01/03/2018
Sound advice !
I don`t know if it is only in Surfing that complete beginners and learners just do not listen to the advice of `seasoned` surfers. On my trip, I meet lots of other surfers where I stay. They stroll in with their 5`10 thrusters made by some big overpriced surf company and when we get chatting in the evenings over a beer I listen to them talk surf. I ask them how long they have been surfing considering the equipment they are using and 9 times out of ten the reply is 3months or 2 years but only for a week on holiday. They ask back how long have you been surfing? 34 years is my reply and I ask if maybe a longer board with some volume might be a help to them but 99% of surfers just don't want to hear it.
I`m riding an 8ft singlefin mid-length here in Peru, the waves are long, very long but they are fat and gently roll along a sand bottom. I watch all these surfers miss wave after wave after wave not being able to paddle against the strong currents and at times getting out without even catching a single wave. When you try and explain to them the reason why you are not catching waves that evening i.e strength, seamans knowledge, time served, board length, volume and how surfing actually works, they just don`t want to know. Is it only in surfing that novices fall into the trap of fashion/cool/inappropriate equipment etc?.
If I got into another `sport` i would certainly listen to the advice of more experienced surfers. I don't lecture people and go into one, I know I'm wasting my breath but I can't help but want to steer people in the right direction and answer the problems of why they catch nothing, why everyone is surfing around them.
If I turned up at a golf club with all the latest expensive top of the range set of clubs, trendy golf clothing and an air of arrogance then joined the queue to tee off, it`s not going to take long before golfers realise I don`t know what I`m doing and I would be stoked to get some advice and guidance, not that you will EVER see me on a golf course hahaha...Why don`t we like to hear advice from other surfers?
