Surfing is fun, relaxing, energizing, and a good way to stay in peak athletic condition while connecting with mother nature on the most intimate level. It is a dichotomous representation of all things good and pure. But surfing can have a dark side. We call it “localism.” It first came to prominence in the 1960s as surfing became more mainstream and breaks became more crowded, and it hit its ugly peak in the late 1980s. It can stem from a desire for cultural preservation or from being territorial after years of dealing with disrespectful beachgoers and misunderstanding newbie surfers and kooks. Surfers experience it less frequently now days, especially in many seasonal vacation spots where tourism has become an industry, but it does still exist at some coveted breaks all over the world. Localism can be aggressive or it can, and often does, include snubbing or freezing out new surfers. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome icy locals.
1. Stay on the beach for a while and observe. Watch the lineups. Observe the patterns and the order in which people are catching waves. Pay attention to the attitudes of the surfers already in the line up. Are they talking or laughing or are they serious? Look out for overly aggressive surfers. Talk to other surfers on the beach to find out how welcoming the crowd is or is not.
2. Be friendly and follow the rules. A smile and good etiquette will get you a long way with a lot of people, and that is never more true than when sharing a line up with other surfers. Know the rules and the pecking order, and follow them. Don’t drop in, and make sure you apologize if you screw up. If you’re new to surfing, stay off to the the edge of the break or at a different peak, especially if you are with an instructor or don’t know all the etiquette just yet.
3. Avoid trouble altogether. Take a buddy with you, but don’t bring a huge crowd to a new spot. Be calm and cool. If someone gets aggressive, go elsewhere. No wave is worth a fight. That’s not what surfing is about.
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