Is child abuse ever the answer?
Oh how quickly the internet moves! Just three hours ago I published a piece talking about the territory dispute between sharks and radioactive waste in Orange County, only to discover that there is a third party involved. They refer to themselves as “Aging Creek Rats” and reside, apparently, somewhere in the Dana Point region.
How did the Aging Creek Rats throw their hat in the ring? By dunking (and “stabbing”, if you ask the mom) an overzealous preteen at Salt Creek beach! I’ll let Ryan Divel, an Orange County local and ex industry big-wig, paint the picture:
While Divel has made his position clear, this remains a tricky subject. How does one deal with a child who, based on many accounts, has been disrespectful in the lineup? Is it the job an anonymous adult to not only scold, but use physical force to deter the kid’s misdeeds?
I think not.
People often moan about how kids were more respectful back in the day, how they “knew their place in the lineup”, which may very well be true. But is this not similar to how black people “knew their place” in the ’50s? We live in a time where it’s no longer acceptable to segregate based on race, to hit somebody’s kids.
I would’ve hoped that was a widely approved progression, but apparently not.
The overwhelming majority of commenters in Divel’s Facebook post are pro-hazing, anti-child-safety laws. This is concerning but also speaks to surfing’s unique and violent history. The ocean is one of the last places where Jungle Rules still apply, and it seems the mission of most Baby Boomers to keep it that way.
Some of the top comments include:
I’m going to come out of retirement just to snake this kook.
Sorry I’m not a round to hold it down any more 
👊
A snowflake mouths off, gets dealt with, and his mommie comes to the rescue with the entire o.c.sheriff squad ? So wrong on multiple levels.. LOCALS ONLY, BEAT IT GROM!
One could easily assume most of these overgrown children were Trump supporters, but using the term “snowflake” non-ironically is conclusive evidence. On the bright side, their mindset reminds me of a favorite quote from Czech-French author Milan Kundera:
In the sunset of dissolution, everything is illuminated by the aura of nostalgia, even the guillotine.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Now, while I do believe that adults, locals, and any combination of the two should be given reasonable deference in the lineup, in no way does the opposite justify a physical response against a child. Even if just a dunking.
If London is as disrespectful as Divel (and many of the commenters) make him out to be, then it’s time to speak with the parents. By physically harassing a kid and then shaming him on social media, you’re not only breaking the law, but you’re blaming the wrong person.
Ian Cairns delivered his two cents, here:
Maybe promoting #snakelondon is not the correct way to de-escalate the problem. Maybe hazing groms is not acceptable anymore. Maybe accepting the long-time practice of ‘locals’ owning a surf spot is a little archaic. Yeah, sure London needs to chill a little, but he’s no different than thousands of other groms,” responded Cairns on the thread. “What if an ‘elder’ was proposing a worldwide vendetta on your kid? And it was being acted out in front of your eyes? Is it right? London and his family are good people. And maybe they are here to help us re-evaluate the hierarchal structure that condones this kind of bullying. But be certain, they are not going away, they will be calling the cops on anyone that lays hands on their kids and it will bring a public spotlight on petty localism in CA. Are you willing to step up and be an agent of positive change?
This, to me, is the most rationale response. Show the kid how he can improve, urge the parents to instill better values, but Jesus, don’t resort to child abuse or online bullying.
The simple reality is that if you keep acting mental, you’ll eventually run into another mental, and only one mental can prevail. In this case, the younger mental lost the battle but his possibly mental parents could help him win the mental war. The other reality is that the majority of surfers are not mental enough to voice and act out their mental thoughts. (Mental is a word we use in Hawaii for “fucking stupid and unpredictable”).
FUCK Ian Cairns.. How many under privileged AKA Poor kids does he coach ZERO
He is the problem in it for the money once again exploiting surfing for his own gain as he has done most of his life.. Not Soulful Surfer!!!! From What I know of his coaching techniques they are about aggression the other guy in the water doesn’t matter Your basic contest surfer attitude.. entitled all the waves are mine because my coach said that’s how you win Moms and dad are paying the 1500 a week and Now I shred.. sound familiar
I support the boomer! The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Sounds like the kid needed a good slap.
https://www.merriam-webster…
the best part of the facebook rant was Koby Abberton telling Ian Cairns he would ‘slap the local into him’
anyone trying to justify this kids behavior needs to look at this family’s track record in the surf world. Run out of Hanalei, run out of san clemente, brings mma body boarding blockers (from AUS to avoid legal issues) to HBP to assualt people, now issues in dana point and laguna. The common factor here: this family is psychopathic and narcissistic. The author defending them must be cut from the same cloth. absolutely PATHETIC!
But, but, I’m gonna grow up to be John-John, my Mom says so!
I like the Jim Crow comparisons.
Really, racism…… now we know you suck as a journalist. Why even bring that up with a bunch of privileged whites 🐎
This article is so silly. Sorry, I remember the day when special places were taken over by the surfers. Only their waves mattered, not anyone else enjoying the beach. Wonder why mom was even there? To see that politics have entered into this is stupid. As for old folks touching kids, no no. Why aren’t the other surfers taking care of it? As for the reference to the 50s and blacks knowing their places, you can add in women as well.
In both cases – Blacks AND Women, a desperately inapt comparison
Isn’t all of this a federal situation? Coast Gaurd?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
All the better reason for the dunking (reading a headline: Hawaiian Grom now living in San Clemente – London Almida). The “bruddahs” can dish it out, but they can’t take it.
He’s not Hawaiian; he’s a spoiled, entitled mainland kid that lived in Hawaii, and completely failed to learn about decency and respect in the lineup.
Sorry, I take most of that back (he’s still no Hawaiian); I got him confused with some other kid (a little prick kid that is totally enabled by his idiot dad). That being said, I’ve surfed with the London kid a few times, and he was respectful. He must have said some dumb shit to get dunked. The reality is that if you act mental, eventually you’ll encounter another mental.
I support the biblical approach to dunking mouthy, disrespectful groms.
Kanga’s culpability cannot be overstated. The guy was, is and always will be a fucking cunt. Dollars to donuts he was encouraging the grom to be a little twat.
And in this case, the Kanga’s earning some dollars (US ones, not Aussie ones).
Really? Comparing Jim Crow to lineup ediquette
Fuck off.
The ‘writer’ really is a limpwristed sally with nothing but hyperbole exaggeration and drama to inflate his own career and word count. total khunt
SoCal surfers are all too often super-duper uber serious. This is one of the first things my wife(non-surfer) noticed after a couple days at Creek this month. All the overamped kids and salty locals need to know that people don’t care how good you surf. Literally…nobody cares. Just look at the amount of money in pro surfing relative to other sports. It’s pennies.Or go try and tell your friends or family about your session. They don’t care. Break free from the delusion that your ability, commitment, and corresponding sense of entitlement in the soft OC waves are of any tangible value to anyone. I suggest a surfing fast. A minimum of 1 year without surfing. Ideally, this will help you re-assess and identify the shallowness of your existence, and identify the reason you feel so empty inside. It will also help you break free from the microcosm that is OC surfing. But for most, the delusion is too strong.
The little kid surfs aggressively because he desperately wants to be important. Old salty local dunks little kid because the kid doesn’t think he’s important. Both have an offputting sense of entitlement that they are more important than other people.
or you could say , the kids got no manners , has a terrible reputation of mouthing off in the water , hiding behind his youth , and mummy , no sponsor would touch the kid now , no judge would give him the nod , poor parenting , smart arse kid , maybe he should try another sport as he’s now a target in the water , and as for his parents , well the positive is , we can all see what not to do , and how to be!!
A dime a dozen….. everyone surfs well, it’s like golf or figure skating
You don’t get it kook, we don’t care what other people think, we surf cause it feels good and feels good getting pitted. You’re not a surfer and you don’t know shit about this story. You miss the point completely.
you work for Google, Facebook or Snapchat probablly should get back to coding and leave the surfing to us.
Snitchin’ Down the Door
Bitchin clowns at the door
Dustin’ Off a Whore
If we are talking about London Almida from San Clemente, I found an
article from December 2015 that said he was 13. So, he’s either 14 or 15, depending on when his birthday is.
Not a “preteen” has stated in the article.
I read elsewhere that he’s 14
totally agree with you on all of this Mike, except for this: “But is this not similar to how black people ‘knew their place’ in the ’50s?”
No, it’s not similar in any way, shape, or form. The grom coming up and having to learn how to respect elders in a lineup (and some elders being a little too rooted in an antiquated handling of loudmouthed kids) is nowhere near people being lynched, tortured, and enslaved because of their skin color.
Oh please. In the 50s many knew their places. Women were among them. How about equating this to the jock mentality? Lots of ugly stuff goes on these days. No one wants to wait in line. Entitled. Special.