I am annoyed that Guy Cribb will run a wave clinic at Gnaraloo next October. Too remote, too dangerous, too crowded already, and where will we find an unspoilt wilderness wave spot when all of them have been used for clinics / comps / commercialisation / video'd???? This is one of the last ones left!!!! [}:)]

Previously a pro surf comp at Gnaraloo was canceled due to a petition to stop it, and I think that may be the go in this instance. Only my personal opinion though, but seems there are some like minded people out there.

So....... who thinks there should NOT be clinic at Gnaraloo?
Who thinks I am on the wrong track?

Only just started out "wave sailing" in some ****ty whitewater so I haven't had to deal with the frustration of being dropped in on. (Good luck to anyone that think's I can manouvre well enought to avoid them )

Understand your point of view but we can't want the sport to grow on one hand and chase people away on the other.

More media coverage, more schools, more of anything that creates more windsurf buzz is good and it might just dissuade those considering the darkside.

I'm guessing you'd rather be sharing your spots with fellow poley's than being overun by yet more kiters.

Like bp say's a few waves like the one in Laurie's mild day thread and those not good enough will become dedicated flat water sailors forever and Guy will run out of functional gear in 3 days.

I'm assuming it is an advanced clinic for ppl who have wave experience

So assuming that the people attending are up for it... yes or no? I still say no for the reasons in my O.P

Can't help finding the localism and perceived ownership of spots in WA a bit funny. It must be nice to have so many people to sail with you'd turn new-comers away.

I don't think it's localism or ownership. It's just a dumb idea.
Why do people have to cash in on it?

id vote no.

but in saying that it would probably be safer then having a bunch of sailors show up on their own and take on a wave that is out of their league.

Maybe they could provide some rescue equipment for the station. Hopefully this would help avoid the unfortunte circumstances that happend up there this time last year.

Squid Lips said...

Can't help finding the localism and perceived ownership of spots in WA a bit funny. It must be nice to have so many people to sail with you'd turn new-comers away.

I am guessing u haven't sailed it then?????

let 'em watch the school sharks feeding on the reef at sunrise that will scare em off (it was enough to make me think a billion times)

"Never been to WA. It sounds like a different world over there, with heaps of people windsurfing and tourists coming from all over the world to sail. In the rest of the country we're happy to see new/more people turn up to our spots these days. Ok, so it's different at this particular location (which is what the thread is about, so fair enough) but this isn't the first thread that has had people from WA saying they don't want tourists getting in their way." - Squid Lips

Slips - yes it is different - i lived there for 5 years during the 90's - imagine your fav spot being invaded, which is fine if there is room but some times there is not.....(heres where I dip into Euro bashing) they are here for a short time....some are not here to make friends and sometimes they treat the locals without much respect by not playing by the rules

As a slalom sailer it didnt bother me - but the wave guys cop it hard - as the euro gumbies who have never ridden anything bigger than a bowwave of a tinny come to grips with WA - I witnessed numerous near collisions at a lot of different spots over the years

In particular Gnarloo is a spot that deserves a lot of respect - and it has limited space and limited facilities - so why take a whole bunch of people their (i suspect its a bragging issue) when Coros, Lano etc exist

After all what is the difference between that group and any other group of mates who go there and sail their arms off.

They might actually be better "behaved" than some of us locals ;-)

I was a learner the first time I sailed there but I was young and stupid so it didnt worry me (It was the first place I ever sailed in the open ocean after learning at Carnarvon). Now (20+ years later) I know its generally out of my league and would probably only go out there on a small day.

I think there is a big difference between this and a competition where the comp wants to keep everyone else off the wave. These guys will be lining up like everyone else.

Perhaps the station ought to look at whether they are charging enough and maybe some donations to the RFD would be a good idea as well.

Guys response seems pretty good to me but I do hope he has good insurance !

I would second with Troppo. I think the real issue at hand is that by the pure fact that someone is proposing a wave clinic there some people might assume you can learn to wave sail there.

It does say 'extreme' clinic somewhere in the description but it took me reading it twice to notice it.

While in principle I am not opposed to anyone running a clinic anywhere in the world I would question how safe it really is...

... question: would you run a clinic at a place like Punta Preta in Cabo Verde? Yes?? Would still run it knowing that any help (in the form of a little country practice) in an emergency is at least 2hrs away?

PS: Does anyone know what the situation with first aid is? I think there was talk of getting oxygen, a defibrillator etc. in place or was that too much of a public liability issue for the station owner?

i don't really want to comment on whether it should or shouldn't happen but i'd love to be there with a camera.

i get the feeling the pros are about to hit town.

Every goddamn session at Gnaraloo is a freaking wave clinic.
It doesn't matter how local or experienced you are.
The difference here is that these dumb wave-tourists are forking out big bucks to the man...
so they can be awarded their badge of honour.
lol.

waveslave said...

Every goddamn session at Gnaraloo is a freaking wave clinic.
It doesn't matter how local or experienced you are.
The difference here is that these dumb wave-tourists are forking out big bucks to the man...
so they can be awarded their badge of honour.
lol.

full agree
Sucked in if somebody wants to pay to be filmed sailing

You dont need to be that good to sail Gnaraloo

Half the guys who sail there are shoulder hoppers anyway but will come back telling you of aerials,tight turns in the pocket and how the sailed like Polakow all week

If a few guys want to pay hell coin for a few lessons thats up to them.It wont take long to find out if there good enough for the place.

Bloody hell im jealous i wish i had a job taking crew around the world sailing

As long as he teaches them the rules which im sure he will all should be good.

i had heaps of WA guys drop in on me last week so maybe some of us should look in are own back yard before calling the shots

when the king of the point sails gnarloo he puts on a clinc makes the rest of us look silly really

Rider5 said...

All HAIL and Praise DA KING for he is our GOD, he charges like Da fallen angel and remember his immortal words "hold true when heading out ! " or was it "hold your line" no maybe "hold your course" AAAAGh dam that evil weed, for it fecks with my memory of days long gone past.

Dizzy spells? Are you sure you werent grafting skunk on the weekend?