Researcher says nothing & # 39; so extreme & # 39; earlier, after surfers shot near Kawhia

A surf anger researcher in New Zealand says that he has never heard anything "extreme" in response to reports that surfers were shot while browsing a remote Waikato break.

The Herald reported today that surfers and peasants were threatened and that some were shot at when they were at Albatross Point off the coast of Taharoa, including a 14-year-old boy, his father and another friend last Thursday morning.

Sports psychologist and surfer Jahn Gavala, who was promoted on surfing anger, said it was unclear whether the Kawhia shooters were surfers, he had never had such a thing & # 39; extreme & # 39; heard.

"Harassment is part of the surf anger, but firing a firearm would be a pretty massive form of intimidation."

Surf anger and localism were common in sports around the world, mostly powered by crowded spots and surfers enforcing etiquette.

There was a bit of a "gray area" among surfers about how strictly these should be maintained.

The most elemental etiquette is not "invading" at the wave of another surfer, and not "squirming" or cutting the row.

Kiwi-surfer Tim Thompson gained admiration in the surfing world in 2014 after a video became viral and showed him how he tackles a Brazilian surfer who gets to him, the biggest crime of surfing.

Thompson said at the time that he was normally a "mellow guy," but since it was the third time, he felt it was an "appropriate act."

In the 1970s there were reports of "arrogant" Australian and American surfers who were threatened with firearms by local Hawaiian surfers and who were protecting their breaks.

The legendary Australian surfer Nat Young wrote a book called Surf Rage, after he had been hit hard in 2000 during a break in Sydney.

In the book he documented cases in remote locations in Australia where local surfers waved weapons and knives.

Gavala said that so far he had not found anything that was violent in New Zealand.

"I have heard of vandalism, destroyed tires and people who overload their breaks and surf etiquette.

"The worst thing I've heard is a couple of fabrics on the headland, but even those were mostly guys who solved problems from the water."

Gavala said that some of the causes of surf anger include protection, law, enforcement etiquette and general ability to manage conflicts.

"Part of it is protecting a scarce resource, so it can be a place that does not break often, and so the people who are there all year round feel a sense of right.

"On a certain day perhaps not many good waves will come through, so again, those locals may have the right to them, and then there is a sense of protecting a place for the community that lives there, for future generations.

"Then there can be a slightly different interpretation of the surf etiquette in every place, and it takes precedence over waves, it can feed on old rivalries, histories and conflicts from the water.

"One of the most important aspects is people who just do not have the social skills to control conflicts, and maybe they do not even want it."

Although many of these characteristics applied to other parts of society, territoriality was quite unique for surfing, Gavala said.

"No one owns that space, it's a common space, but those local surfers claim to be owner, but since nobody really owns it, nobody regulates it, so local people become regulators."

Surfing the Ben Kennings in New Zealand said that in his nearly forty years of surfing he had seen his fair share of surfing in the country.

"Surf anger is generally created where a local surfer feels more entitled to waves than others, and it happens especially during breaks that get very busy.

"But it can also happen in really isolated breaks where almost no one surfs, and people like to keep it that way."

Kennings had only seen a few splashes and verbal violence, never physical violence.

"Ultimately, all surfers are there to enjoy, so as long as everyone can keep that front and the center, there should be no problems."

In some of the really famous and crowded places, including Raglan, surfers sometimes came into the line-up without understanding the basic rules, which led to clashes with other surfers.

Some surf clubs across the country were even looking for signs that explained basic surf etiquette, Kennings said.

"The unwritten rules really do not differ, wherever you go: show respect, wait for your turn and be patient," said Kennings.

"If you go somewhere and are courteous, and take turns in line, you should not run into problems.

"And other than that there are about a countless number of places in New Zealand, you can only go surfing."