If we as a surfing community want to continue to be able to surf Humewood when it cooks, we all need to realise that there are some conditions that we ALL need to abide by if we don't want to get kicked out permanently. I've met with the Beach Manager, here're the facts:
Surfing at Humewood is PROHIBITED - this is through Municipal bylaw and is applicable irrespective of whether the beach holds Blue Flag status or not
Surfing may be permitted at the discretion of the Lifeguards on duty, provided there is no-one swimming at the time, OR if the beach has been closed to bathers (red flag is up)
HOWEVER - if bathers enter the water after you have started surfing, the Lifeguards will blow their whistles and you will have to get out
And that's the most important part here ou's - you HAVE to get out the water if the Lifey's call you out. Now let's be honest, the waves are fun, and your first instinct is to go "Screw you, I'm staying out here, what the hell are you going to do about it!"
But there's a bit of a problem with that. Firstly, they'll call the police. It's kinda blind when the blue manne arrive in the van to come arrest you for basically just acting like a muppet. But more importantly, if guys persist in not listening to the Lifeguards we're just not going to be allowed to go surf there in the first place. That's it, no more Humewood. We can all just sit and watch waves like we had last Friday come screaming through unridden, now THAT would really suck wouldn't it?
Cos remember, we're only allowed out there in the first place cos the Lifeguards have said it's OK. So if we're going to make their lives miserable cos we won't get out when they call us to - which means they get kakked on by their boss cos they're not doing their jobs properly, then you know what - they're just gonna go, "Stuff it", we just won't let the ou's surf to start with cos it makes our lives so much easier.
So here's the deal, let's as a surfing community start playing by the rules a bit. Why? Well if we don't we could really screw it up to the point we don't get to surf Humewood at all.
Do YOU want to be the reason surfing got banned totally just because YOU acted like a d**k and wouldn't get out the water when you were told to cos you had some misplaced ego complex, or were basically being a selfish git? And that your pathetic rebellion was the final straw and thereafter they told surfers to bugger off for good. Geesh, you'd be one LANK popular ou if that was YOU!
So no matter how good the waves are, the whistle goes, get out. Hard to do? For sure. Necessary? Yes. And if there're ou's out there with you that maybe haven't read this, and don't know the facts - then tell em why, just for once, they should actually listen. And more importantly, tell them the consequences of not listening - no more surfing Humewood for good, and it'll be on their heads!
It's our responsibility as a surfing community to take some responsibility for the actions of our fellow surfers if through their muppet behavior it's going to have a negative outcome for all of us. Feel free to let me know if you're out there when ou's just refuse to listen, I'm more than happy to name and shame them into playing the game.
Long live surfing at Humewood!
Thanks to Beach Manager Fernando Cain and the on-duty Lifeguards for letting us surf Hummies when conditions allow. Respect the Lifegaurds decisions, the ou's are just trying to do their jobs. Don't kak on them for that. There're plenty more rules in this country we don't like but we mos have to live with.