Keeping The Peace: Surfers Vs. Standup Paddlers
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Its the old problem in the water, sharing the waves and getting along. Typically in the surfing world, the shortboarders don't like surfing with long boarders, windsurfers don't like surfing with kitesurfers, and these days it seems that no one likes the SUP guys And its always for the same reasons. WAVE HOGS!
But we can figure it out and all get along on the water. After 35 years of shortboarding and windsurfing in Hawaii with some of the best surfers in the world (and most aggressive), I really understand the frustration of the surfers. If you don't surf and you have just learned to SUP then you may never understand what those surfers feel. So take a moment and think about it.
Would you go to Watts and cut off a gang member driving? It could lead to a few problems dont you think? Surf tribes around the world are no different. They tend to be territorial and many times even confrontational. Cut off the wrong guy when stress levels are high enough, and who knows what can happen. We've all heard the stories.
Here's the problem: Stand up paddlers can catch the wave like they are powered by an engine. They can easily out paddle a surfers speed 10 fold. So, if a surfer has been sitting at the point waiting for a wave for a half an hour with a group of other surfers and jocking for position you can understand why they get bummed (or worse), when a stand up paddler comes from the beach and is at the point in an instant with minimum effort. In a matter of minutes the SUP guys can paddle outside of everyone and catch the first set before it is even close to the surfers that have been patiently waiting for their turn in the line up. Many times the SUP guys can ride a wave in, paddle right back out and do the same thing over and over while the surfers anger begins to boil over. Ive seen it happen over and over again in Hawaii and its becoming a real problem.
While in Peru on a surfing trip I decided to use my stand up paddle board. When I hit the beach in Chicama i noticed about 50 surfers all fighting for the same waves. I paddled well outside the group about a half mile up the coast where I was all to myself, besides the pelicans of coarse. After a couple of hours of some of the best sup surfing I had ever experienced I decide to take it back in to shore. Again I stayed well away from the pack of surfers. When I got in they all seamed to appreciate the fact that I didn't impose on their territory.
Thats the beauty of the SUPs, they can take you anywhere, with ease. They can take you to places on the coastal outer reefs farther than most surfers are willing to paddle to. Surfers tend to choose the waves with the shortest distance to the waves from the beach, so take advantage of this and get a little extra exercise by paddling to a break with less or no people and then there will not be a problem. Just use your head and a bit of surfing etiquette and it is possible to all get along. Be an ambassador of our new sport.
We can't try to take over the ocean's and lakes. There are other water men their that deserve consideration. The good thing about SUP is that our canvas is wide open, we can go anywhere with ease, just paddle off to our own peace of paradise. If your in a place that doesn't allow that then just wait your turn. You will get respect and in turn our sport can grow without all the controversy.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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