“I almost broke his board to be honest, I got so
furious.”
A Brazilian woman has lambasted the lawlessness of
Australia’s lineups following a bloody collision with another
surfer she describes as “sarcastic” and “insincere” at Byron
Bay’s The Pass.
Letícia Dornelas, who is twenty-four and a surf veteran of six
years, told Yahoo News she had “excitedly” gone for a surf at The
Pass to celebrate a pal’s birthday when the man stole her first
wave of the day.
“I thought he was actually going to get out of the way but he
looked at me and the way he jumped, it was like he was throwing his
board toward my direction,” she said.
After questioning the wave thief, the man responded in a
“sarcastic” manner, said Dornelas, and that his apology was
“insincere”.
Dornelas, who suffered a cut toe in the melee, says she swam to
shore where a couple helped her dress the wound. When the man came
out of the water she says she was so heat up, “I almost broke his board to
be honest, I got so furious.”
Medical treatment, x-rays etc, cost the Brazilian $400 although,
this being Australia, she was covered by the country’s healthcare
system.
Dornelas says she went to the press ‘cause she wanted to warn
others of the lawlessness in the surf and to care for each other
out there.
“It’s like there are no rules out there sometimes” she said.
This episode has echoes, if you’ll
cast your mind back two years, to when a VAL was “verbally and
physically assaulted by a guy with a dark green mini-man with dark
short cut hair and moustache in black boards” at the same
spot.
I followed surf etiquette (been surfing since I was 12) and
did not hear any ‘yep!’ or other call on the wave definitely
couldn’t see anyone else already on it on the inside or outside.
The person who was paddling for the wave on the wave ontnhe inside
gave up so I went for it. at the last minute this guys came across
the front of my board from the outside to block me from a wave
crushing my hand. I said ‘wtf dude’ in shock at what had just
happened.
He then repeatedly tried to fight me by asking if I ‘wanted a
go bro’ and rammed his board into mine second time creating a large
dent on the bottom of my board the size of a breakfast
bowl.
I was extremely confused and in shock. I had no idea where
this guy came from or why he hadn’t called the wave as is normal if
you can see another in front of you. I apologised even though I
really did not think I was the one that had been in the wrong but
he was too busy yelling over me to fight him..
I’ve never experienced this level of aggression or violence
in or out of the surf ever.. and I grew up on the beach! Usually
there are grumpy remarks and some apologies but it’s water off a
ducks back and people would rather enjoy surfing.
Threatening another with violence is a crime and just sad
way to be human. That anyone would consider that a way to interact
with a stranger in any circumstances is fucked.
If anyone has had similar experiences at the pass I’d like
to here from you. I’ll be making a police report because my
property was damaged (board) and I was assaulted. I would suggest
anyone who is assaulted make a police report so that the police are
in a better position to act on this recurring crime.
UPDATE: in 20 mins you can clearly see from the comments and
thier likes that some older white men are justifying or normalising
the behavior. Women and parents have been sharing their experiences
and mostly condemning the behavior.
Do you condemn or normalise?
Do you, or have you, surfed The Pass? And why?
Cunt of a joint, as we say in France.
