Jake wrote on Jul 7, 2007 10:49 PM:I'm interested in how territorial these two are at office. They should be careful lest their lockerroom jabs at each other be missinterpreted as true hatred for one another. As far as arguments go I would side with Loren. The territorial tendancies of these guys has very little to do with safety; what a pathetic excuse to wax over what comes down to wanting to have exclusive rights to an endless supply of waves at whichever spot you prefer to surf at. Like Marc said: begginers will tend to go to the easier breaks and the more advanced to the more challenging breaks. But every one who starts surfing wants to be able to surf Black's or Trestles eventually. Why shouldn't they be able to if they're good enough. How do you become good enough? By going to those places when you think you're ready, and you don't need some high school slackers intimidating you and trying to keep you from surfing "thier" spot, that's what the waves are there for. If you get slammed in the break, you'll come back some other time when you're ready. As well anyone should be able to, it's the ocean, it's free and no one can claim property rights. Besides, are those tough guys going to continue protecting their turf when they're 50, 60 years old? How sad would that scene be? "Hey you kids, get outta my yard, I mean break....now, where did I put my prostate medication?".
Nick wrote on Jul 7, 2007 11:58 PM:Are surfers too territorial? Apparently, not enough. Has anyone else noticed the extreme number of kooks in the water over the last 10 years? Thank God for Old Man Winter, the water is cold, the waves get big, and the weekend warriors stay home. The only thing good about summertime anymore is the cute girls in bikinis. Loren Nelson needs to stick to things he knows about, because surfing is obviosly not what he knows. If he thinks watching Point Break helps him understand surfing, he is more clueless than I gave him credit for.
Steve wrote on Jul 8, 2007 9:38 AM:Seems to me that the locals of each beach think they own the beach. I have been harrassed for surfing Cherry St in Carlsbad, the North Jetty in Oceanside and other locations, I live in Vista. Yet I surf better than most of the local beach so called hotdogs. These territorial surfers need to get a life, the Pacifc Ocean doesn't belong to them, it is for all of us to enjoy. I have almost been in several fist fights with these local surfers as they will yell obsenities at non locals and take off right in front of you even if you are in the right.
Nick wrote on Jul 8, 2007 7:27 PM:Wow, apparently Vista is full of rippers these days. Who would have figured?
k38roger wrote on Jul 9, 2007 8:30 AM:Was Joey Buran from Vista?
Concerned-1 wrote on Jul 9, 2007 9:12 AM:Point Break was a joke of a movie that, like Ridgemont High before it, put a palor on the art of surfing. The stories in Sunday's paper were farily good, but these two columnists are all wet...literally.
Locals Only wrote on Jul 9, 2007 9:53 AM:Hey Vista, surf in your own city, isn't that where the wave park is? I hear you can rip all the Osiders that head east to get in the water.
robert wrote on Jul 10, 2007 4:19 AM:duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude where is your bong dude we own this beach dude get a life you morons the beach is for everyone try to make me leave and i promise you it will be the worst mistake in your life little dudes
GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DW wrote on Jul 10, 2007 10:59 AM:It doesn't help matters when there is a kooky surf camp every 100 yds. talk about whoring out a sport. Also Blue Crush and MTV make surfing "cool". Waves are a precious resource why encourage more people to do it. I miss Oside of the 70's and 80's.
What? wrote on Jul 10, 2007 11:09 AM:This is sooo funny. Two clowns that don't surf trying to argue about something they have never done. Any time you get more than 20 people together there is a very good chance that there will be a couple of jerks in the group. Just ignore the locals and surf. If they touch you call the cops on your cell and send them to jail. Safety? puuuleeeze. Surfing is totally safe. Until you start talking pipeline or Mavricks it is far safer then riding your bike down PCH. Isn't there at least two surfers on staff at NCT?
to what wrote on Jul 10, 2007 1:15 PM:dont forget about the wedge over at newport beach
SurfRat wrote on Jul 10, 2007 1:32 PM:My beach, my wave, my sand, my girls all of the above. I have been surfing for over 38 years and I live on the beach and I am territorial of my breaks. I'm not as bad as I used to be in my younger days but, I grew up in Huntington and Newport and nothing compares to those days. The problem is you get kooks from Vista and other inland areas and have no "SURF ETIQUETTE" and think they can paddle to where your sitting and catch that wave that came right to you. Well, NOT IN MY BOOK!. You will get cut off on the next one and be lucky to get anything at all after that. The best thing to do when surfing a new spot is to sit back and watch who the locals are and let them have there waves with you picking off some of them too. If come out to the line up all hard charged and are not a local, your asking for a beat down or better yet a fiberglass sandwich.
RS wrote on Jul 10, 2007 2:30 PM:Hey Loren - "surf is an unlimited resource"? Really? Comparing waves to your midwest ice slabs is as ridiculous as your proposed expertise by watching Point Break and checking a Web site/
NC Times - I know you have real surfers on staff, why query these clowns?
RS in Cardiff
BC wrote on Jul 10, 2007 4:46 PM:Most of the comments here only reinforce the article. I've always thought the "Surf punk" mentality was ignorant and selfish. What other outdoor activities are so territorial that people are willing to resort to violence for exclusivity. How about helping people understand etiquette before feeding them a "fiberglass sandwich"?
SurfRat wrote on Jul 10, 2007 7:12 PM:BC-At least you know the band who sings my beach, my wave, my sand, my girl and I like the SURF PUNK mentality. Here is a quick lesson in SURF ETIQUETTE;
1) Do not drop in on someone who is already standing up on a wave. (rule;first to the feet has priority)
2) When paddling out and someone is on a wave coming at you, paddle into the white wash, not the shoulder.
3) If you are beginner, do not paddle out into a group that obviously have more experience.
4)When paddling out, dont let go of your board when people are behind you.
5)Finally, bring a hot chick with you.
Now that you have your crash course on SURF ETIQUETTE, please respect the locals.
Oside Omar wrote on Jul 11, 2007 8:11 AM:Stay away from the North Jetty at Oside Harbor. A girl named Liz surfs there and she thinks she owns the beach. really she's just a poser from Arizona
KOOKs wrote on Jul 11, 2007 10:36 AM:Here's the deal, you surf the wrong spot, you get your ass kicked. It's simple animal behavior and it works. I have clocked a few jaws myself. Gotten a beat down and served a few up. You stand up for your spot, simple and plain. If Californians did this to all outsiders who weasel their way into our state from where ever they come from, our home prices would still be normal. Instead we have what we have. You try and kook out around me and you will be asked to leave. I will take a beating for what I believe in. It seems stupid and it probably is but it works. You have to earn your way into a real surf spot with years and years of dedication to the craft (too important to be a sport). Its just the rules. Their are beginners spots, intermediate, advanced and locals only spots. Its just the way it is. So shut up and learn how to surf right and when you finally can after many years, you can surf wherever you want as long as you play by the rules.
darlene wrote on Jul 11, 2007 12:27 PM:Lets face it territory comes down to respect. Most non locals do not know the unspoken code of conduct out in the water. AKA Kooks. Most are not from here sporting the too cool Cali tude. Really the true surfers around don't need to flaunt, they just probably get irritated by all the imitations and then to throw on the disrespect. Example- a real person that cares about the area for example would pick up trash on the beach around them even if it wasnt thiers. Thats where our territory comes from. Respect for others and the water. If you don't show that you are a kook and need to go HOME!
The MO wrote on Jul 11, 2007 1:11 PM:Every sport is territorial. Do you think the California Angels let the Los Angeles Dodgers practice at their stadium? No. Granted, the stadium is "owned" by them, but my point is who wants to practice with the competition? Surfing is a competitive sport and is treated as such. If they don't have a "special spot" for their own to practice, then they make one. Plus, when you are trying to practice surfing, who wants a bunch of floppy swimmers out there getting in the way and risking injury to both parties? Booooooyea
Monica wrote on Jul 11, 2007 1:29 PM:All of you who said "yes, surfing is too territorial" have you ever tried to swim while surfers are surfing? It's like playing Frogger in the water....Frotter. If the lifeguards aren't going to teach common sense, then don't you think someone has to protect the swimmers and surfers? In regards to being territorial towards other surfers, see "The Mo" comment above. She sounds smart just like Darlene.
Jack wrote on Jul 12, 2007 12:26 AM:Its common knowledge and has been for decades that surfers are wave hogs. When I was a kid we wouldn't let them on our beach and we didn't go to theirs. What they do to each other there I could care less.
Barney wrote on Jul 12, 2007 3:15 AM:Wow, assault under the guise of protecting 'my break'....that's just not right. Somebody should do something about that, so I don't get my a$s handed to me.
to barney wrote on Jul 13, 2007 4:46 AM:no worries barney most of the surfers are a bunch of pansies any way when the waves get over 2 ft they run home to momma
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