So Sunday came again and I hadn’t been surfing since last Sunday! Well, I went on Friday but I had 10 minutes! I drove and drove.
The wind seemed to be pretty westerly, the tide was very low, and the swell was small, which only means one spot will have wave – Llandudno.
Llandudno on a Sunday, for me at least, normally means I put myself in the mindset of being happy with just 1 wave.
But unfortunately, and I know stories of locals are nothing new, but there are several boys at Llandudno that insist on catching every single wave that comes through, leaving nothing for anyone else. In addition to this they think it is their god given right to do so, claiming to be locals and that they live there. The thing is I’ve been surfing at Llandudno for years now and I can say last Sunday I have my first run in with a complete and utter twat.
I’ve seen the guy many times, and given him space like I do any surfer. I’ve even seen him go nuts at some people, but naively thought he was justified because he had never said anything to me, so I didn’t say anything. If anyone reading this does surf at Llandudno, you’ll have seen the guy I am talking about. He is about 5′8″, later 30’s, black and grey hair, he always wears a Zero wetsuit and he surfs very well as a natural footer.
So after I managed to squeeze in 3 really bad waves, this dude tells me not to sit deeper than him? He declares that I should not be catching his waves, and insists that I should show respect to people that “Live Here” [I wasn't sure if he meant living in Llandudno or Cape Town, because he certainly doesn't live in Llandudno], and should he see me sitting deeper that him again he will “Burn Me”. Now I was kind of shocked at this coming from this guy. I mean I’d seen this guy surfing a lot, and we have even exchanged pleasantries from time to time. He was yelling at me claiming I was sitting deeper to “Command respect” [What a load of bollocks], and then shouted at me basically saying I should respect him by not catching any waves. He also muttered something about me being a goofy footer and not being as good as the other people there.
So needless to say I didn’t get out of the water, I stayed and sat close to him and got one or two waves before it got dark before I headed in.
So now the response. Normally people that demand or command respect by shouting, like our subject in this story, are scared themselves. Unfortunately this guy likes to do the talking so basically shouts until he catches a wave and then says nothing after he paddled back out. In addition to this I will not be giving this guy any space in the water, and if I see him unnecessarily shouting at anyone else I’ll try and help. Here is the plan.
- I’ve started a “Localism” category and further stories will be posted in here.
- I am going to be naming and shaming this guy, when I have the details.
- I’m going to name and shame the surf instructor that just sat and watched.
- I’m going to try and help other people out if this sort of thing happens to them.
But why should I do this?
- Everyone, even the Llandudno Idiot, have been on the other end of the stick.
- Everyone was once a beginner.
- Everyone was not a local at one stage.
- Everyone deserves some set waves and space to catch them.
- Everyone should surf with the Aloha spirit.
- Everyone should show their fellow surfers with respect.
Once this idiot shouted at me, he merely lost all the respect he did have – which is the opposite of what he wanted.
Here is a picture of Glenn Beach before I went to Llandudno. At the time it didn’t look that great, but to be fair, I probably wouldn’t have bumped into this trouble maker!
Interesting read, I must say. I myself am a bodyboarder, and quite like hitting llandudno as often as I can, provided the swell is working. I am only a beginner and don’t wanna upset any locals or drop into the surfers waves like i’ve seen some guys do.
Anyway, will watch out for this guy, sounds like a bit of doos. By the way, I surfed glen beach on sunday around 1pm, some decent swell but just really busy.
Keep up the writing, nice blog.
hmmm… sounds like this guy is real turd!I mean wtf is his problem,its not as if his name is spray painted across the ocean making it “His”!! I just dont understand why people like him surf!
I only moved to CT 6 months ago and i have made so many new friends through surfing near to where i live! If however i acted like that turd …well lets just say i would still be surfing everyday by myself!!
The ocean is there for everyone and i understand that lans has its locals and they deserve respect… but treat others how you would like to be treated!!!!
Thats my 5 cents…. keep the stoke,C you in the water!!!!!
He-he, I’ve seen this oke going off his nut, is it the same guy who used to have a neon orange hoodie at one stage? If so he threatened my friend to break his arm and said he’ll burn him as well. Or he’d paddle for a wave and then shout at anyone who looks like they might want to paddle for it, he-he-he, one time. One he will face a klap himself, but ja, he’s been surfing the spot forever. If you command respect, give respect I say. BTW, nice blog, come and say hi on mine, we can link up.
Hi,
Been a CT local all my life (born and bred in Muiz), but only recently gotten into surfing…so much so that I am moving back to Muiz at the end of the month. Got an apartment in the Empire building at surfers corner…
– Good timing as its starting to pick up.
Man will always be territorial about land and “his space”. Having said that, it bugs me that there are okes out there that really believe that certain surf spots are only for their enjoyment.
I’ve had to figure things out for myself as I dont have many surfer friends….but I make sure that I don’t drop in on other surfers…which is why I’m sticking to Muizies for now….its packed with begineers, he waves are generally weak, but everyone’s chill. Once I improve fitness and tecnique, then I’ll hit some of the other spots like Long Beach, Witsand, I&J’s and Hoek.
When I get there, I will give the “locals” the respect that they deserve….as long as they respect me as a fellow surfer and “visitor”.
BTW…what qualifies a surfer to be regarded as a “local” at a certain surf spot?
If you don’t have a Moullie Point passport don’t come!
[...] After posting my little rant about Llandudno I’ve been having lots of thoughts and reactions about surfing in the busy bosom of Cape Town. [...]
Ya bru if this guy talks to me like that in the surf Ill burn him ALL DAY LONG!
WHAT A WETFART…. he must have small nuts!!! Ja sure localism is around but the ocean belongs to all… one day you just may need an “outsiders” help.. what then???
[...] I’ve been getting some good response, from the origional article: Llandudno Idiot and the Reation to that article, and a guy called “Peter” has some positive comments. Take a look: Peter’s Comments (No Ratings Yet) Loading … [...]
[...] The surf was great and everyone was being very nice and friendly over the weekend, partly due to the abundant number of quality waves and barrels. And no Llandudno Idiots about – bonus. [...]
What a proverbial WANKER!
People like that make it hard for people trying to learn and just enjoy the ocean.
I have experienced this locals only crap at lobg beach, with disrespectful groms jumping up on everything and calling it before, claiming it’s there’s.
[...] Surfing at Llandudno in Cape Town these days is a tricky (read as: not that fun) proposition. Since the Llandudno idiot post a lot has happened; ZigZag Magazine have just run an article about localism (one of the Llandudno idiots, Liam Woods, is actually named and pictured in it), I’ve been finding greener pastures around the Cape, heaps more people are surfing and generally scenes are changing for surfing. As for Llandudno itself this is the low down at the moment. [...]
Hey massive respects, everywhere has a few unfortunate ideots. I am from the UK and surf Wales mainly. I was checking out this site as next week Im heading to Cape Town for a month to stay with my girlfriend. I was looking for some local info on some of the beaches and how they are are working wind and tide wise. I just had to post some respect for you ethics , everyone was a beginner once and surfing can often be about sharing a vibe and a moment with like minded people. I wonder how many people he has pissed off and ruined their day. Its good to read your thoughts on people like this. We have our fair share in the UK. I will be heading out to surf on my own while I am staying as my girlfriend does not surf and will be working at times so many thanks for the information. The ocean is for everyone to enjoy, peace. Mark.
Nah, can’t be Wayne that shouted at you. You described that surfer as being 5′8″… Wayne is 4′ at the very most.
Haha, you’re right, he is probably smaller than 5′8″!
watchout for the 5′2ft motor mouth houtbay shaper that thinks he discovered Llududno, such a twat, there is also a knee boarder out there and rides said shapers boards, also complete idiot loudmouth but he’s a crack head along with half the other locals that spalsh around out there, honestly Lluds is surfed by a bunch of absolute kooks
i’ve been a local at Llandudno for 28 years, since back in the day when it was actually one of the best waves in the country. or should I say 24 as four years is how long it took me to get a set wave when all the old school locals including John Willy, Kimon, Mark Du Plessis and co were out. as a grom in the 80s I was dropped in on by all of them, threatened and chased by John (who never caught me ha ha but now hes a mate), had rocks thrown at me while riding a wave and dumped in a bin, had dog shit thrown at me etc. So I’ve paid my dues. i have to admit I have shouted and screamed at and dropped in on a fair few people over the years. for a time in the 90s as my generation became the crew, we tried to maintain some sort of old school “localism” but times changed and the banks got forever worse and we realised that fighting on the beach over close outs is lame and that Llands is a city beach and there is nothing we can do about the crowds so most of us took it down a few notches (trust me, it was way more hectic for uitlanders back in the day). what the johnny come lateleys have to realise though is that there are a lot of fairly benevolent long term surfers like me at llandudno who have paid their dues and just want to catch a few waves after work or on the weekend without a hassle. the problem is that with such an influx of kooks and greedy wannebes in recent years, even the most placid of us will get frustrated and throw our toys. there are a lot of ous, some of them half decent surfers, who have moved to the area or come from other places regularly who think for some reason it is their right to snake established crew and generally behave like greedy twats. then there are the total kooks who have not paid ANY dues at any beach who paddle out with the same attitude minus the skills who are actually a danger to their fellow surfers the way the go over the falls and flail like idiots. 22-year-old jocks who have no qualms in giving lip when told to paddle down the beach or called off a wave or dropped in on because it IT IS NOT THEIR TURN or they are clearly in over their heads. yes, certain people who claim local status at Llandudno are annoying even to the rest of us (and sometimes we fight among themselves), but besides them, the kind of okes you will find at any beach, can you really blame the rest us for getting frustrated and shouting back? it’s a frikken zoo out there. Fuzzy, I don’t know who you are but the llandudno locals i know – kneelos, lids and stand ups, many of them with provincial colurs or better – are certianly not kooks, but most of the rest of the idiots that clog the line up these days are. if these wave wasting idiots realised that llands is a heavy wave over four foot and respected their place and stayed on the kook side of the beach (leftovers) or better go to a mellower beach, and if the new faces minded their manners in the water even when some of the idiots among the so called locals and regulars don’t, things would be a lot easier to manage. this will never happen though and to be warned, it’s only going to get worse because we are all geting pretty pissed off with the situation. although, having said that most of the time llands is so shit it’s really not worth getting upset over, unless, local or outsider, you are an insecure little man with some sort of god complex who thinks the whole world revolves around you…
Well long time local, I have been surfing there for 18 years on and off between travels, and even lived there, house sat for a year, in 1998. I dont call myself local and never would. Cause some guys have provincial colours doesnt mean shit! “Hay Im a wp/springbok surfer outs my way”. Paying dues and John Willy, whatever get over it, schools out. Half of what you wrote above is about yourself, your so hardcore.
Face up little man your drivel above doesnt prove anything. If anything it makes you look like a giant tit!
I’ve surfed all over the world and have lived in Cape Town for a few years now…. I respect the “locals” however how the hell can you tell who’s who… but never the less the whole point of surfing is the sea, nature, chilled vibe – so this talk of locals intimidating others is pathetic! If any locals at any spot has a crap attitude for no specific reason I’m definately not gonna move out the way – I’ll smack him on the pit right there and then! Mouillie Point passport @ Bosniac WTF dude! I’ll shove your board up your ass and surf you into the Radisson if you tune me the odds… It’s not your ocean wanker!
Update: I heard recently that Wayne had his ribs ridden over by an equally unfriendly local surfer, and will be out of action for a while.
eish..
organize some 10′ers and a squad of ou ballies for a lank day at thudsnduds.. tuning grief on other surfers is kak..
bosniac? wat ga nou aan, jy tune teveel grief das almal kak…
Also heard that he was punched recently by a foreign surfer who came looking for him at his work.
Wayne’s a Po-ess ,,paddle over to him , place 2 hands pull him towards your face ,,and bite his nose off ! guarentee he’ll keep hi strap shut thereon in ..I’ll keep an eye out for him