by harg » Wed Oct 16, 2019 8:59 am
Localism usually seems more about pride on land than pride in the water. having said that, I've settled on thinking some version of it is pretty ok, but that enforcers around here are mostly doing it wrong. in the case of our most famous spot, they're willing to sacrifice their own fun, which seems self-defeating. at other places, I've seen people try to pull locals-only stuff at mediocre or highly fickle waves that don't really have locals, which mostly just exposes you. the right way ... control the spot with skill and togetherness of a small crew. if non-locals want to paddle out and get scraps, that's fine so long as they don't bring a crowd, don't get in the way, and accept what they get. if they violate the rules, then i think its ok to suggest they go somewhere else. everyone knows the playing field, locals get all the good waves, and everyone can have fun. the best i've ever seen done in this way was a guy that openly explained the rules to people he thought might not be clear. if you didn't like them, you left. if you were ok with it, you sat and enjoyed watching and catching an occasional leftover. if you violated the rules ... well, no one really did.