Legion, we all agree if you get 3 or 4 SUP's out on a good day and they decide to be hogs they could dominate a spot easily. You don't need to keep posting possible examples/scenarios. Lets just hope this doesn't happen and the SUP guys know better.
BUT.....
Most on here as far as I know will do their best to keep the peace in a line-up and let the fair share of waves go through. You are lucky IMO as most on here will over time influence others new to SUP surfing and do their best to educate them on how it should be. Also, the retailers selling SUP support this forum as well so newbies are likely to check it out. There's no better place to get info and learn how it should be done.
The people I would be scared of are the angry older dudes that have surfed a bit and never got that many waves in a session. They won't be on Seabreeze and will have "pay back" on their mind when in the surf. IMO they will stick to the lesser breaks though as they will still get dominated at quality breaks. Maybe I'm stereo typing here but I could imaging this happening.
Myself and a couple others I surf with will try to be the first in the water (dawn) and choose the second best bank. If prone guys choose to paddle out it's there choice. We'll still get plenty of waves but still let everyone else get their share. I think this is the "mentality" of the majority here.
Doggie, I followed your Mentawii's trip and was stoked for you. Thanks for a good thread. I'll be taking the SUP and shorty to indo or somewhere this year, don't know how much I'll use the shorty though. Will probably be a back up if I snap the SUP in a Hideaways keg.
Legion, in your pic above the shortboarder definately has the wave.
Provided he is going to make that section the SUP should pull off, which it looks like he did.
If it was doubtful the shorty was going to make the section then keep surfing, and if he does
then the SUP should get out of there.
Great thread and I'm really impreesed how it never turned to sh!t 
but it's running out of juice.
You are totally focused on the newbies into sup which is a valid point but you really have ignored the ability experienced riders I think you are underestimating what can be pulled off on a Sup.
Rob
Morning,
I spent a good portion of last nite reading all the comments you've posted and have just arrived back from a 3hour soild session at the 'pass' and i have to thank you all for info and insight for a sudo-supper
Had the best time and felt as though i knew where to paddle and most importantly 'Why' so to all - thanks.
happy paddles,
sal.
Finger pointing and labelling particular groups as elitist is counterproductive.
SUP riders are no more elitist than any other group and provided that we all observe the basic surfing code;
- Rule 1 First on the wave - its yours
- Rule 2 don't drop in
- Rule 3 see rules 1 and 2 - then it shouldn't be such hard work.
The guys that want to snake know exactly what they are doing and are trying to bend the rules in their favour.
Look at each incident on its merits. If the rider suddenly on the inside is one of the hard bitten crew that goes for everything then you can be sure that they knew that you were on the wave - snaking. Or, if it is a rider that is all arms and not too stable keep on the wave but also keep a watch out for what they are doing - will most probably fall off anyway.
As for a "regression" from short boards to SUP, I'm not sure about that.
If anything I reckon that I have progressed whilst on a SUP. I am out surfing and enjoying it a lot more as well as doing something that is healthy. I would call that a backwards step.
Doggie & Legion you guys have had some valid points and i understand totally where your coming from.
I have surfed with some of the guys who have commented on here and can vouch for them they are surfers and know there ****.
The way i see it is a kook is a kook is a kook no matter what he is riding
The boys who will charge on a sub are normally lads from a shortboard background and wont be dropping in, letting there board go etc. There art subs charging out pipe now with all full respect from the wolf pack, some members ride both.
I think your boys beef is with your newbie on an 11 6" who has not done a grommet hood or surfing apprenticeship, they piss us off big time as well.Nice pics Rob.
Nice pics Rob.
Nice pics Rob.
4 to 6 ft Gas even shuts down fools and kooks on a 6 2".
Nice pics Rob. 4 to 6 ft Gas even shuts down fools and kooks on a 6 2".
'Struth almighty. I've just spent half an hour reading through it all and you want to pull the pin!
I've started SUPing after over 4 years off a board completely with a bad back, and 7 years since I surfed properly. I used to be pretty biased towards shortboarding, enjoying fast and/or serious waves and the company of good surfers in the water. The bad back made me take up bodysurfing to stay sane, and suddenly I slid down the snake from the top rung to the bottom of the food chain. I couldn't wear fins as they hurt my back, so the disadvantage was complete - bodysurfing au naturale. I became alright at it, I could make a few barrels at Bird Rock and bodysurf Bells up to a solid 5 ft without losing my nerve at the amount of water moving around. And it gave me a completely different perspective on the privelege of surfing.
The most interesting thing I found through my years in surf board exile was that there are very few true watermen (or women) out there. I'd get the "what happened, mate - lost your board?" comment from some, while others just couldn't believe that you were out there in the first place. I can count the number of waves I've had given to me on one hand - every craft on average are as greedy as the next, with notable exceptions as individuals. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of people out there who innately understand the joy of the ocean, understand that to become truly competent in whatever dance you choose you need to pay your dues, and understand that we are all so lucky to be able to be out there in the first place.
