Got Off Lucky

[Weeble]

A bunch of us touring/ racing paddlers down in Fort Lauderdale & Miami did a road trip up to Coco Beach on Saturday to get some SUP surfing in.  We don't get very many decent days down here and we saw a good forecast up in Coco, so off we went.  We got there around 7 am and the first beach we hit was all long boarders, so we went up to the next parking lot and it was all SUP.  Later on in the morning, all of the local SUP folks had left and it was just us visitors.  A few us can really surf (I am NOT one of them), the rest of us are still working on bottom turns, so we usually end up going straight in on the waves as we try to get it figured out.  Early on, we had our on little section going and we weren't interfering with anyone else as there was plenty of room.  However, eventually we were surrounded by long boarders.  We had a long boarder in our group and we were calling out waves and the guys that can really SUP surf were shouting out instructions trying to help the rest of us that are still new to SUP surfing.  To anyone watching, we were obviously a group working together.  Well... at one point, I began to go after a little wave.  I looked around and didn't see anyone else going after it... and of course, I missed the one local long boarder who did.  Once I was on it, I saw him make his turn and come down the line.  I bailed to get out of his way, grabbed my leash and yanked my board clear.  He turned up the face of the wave and went over the back.  It wasn't even close, we both stopped with plenty of time.  But, I knew he was probably pissed.  I paddled over immediately and apologized.  He didn't thank me, wouldn't look me in the eye, but he did say that I was lucky that at least he knew what he was doing.  So, I said that I was sorry one more time and paddled back to my group.  From that point on, we really waited and checked on everyone to make sure we weren't hogging the waves.  The cool part was that our long boarder in our group began jumping onto the waves that we took and we did some party waves and kept it light.  I have a feeling though that my sorta close call might not have ended so well if I wasn't in a group of about 8 people!

[mdsurf]

Wouldn't give it a second thought.  It is Cocoa beach in the summer on a Saturday.  It is crowded with Tourist covered in oil bobbing around in the surf zone, kids playing in the water, Body boards, shortboards, longboards and people with pool floats. If you are with a group and a proner paddles over to join you, what does he expect.  There are plenty of waves and plenty of space.

Hope you got some waves and had fun.

[vertseven]

Were you surfing by Patrick Air Force Base? Some SUP surfers made themselves a bit too comfortable at a well known shortboard break this weekend.

The base is sandwiched between Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach.

[Zooport]

Thank you for being man enough to apologize.  Everyone makes a mistake now and then, but you encouraged a good vibe with your kind words (even if the longboarder didn't think so.)

[PonoBill]

Even better if you get lucky

[Area 10]

Sounds like you did everything you could, Weeble. These things happen. Beginners are fantastically annoying if you a competent surfer. But since no-one gets to be a competent surfer without first being a beginner, it all kind of evens itself out. So, if you try to observe surf etiquette as best you can, then a good surfer should spot that and appreciate the effort, even if they can't be expected to be too delighted at your presence or the mistake you just made.

[red_tx]

I wouldn't worry about it too much.. You are doing the right things.. being considerate.. keeping you and your kook buddies in line as much as you can..

I can surf and I flat out ran over a guy the other day.. This guy is kind of a kook. misses waves.. flies off of his board... but surfs all the time where I do.. I have always said hello to him.

A set came in... I was there first, but he was older(60's no offense to any older guys) and started hard charging for it. I let him have it opting for the next wave in the set. He missed the wave.. I did not notice that he missed it.. .My fault.. I dropped in fast.. towards the pocket... he is looking at me like a deer in the headlights, not moving left or right.. .just staring at me.. I had the bottom turn and the wave chopped or bumped causing me to lose control.

Although I say I ran him over. I did not see any noticeable dings on my board. When I surfaced he was pulling my board off of his board. I apologized profusely but he did not want to hear any of it. He said " I thought you were going to bank!".. He was visibly angry, shaking his head.

I was trying AND his failure to move either way also caused him to be in the impact zone for this event. Usually when someone has forward momentum in some direction it is easier to pick your line and dodge appropriately.

Anyway.. My fault and I was / am willing to make it better but he wouldnt have anything to do with me.. No biggie.. I tried.

This whole process shed some insight into why more advanced guys seem to take waves from more inexperienced folks.. 1) you can get out of their way(the inexperienced fellas) and 2) you setup a pecking order in the line.

PS: This guy was on a SUP.

-red

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

you did the right thing   . was there a reason the long boarder kicked to and didn't ride the rest of the wave?   don't worry  though it is the first of many more and just wait you'll soon find  that there are long boarders  who will simply drop in  on you even though they see you and know they shouldn't