“If you got slapped you probably deserved it. And
if this kills your vibe…safer beaches down the road.”
A pleasingly diverse array of commentary following a surf
fight at Tracks on Oahu’s westside, a popular and unchallenging
wave near where Johnny Boy Gomes and Sunny Garcia were tutored in
the aloha spirit.
The Instagram account @hawaiinewsreport posted the surf fight,
which is one-way, local stalks the visitor in waist-deep water
before administering his coup de grace, with the explanatory
note:
Posting this video is not to hurt anyone’s feelings but to
ask what you think and is this ok to treat visitors like this? I
don’t know what happened before the slap. I Posted on my story this
video and there was a mixed reaction. Most people said this is not
Pono but some said it was ok to do… obviously this person who was
slapped was not from here but is it ok to slap him if he did get in
your way? Alot of people said what if local people traveled to
mainland and the locals at those places we visit slapped us and
treated us like this? When u travel to the mainland do people
welcome you or do they mistreat you? Let us know in the
comments.
Which the commentariat sure do.
In one corner, we got old schoolers thrilled by the
rough citizen policing vs the feel-gooders and non-surfers who
can’t appreciate how…good… it feels to pop a cunt’s fins
out with your fist or deliver a blow that rocks your opponent.
Plenty pro surfers in the comment section who think they are
in their element when they are out there trying to surf.Its called
etiquette.Get rules.Locals first.No drop in.And no paddle battle
with the boys.And no lip back if you don’t know who you talkin
too.These are the things that’ll get you clipped from ever surfing
there again.If you don’t like it.Stay at Queens,Stay at Waiks.Stay
at tourist beaches.I got told before…”No come 3rd dip.You not
ready.” When I was a 12 yo kid.If I understood…Why all you Costco
surfers trippin.This happens at every local beach in the world.If
you got slapped.You probably deserved it.And if this kills your
vibe…Safer beaches down the road.
Hate to say this but Braddah got warned multiple times. You
can’t just sit in the pocket when the sets come rolling in. Pa’i
pa’i lima time
For those of you who don’t know, it’s not about being a
visitor or local. It’s about respect in the lineup and not being
disrespectful to anyone. It usually stems from someone
disrespecting the rules of surfing which often creates a dangerous
scenario. If you disrespect you get regulated. Good to see there’s
still other regulators out there watching out for everyone and
their safety.
vs
I wouldn’t hit anyone over surfing. It just kills the vibe
I’m trying to achieve.
I don’t care where you’re from, you do NOT put hands someone
else. Basic toddler lessons.
Don’t give a fuck what the kid did before… zero reason to
throw hands over surfing… it’s just silly, especially when it looks
like a teenager at best. Worst case he damaged your board and that
doesn’t appear to be the case when the slapped turned around like
he was going back out. Kid was clearly getting out of the water so
whatever the problem was before, be that the kid didn’t show
respect or dropped in on someone, it doesn’t matter… he was leaving
so the problem was solved. And that stands even if the kid is
family- treating them like that only gives them the ok to treat
others like that which isn’t ok. That was assault, pure and simple.
Last time I checked there were no laws governing who gets to go
when on what wave aside from law of the jungle but there are real
laws on putting your hands on other people. Grow up and control
your emotions…
Where do stand on the spectrum?
Okay to start a surf fight and loose hands?
Or assault etc?
And is it ever okay to bring the cops into the mix after a surf
fight?
Also, more compelling surf fight footage, here, here, here, here and here.
