The psychology of a shortboarder

[corran]

I paddled out to 204 yesterday afternoon in San Clemente for an after work surf. I'm still testing various prototypes of my "Push" (testing the limits of boards that have close to neutral buoyancy). Anyway after about 5 mins I get a "get the f&$k out of here!" from a shortboarder.

I ignore him and wait for my wave. I get a few. Nothing spectacular but fun. The same guy ends up a few feet from me and then says "I'm amazed what you can do on those things. That was a great wave"

More waves. More fun. And he ends up close to me again and asked "where can I try one of those?"

Kaching!  Another prone surfer sees the light!

[bean]

Nice job handleing the situation, we can all learn by your example. 
So, did you let him give it a try?

[SoCalSupper]

great story Corran-the kids at least are open to the possibilities-now if we can just work on the longboarders!

[corran]

The board I was on was impossibly small - 7'9" x 26" x 3" 85ltr. There is no way he could have stood on it.

The key really seems to be a combination of calling out good waves for them and letting them go by - obviously - and also ripping on the waves you get so in their eyes its legitimate surfing.

There are always grumpy old men... not much can be done there

Corran

[corran]

5'9"x170lbs

Corran