blindboy

Don't bother with that holier than thou crap, you know you have dropped in. Everyone does it. Watch the videos of Jaws and Mavericks. If they do it in waves like that, they do it everywhere. You'll no doubt claim that your own efforts were unintentional but we all know there was, probably frequently, some degree of intent. But hey, don't feel guilty, dropping in covers a wide range of behaviours, many of which are, or should be, completely acceptable.

It would be good to change the terminology but as that's unlikely let's at least try for a classification system which sorts the acceptable from the dubious and the dangerous. Oh, and forget that "a drop in is a drop in" line. A fish is also a fish but we don't confuse goldfish with white pointers. So consider this a preliminary attempt at greater precision:

The Speculator. Rating: Acceptable in crowded conditions.

The speculator is the take off with glance over the shoulder to see whether the surfer taking off further inside is actually going to make it around the section. In crowds surfers trying for the inside spot often push beyond their capability. Performed well so that it does not interfere with the inside surfer should they make the section, the speculator is an entirely reasonable approach to wave distribution in a crowd.

The Lesson. Rating: Acceptable but to be used sparingly and wisely.

Having patiently waited on an exact line up for ten minutes, another surfer paddles inside as the wave of your choice approaches. This is commonly called a "snake" and a drop in is widely considered an acceptable, if risky, response.

The Accident. Rating: Dodgy, don't push your luck.

Yes accidents do happen, but not often and definitely not repeatedly to the advantage of the same person over a short period of time. The apology usually tells the story, a quick, "Yeah, sorry mate!" can easily be construed as evidence of some degree of intent. If it really was an accident reparation is in order, give them a wave.

The Revenge. Rating: At your own risk, inadvisable in most circumstances.

Having been dropped in on, the drop in is returned, often with a little interest in the form of a fade. The problem is that it is escalation which is very rarely a wise approach to a dispute of any kind. Let it go.

The Celebrity Dropper. Rating: Repulsive

Celebrity, surfer or other, uses their prestige to take a wave they were clearly not entitled to. What can you say? We know who you are. Celebrity does not equal respect.

The Celebrity Dropee. Rating: Unwise but...

Tony Abbott? Irresistible I would think, but you really shouldn't go there.

The Up First. Rating: Maybe, circumstances are everything.

This is based on the idea that a surfer up and surfing should have right of way regardless. The young fella sitting outside on the 9'6" who is up before anyone else has even paddled? Go for it if he is being unreasonable. The full, take off behind, inside drop in? All good, it's still your wave! But the closer the contest becomes the wiser it is to give way to the inside surfer. If your feet are hitting the deck a microsecond ahead of the other surfer, forget it, get out of the way.

The Where Were You When It Was Shitty? Rating: Unwise but sometimes forgiveable.

Look, if you turn up somewhere you don't regularly surf on one of the days of the year and think that you have equal rights with those who surf it everyday regardless of conditions, you may have some moral claim to your position but, let's talk real politik here, it doesn't fly and if you don't get the point you will get dropped in on and deservedly.

The Full Frontal/Up Yours/Couldn't Give A Shit. Rating: Reprehensible, dangerous and risky.

OK, this is the one everyone thinks of when they consider the issue. The deliberate take off outside a surfer who clearly has right of way. It should never happen, but it does quite regularly in crowded conditions. Yes it is bad, yes you have a legitimate complaint but is it worth stressing over? Is it worth a verbal or physical confrontation? Almost certainly not. Shit it's Sunday, there are 100 people in the water, some people haven't had a wave for best part of an hour. Live with it. //blindboy