Today it seams like everyone is a wave hog! Weather your a short boarder, long boarder, wind surfer, or kite surfer, no one likes to share waves in the water… And certainly not with the stand up paddle guys!

I have been surfing for 35 years in Hawaii with some of the most amazing surfers in the world. There are a lot of new surfers out there just starting out with stand up paddling and it is hard for them to understand what it the aggravation that surfers feel. However, we can all figure it out and get all in the water, so take a moment to think about it.

The surfing community tends to be extremely territorial. It’s the same concept as a gang. You wouldn’t drive in the the ghetto swerving in and out of lanes cutting off gang members and hoping that nothing would happen.. would you? Same thing in the ocean, don’t expect to step into another surfers territory and cut him off, because you know what will happen. We’ve all heard the stories.

This is becoming a real problem in Hawaii: stand up guys can out paddle any surfer with amazing ease. It’s like they attached a motor to back of their board. They go from the beach to the waves almost instantly. You can understand why surfers are getting so upset. They jock for position for a half an hour and this stand up paddler comes along and in an instant he’s already got a better position and ride the set before it even gets to the surfer. Also, they are able to ride the wave turn around and do it all over again many times faster than a surfer.

While in Peru on a surfing trip I decided to use my stand up paddle board. When I hit the beach in Chicama i noticed about 50 surfers all fighting for the same waves. I paddled well outside the group about a half mile up the coast where I was all to myself, besides the pelicans of coarse. After a couple of hours of some of the best sup surfing I had ever experienced I decide to take it back in to shore. Again I stayed well away from the pack of surfers. When I got in they all seamed to appreciate the fact that I didn’t impose on their territory.

That is the best part about the SUP sport. Most surfers go to the waves that are closest to the beach, they aren’t willing to paddle out as far as a stand up guy. So you can literally have the ocean to yourself just by paddling to the outer reefs. If we all use our judgment and a little common sense we shouldn’t have any problems getting along. This isn’t the first time a new sport has come out after all.

We can’t try to take over the ocean’s and lakes. There are other water men their that deserve consideration. The good thing about SUP is that our canvas is wide open, we can go anywhere with ease, just paddle off to our own peace of paradise. If your in a place that doesn’t allow that then just wait your turn. You will get respect and in turn our sport can grow without all the controversy.

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