Why is the equimpment more dangerous? has it got razor blades on it or something? come on really most of the boards are smaller than most mals..
Re. party waves, that picture of you getting dropped in on paul j: I understand it doesn't bother you but that wave's been ruined for you. The reason I surf a shortboard is I like to do big turns and manoeuvres. In that photo you can't e.g. hit the lip because (a) you'll hit black rashie or (b) the two drop-ins have already crumbled the section. So no, I hate party waves unless you really don't care with mates and it's a throwaway wave. There is only a few critical metres on a wave that I want to be (right in and around the pocket) and if someone else is there then that wave's gone for me.
Good surfers get more waves via a better understanding of the ocean! Greedy people use their ability, fitness, bad manners or equipment to take more than their share, simple.
Stupid careless people endanger others with their actions, as Jacko said surfing is meant to be fun, riding in an ambo to the emergency ward after some kook speared you, ran you over (couldnt even turn?) or let go of his board and hit you in the head can take the shine off somewhat. I fear like a lot of people that some people on SUP have no idea and are putting others at risk. Even a small HP sup is generally bigger and much harder to control than a Mal, possibly not in length, definitely in volume. The stupid careless gumboot is usually on a 12'er though.
Take a greedy, stupid person and there is the person giving everyone a bad name.
I hate being dropped in on, even by mates, especially when it's hollow. You can't use the whole wave and sometimes things just go wrong. I got smashed in the shin 4 years ago (by another shortboarder, this problem exists universally) and put me out of the water after ulceration of the wound for 2 1/2 months. This by a wayward board after being dropped in on. I got off easy.
It's been fun boys but my seabreeze quota has been filled and ang wants the net so i'm off. you never know i might be back tomorrow
Just watch this Doggie and Legion.
Not much else needed to be said. Lukes views are much the same as many here, shortboarders with another way to enjoy ocean.
Closest to the curl has the right of way. If a SUP takes off on an unbroken section and cuts back towards the section that is GOING to break but in doing so, crosses the path of prone paddlers, it's really a grey area. Whilst its not probably the best of form, theoretically they still have the right of way.
Rules about dropping in have been around for ages. Don't see any need to alter them simply someone came with an idea of how to get into the wave earlier. It will all work itself out in the fullness of time.
Is this all about dropping in or is it more about the fact there is 100% more aggro and 100% less tolerance in the water these days.
BTW, thanks to the experienced pronie that dropped in twice on Sunday and rode his board laying down beside me, whilst grinning from ear to ear and to the hoots of his pronie mates. A lesser person would have put three slice marks over his back as they went up and smacked the lip, but then again, I paddled even further down to the suckier section and surfed that instead.
And ther moral of the story is "See anyone can be a dangerous fool if they try hard enough"
(Oi Jacko, are you suffering from salt water withdrawl symptoms?)