around him to take the other direction. Mostly people will be willing to split a peak if you communicate, as long as the peak is an even split.

^^^^^ thought you just wacked them with your paddle!!!

I occasionally drop in when this occurs. Lets say 5 guys out one catches a wave paddles all the way back sits on the inside of everyone again. Okay they take another wAve and again on inside. A lot of lidders are responsible for this. But so do surfers. Third time unlucky for them. If they blow up just calmly explain. Generally they get the idea. Of course I won't drop in if the inside section is dangerous won't even put an arrogant selfish rude prick in danger.

Another pet hate of mine in is when people roll up in a car overloaded with people boards stacked half a metre high and all paddle out at the same time
Most times there will only be a few guys out then suddenly its a free for all
Which creates situations as mentioned above
If your going to surf somewhere semi-secluded don't rock up with an instant crowd
I was reading some of Legions previous posts and i think he has the right idea of travelling
Go the solo mission and your less likely to be hassled by locals anywhere

Yeah, one guy fits in to a lineup, 5 guys no way.

Also the guy on his phone to his mates in the carpark giving a surf report deserves to be dropped in on mercilessly all session long, and his mates if they turn up.

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Prawnhead said...

^^^^^ thought you just wacked them with your paddle!!!

Yeah, that works when I'm on my SUP, but not so well when I'm on my goat boat. When I'm on my booger I just whack them over the head with the whole booger but that usually just makes them laugh ...

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Legion said...

Yeah, one guy fits in to a lineup, 5 guys no way.

Also the guy on his phone to his mates in the carpark giving a surf report deserves to be dropped in on mercilessly all session long, and his mates if they turn up.

yeah but what about 1 guy and 4 chicks?

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Ados said...


yeah but what about 1 guy and 4 chicks?

I was over in Mexico a couple of years ago and what surprised me the most was how the Americans perceive the Aussies
I know we have our list of gripes a mile long about the seppos but
Apparently the Aussies are known as the new Brazos
Thats travelling in packs.
I think Aussie surf packs was the term used
Instant crowds and bad vibes wherever they surfed apparently

Doesn't surprise me. Aussies are usually pricks when they go overseas, surfer or not.

Prognosis:

- gen y-ers...dont give a **** about anyone but themselves and dont have a clue.

- newbs...completely ignorant and dont have a clue - see a wave and think they have to catch it.

pfffft!

the best don't argue i have seen was delivered courtesy of ketut pitur? (smooth as silk surfer and 1st warung owner at uluwatu) in the early 90's when an errant brazilian dropped in on him at the racetrack while ketut was in the barrel and fell off.. and his loose board clipped ketut in the head,this will be good i thought as i was paddling back and saw the whole incident.
Ketut paddled straight over to the guy, i thought he was going to clout him and then use him for bait ,but he just pushed him straight off his board and ordered him to take off his legrope, and then calmly removed all 3 fins with 3 thrusts of the palm...then threw the board onto the next set wave ....and then grinned at me and said to the guy ..welcome to bali....f&*kwit!! job done!!

^^^^
FAAAKE! Totally made up...since when do Brazilians drop in on people?

Good stuff. Would love to have seen that.

Glad to see I'm not alone in my frusrations. Wasn't having a go at learners either, usually once you have a friendly word, it's all taken on board. It seems awareness in the water is something that comes with experience. Btw I've got my eye on you Night Monkey. Just wait till you get in the pit

Gen Y don't have a clue? yeah cheers bloke... Good one... Secondly, Legion I love your work, usually but expoliting a crowd sounds a bit off. Also if a guy stuffs a take off it could sometimes be because some scum on a fat board is snaking him. If I've waited patiently, I don't care if I've stuffed the last ten waves, I'll take it and punch on when someone drops in.

Mind you, I usually wait and chat to blokes. It is like fishing, surfing is about the experience, the waves come second. I love taking time to talk to people.

A few agro blokes at Cottesloe this arvo/evening; purposely getting as close as they could to guys innocently paddling out and spraying water at anyone they could for no reason. Not a very nice vibe in the water and soooo many drop ins. Was hardly worth it.
Some nice rides when/if you got them but the tossers in the crowd made it a very 'meh' sesh.

THIS BLOKE IN DUNSBOROUGH GOES CRAZY WHEN THE 12 YEAR OLDS DROP IN ON HIM-THREATENS TO HEATBUTT EM! GOES BY THE NAME HANDI! HES A CRAZY CAT!
2SHAY! HANDI YA WOOFTER! BABAHAHAHAHAHAAHAA!

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PaddlePig said...

Gen Y don't have a clue? yeah cheers bloke... Good one...

my pleasure, grasshopper

Even though its no excuse for going off at a 12yr old
But
The guy has probably surfed by himself in the 70"s, 80's and even some of the 90's
Now with the surf explosion he has to put up with every clown not to mention the city packs that rock up every time the internet gives them the all clear
Sounds like he's jaded big time

Yeh, I guess its like a right of way for beginners to be picked on eh Legion? And I'll most likely do the same one day when I get better

Oh and on behalf of myself and any decent learners, I apologize in advance if I ever drop in on you or do anything stupid in the lineup

Not as much picked on as their weaknesses exploited. So e.g. they might sit in a rip and you know they're going to struggle because your positioning and awareness need to be spot on. Or there might be a bubble in a reef, and you need to use it, but that requires some experience so you know the others will miss it unless they're in exactly the right spot. So you can sit right there on the bubble and catch a wave that's impossible to catch 3m away. So when you'd normally avoid 5 or 10 people, if they don't know what they're doing it's no problem to sit amongst them and the crowded appearance will put other people off.

I use this method when surfing with people who are better then me.
I let everyone go for the first and second waves of the set and when everyone is out of position I feast on the third one
Works well at Bingin