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Locals only: The shots heard ’round the world!

International media rightly horrified by bad bad surfers!

You have by now read many accounts of the shooting incident that occurred yesterday in New Zealand where angry locals allegedly fired at three surfers bobbing in the water and then yelled at them.

In case you have not here is a quick recap from Fake News CNN.

Three surfers say they were shot at while surfing at a jealously guarded surf spot in New Zealand’s North Island, police say.

Three shots were fired from a nearby ridge, one of which landed in the water just meters from one of the surfers, a 14-year-old boy, local media reported.

The surfers — two adults and the teenage boy — were riding waves at Te Maika off the Taharoa coast, near the entrance to Kawhia Harbour, last Thursday.

The shots were fired at them from two individuals onshore, the police report said. Their identity is currently unknown, Kawhia Police Senior Constable Jonathan Maoate said in a written statement.

New Zealand broadcaster TVNZ reported that the surfers who had been fired upon had hastily departed the surf spot after the incident.

“One of the bullets has hit just two meters away from the young fella … naturally they were terrified and have left the area,” police said, according to the report.

TVNZ added that the police had speculated that local may have fired the shots as a warning to outsiders to stay away, a practice known as “localism.”

Localism is not confined to New Zealand; surfers the world over have been known to sometimes violently protect surf spots from encroachment from non-locals.

And it is true. Localism is not confined to New Zealand. Surfers the world over have been known to sometimes violently protect surf spots from encroachment from non-locals. Another publication referred to these “non-locals” as “trolls.” Is that true? Is the term “trolls” currently trending?

Whatever the case, shooting at other people over surfing is bad and the international media is rightly horrified but…. I mean, there are no buts but… oh never mind.

Real quick though, if you were going to shoot warning shots at some non-local surfing trolls bobbing in the water would you use an ADS amphibious rifle preferred by the Russian special forces or a Colt M4 with optional mountings for a grenade launcher?

Would a BB gun have the same effect?

Oh never mind.

Shooting at other people with anything, even a wrist-rocket, over surfing is very bad.

Don't surf here!
Don&Rsquo;T Surf Here!

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Keith Grace

Isn’t that pic with the link from Surf Nazis Must Die? Asking for s friend…

astro

Lmao. Perfect !

small fins

I’m doing a sem abroad in nz right now! The locals are quite grumpy and quite unskilled at surfing! It’s great !

Krill

Negs takes his moderating pretty seriously

shootsthen

Firing shots at or near people is categorically criminal; however, the idiotic actions of a few (the shooter and the guy who rolled up with a ski to a spot he knew was gnarly) shouldn’t result in a concerted effort to “bring your posse” to a surf spot. As surfers, we should all want to protect certain surf spots from cameras and skis.

James Bickerton

Another reason that the choice of Ranch for a private man made wave pool might be annoying to many ?

ricmatic

Wait, I thought we were the trolls?

channelbottom

DUCK!!!

astro

There are areas where laws, etiquettes and understanding get thrown out the window. It’s difficult to know which way is forward. Rights and wrongs are completely left to personal interpretation and whoever seems to have the most justification/sense of grievance most often holds the high ground.
It was unlikely that whoever thought it was a good idea to fire at these three would have considered that their actions would be counterproductive. They’ve just put themselves on the map.

Hippy

Finally Astro hits the nail on the head.

The attention such an act receives is counter to the intent of the shooter presumably.

There are more than a few secrets on the Tasman, one incident is not a campaign.

astro

Stupid cunts, now they’ve got the cops on their arse as well.
Double trouble.

Dooma

They were probably thinking “this will scare them off for good”, Not realizing that since about 2015 everyone is a nark / pussy / snitch and will run to their Mummys if you even look at them threateningly.

Hippy

Yup, but would not be surprised if this case is never solved.

astro

Hmm, difficult when the cops are involved and now media.
Depends on the resolve and connections of the offended surfers and likewise with the offenders. The locals will know for sure so will the local cop.
Interesting to see what happens with this.
Not one of the normal gang related crimes we’re blessed with.

Hippy

You in Waikato?

astro

No. And I’d rather not say. Spotlights n all that crap.
It’s busy enough here as it is.

Hippy

Yes, it’s slowing changing, but the places that require effort still are quiet.

Snowbored

New Zealand cops?

Fugetaboutit

SoCalGary

I doubt anyone ever has a true, legit grievance over 3 people surfing any surf spot – Tahiti, NZ, Malibu, Black’s, Trestles, Ocean Beach, (Fill in your favorite Aussie spot here), Nica, etc.

That said, people will ALWAYS justify actions if it fits their point of view. Hence we needs laws that govern bad behavior.

The days of dueling in the streets over a veiled insult are gone… for most.

Dumb Florida Redneck

Nah we still have “stand your ground laws”

f u

why do kooky dudes think that if they have their kids with them than they dont have to follow the traditional norms and mores of surfing edicate?
It’s like they use their kids as defense

channelbottom

What, like going out at an empty spot and having fun teaching your offspring to surf is against the ‘traditional norms and mores of surfing etiquette’ ?

Oh wait, yeah sorry.
My grumpy-hat fell off briefly.
Carry on.

SoCalGary

I found your hat at the beach today. Funny thing it looks just like mine. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

channelbottom

Thanks. Not mine. Wouldn’t be seen dead in a cap like that! Soooooo déclassé.

Lindalovelace

The magic word was empty

Lindalovelace

Yea like the wankers that swim into a break with flippers and start butt shoving their kids into waves at the peak or take off zone , sinse when did that get fucken legit

Waterman of the year

Wasn’t me. I’m shooting blanks at the moment

Lemoore Surfing Club

Once you get there, continue your training by walking from the Tachi Palace to the Surf Ranch whilst chain smoking.

channelbottom

Damn son, your muscles are so tight you commented on the article before the one you meant to comment on!

You should totally do some stretches dude.

Bleach'd Git

So many details missing from this story. What tides does it work best on? How long does it take to drive from Auckland?

Chas Smith

I’m gonna go surf it while researching my next book “The World’s Greatest Surfing Secret Spots!”

Lindalovelace

A bit like that book nat young wrote putting directions to just about every single surf spot in OZ , nice one cunt you really fucked that one up for everyone.

m0rt

you mean Mark Warren? or did Nat pull that shit as well?

SoCalGary

Wait, the shoulder good to go? D Street here we come? Oh wait, did I just out one of North County’s finest left sand bars?

Chas Smith

I had my first surf two days ago!

Blunted Sultan

My god Chas have some dignity….D-Street is garbage 99% of the year. You get a pass this time…

Kook Dahanamoku

Can you PLEASE actually consider writing this for your next book?

Chas Smith

It’d be kind of amazing, no?

ricmatic

The BG community would be your minders! (albeit in In a Micheal Cohen kinda way)

Hippy

I love that Daniel is the one the media sought for an opinion on this matter. I’ll have to clown him a bit.

People scorn the dark days of localism, but there was an order, a code if you will. And it worked. Sometimes things went too far, for sure, but the chaos of all inclusion and surf schools/culture that doesn’t teach etiquette or courtesy is way messier. At some point demographics overwhelmed self regulation… add in litigious bullshit and there you go, chaos.

Return of the Samsung Board

Doesn’t Daniel own a surf school?

They sought him out after the last media incident down there too

Really

Who can forget the days when DK’s deranged grandfather patrolled the rocks between Whale Bay and Indicators armed with a .303. Oh how we laughed as he effortlessly ripped my mates thruster from his puny grasp and hurled it to the ground snapping off a fin.

Hippy

Or kicked everyone out of the lineup at Manu for his own private surf….

I didn’t come in once and we met.

Snowbored

I don’t remember that

Paulo De Tarso Duarte

The big question is:
Will one day Surf Ranch have their locals, and a decent localism, to call their own?
The answer is with John Boy, Mary Ellen, Mary Key, Ricky Bobby, Liz Beth, Little Bill, Billy Lee, Mary Lou…

https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

Waterman of the year

What about Ziffy

Brutus

I just love the smell of inbreds first thing in the Morning…ahhhhhh

Paulo De Tarso Duarte

hahaha well these “locals” are the fine example of inbreeding… high experiments… my doubts are if this is the beginning or final achievement…

german_surfer_007

I would be more worried of the meth heads than the surfers down in that part of NZ

oceanyeti

Unfortunately for you, the two aren’t mutually exclusive!

Karl Von Fanningstadt

“Is that true? Is the term ‘trolls’ currently trending?”
I hope not! If so, we’ll have to banish these kooks who use the term. According to Toad, the proper, most suitably respectful term for these people is “lú-bar-ra,” or foreigner in Sumerian.

channelbottom

Sounds like a range of fashionable ‘action wear’ for Instagram workouts.

Snowbored

They were surfing a “jealously guarded” surf spot known to be invite only.
What did they expect hugs and high fives?
Sounds like a pretty mean scare-tactic.
Coulda been worse, like a good old fashioned Maori pounding.

Dumb Florida Redneck

Tell that to the trolls in momentum firing golf balls at surfers.

Chas Smith

A proud tradition.

James Bickerton

Lovely image from Surf Nazis must Die if I am not mistaken ?
No waves here, move on .

Chas Smith

Not mistaken at all.

Dumb Florida Redneck

I dunno if you’ve ever been hit by a golf ball but I used to drive the truck that collected them at “76 golf world” my cart would break down all the time and I would use my 5 star binder from high school to run to safety. Every asshole in the world becomes a golf pro when the option of knocking teeth out comes into play. I had a 9 year old girl happy Gilmore me into the 1980’s at like 100 + yards. More impressed than angry.

Toin coss

Fuckin A, Next Level!! Oh never mind.


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