localism gone too far?

[Kyle]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. My surfer friends say localism in the sport, even at Santa Cruz, is pretty intimidating. Unfortunate it has to get to this level.

http://www.theinertia.com/surf/surfers- ... surf-gang/

[cghorizon]

Thanks for sharing. Apparently some people never make it past adolescence. As a teenager growing up in HMB, we experienced this just about any time we drove south to surf SC.

Except for some of the local kiters at Ventura /C-Street, I have never encountered any kind of negative localism in the kiting community. I believe that for the most part (Noob-haters aside), kiters are super friendly, helpful, and generous in sharing their knowledge. Cheers to that...

[JimmyJack]

This is classic. The same debate has raged for eons. I tried to learn how to surf growing up in the bay area, but the only place to learn that was close was OB and Rockaway. It was like learning how to kite at OB. You wouldn't even try. So anyway, now that I am old, I tried to start surfing again with my daughter in Santa Cruz but after the 4th drive down, 2 hours each way and maybe getting 4 rides on my long board, and some grief from some "local", I realized, if I was ever going to ride a big wave on a short board it was going to have to be with a kite in my hand. Kitesurfing, actually in the surf, is the best, better than when we used to windsurf in the surf back when these guys were wearing day glow wetsuits. But I think the reason you get less hassle (I won't say no hassle, because there is some at Waddell, especially on busy weekends) is tied to how endorphin's or whatever you want to call it work. In surfing, the only high comes when you paddle, get up and ride the wave. Since this opportunity is limited to only a few spots on the wave, and there is not a constant supply of waves in the 1-2 hours you might be out, and there are many trying to get this high at the same time as you, there is a massive supply/demand inbalance. This inbalance leads to the classic situation I learned about in Poly Sci 1 (all I recall to be honest) where as resources decline but demand remains, political activity will increase to secure those resources. Historically it has been tire slashing, punching whatever, now it looks like it is lawsuits. With Kiting, while being on the wave with the kite is no doubt a great high, the endorphin or adrenaline rush begins as soon as you put the kite in the air and doesn't stop until it is on the ground. The fact that some of the demand for the high is relieved by simply putting the kite in the air and getting on the water reduces the anxiety that one might feel by increasing the supply of the stoke, so to speak. The other thing that increases supply is the ability to move around and catch another wave or another part of the wave and the waves are generally not as defined (especially at Waddell) as they might be at a point break like the one in PV or C-Street so different riders can be in different sections if it gets too crowded. However, and this is where there is some friction at Waddell, for the guys that have been doing it for a long time, putting the kite in the air and going back and forth is not enough of a high, and even being on any section of the wave is not enough, they need to be on the best section of the wave to get the high, and they are capable of being there most of the time. So when I or someone else gets in their way somewhere right in front of the parking lot or a bit north of it, they get upset. But a confrontation is rare because there are not that many guys that have the combination of skills and attitude. I have only run into it once and even then, on a kite it isn't an in your face up close scary interaction and generally by the time the session ends, interrupting one wave is not enough of a bummer for the guy that it carries over to the parking lot. On a kite, he/she can flip around and catch the one behind him/her. It is also generally, a different demographic, but I won't get into that.

[le noun]

I never and will never understand localism. Right of way, sure: it makes sense to organize how things run (like the rules while driving) and should be reminded to people when they burn you.
When surfing I usually go to the least crowded peak, even if it's not the best one.
Same with kiting.
If a spot is too crowded that you can't get a wave when everyone is respecting the rules (no snaking, no drop-in, respect of the rotation) then maybe you're just not as good as you though you were to position yourself correctly in the line up.

I also think that people getting mad about "secret spots" when it comes to kiting are even more stupid than surfers being "local". I mean, do you really think you're being discrete with a 11m colorful kite 60 feet above your head?

At the end of the day it's all about sharing the spot and the sport, like sharing the road. They are rules in place to organize things (rules of sailing in our case, like stop signs and traffic lights on the water) and getting mad at someone because they re there (but actually follow the rules) would be the same as getting mad at traffic jam: sorry buddy, everyone has to go to work, and as long as everyone follow the rules we will all get there on time. If you can't deal with it, get a job with different commute hours.

Cheers all!

[Cosmicocean]

The vibe in kiting is definetly a breath of fresh air compared to
The winner takes all, who knows who's who mentality that surfers have,

That said, if trying to learn to surf you cant expect smooth sailing at the best
Barreling poinbreaks around, need to pay your dues at beachbreaks and beginner spots,

And as said the demographic is hugely different, and someone mentioned "rotation",
If youre not along time regular at a spot you'll be snaked incesantly by faster, more
Expert riders, unfortunatly its in the nature of the sport. Just dont let them make u feel
Intimidated, we were all beginners once.

[le noun]

we were all beginners once.

[Red_Element_Andy]

I will build a great seawall — and nobody builds seawalls better than me, believe me —and I'll build them very inexpensively.

I will build a great, great seawall on the southern point of the break, and I will make San Francisco pay for that wall. Mark my words.

[MehYam]

I will build a great, great seawall on the southern point of the break, and I will make San Francisco pay for that wall. Mark my words.

Shit. If the conditions are bad and I feel the need to abort my session early, will I be punished?

[Erik]

I tried to start surfing again with my daughter in Santa Cruz but after the 4th drive down, 2 hours each way and maybe getting 4 rides on my long board, and some grief from some "local"

Try Linda Mar Pacifica. I grew up surfing and have never seen such a nice bunch of surfers. Even the old time locals are happy seeing someone else get some stoke from their local spot. It's amazing.

I love how kiting doesn't have that localism yet. I think that the guy that you cut off or get upset with might be the guy who needs to catch your kite, or drag you in after a equipment failure, helps a bit. But I do think it is hugely to do with demand and supply. As the sport gets increasingly popular and the available spots to kite does not, I fear this localism may creap in. Which would be a horrible path for this sport

[le noun]

I tried to start surfing again with my daughter in Santa Cruz but after the 4th drive down, 2 hours each way and maybe getting 4 rides on my long board, and some grief from some "local"

Try Linda Mar Pacifica. I grew up surfing and have never seen such a nice bunch of surfers. Even the old time locals are happy seeing someone else get some stoke from their local spot. It's amazing.

+1 for surfing Pacifica especially at Linda mar. Super friendly. Same with Bolinas, especially at the patch. Never had issues in Santa Cruz at Cowells, sharks cove or Capitola.