Surfing and Fighting

[blahlah]

I had a few thoughts about the "Pipe beat down" posted on the "surf check november" thread.

First, how come water patrol seemed totally unprepared and unequipped to resolve the situation? I mean, isn't that why you have water patrol at the contest? There had to have been a better way to resolve it then sending someone to beat the guy up.

I also think that everyone lost in that situation. I would be totally ashamed if someone caught me on tape standing and watching or videotaping someone else getting beaten up. Comedian Bobcat Gothwait used to say, "If you ever see me getting beaten up, please put down your video camera and help me!"

If the haole guy WAS mentally ill, he definitely did not "learn a good lesson" by getting his butt handed to him. And even if he was just a jerk, there had to be a better way.

I am not saying that people should not stand up for what is right, or call people on their transgressions. But violence should be a last resort.

I thought David Rastovich made a good point about this in a recent Surfer Magazine interview. If we are in a confrontation, I think we need to ask ourselves, "What are we defending?" -- is it worth it?

http://surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/rastaintrvu/index3.html

SURFERMAG.COM: Have you ever been in a fight in the water?

RASTA: Never in the water. I've seen a lot. I've definitely seen a lot at Burleigh, but no. I think I've thrown one punch my whole life and that was just as a young punk kid, 14. I've never been in that situation really, but when it's kinda going that way, the first thing that always pops into my head is, "What are you defending? What are you defending to get you into this situation?" Nearly a hundred percent it's always your ego thinking, "Oh no, my pride’s been snatched, ooh, ooh," just petty, just crap, worthless, just absolute crap. And that's always a reaction for me, like you get puffed up, you get in some kind of verbal thing, where you’re really trying to defend a point or something and you're thinking, "Okay, what am I trying to defend here?" It's always some kind of mental concept or a picture of yourself as a very intelligent person, or very skilled surfer, or "I live here," that kinda stuff. It's always jealous kind of stuff, so I've never even gotten in that situation in the water. I never will. . . .

Thanks for reading.

[bruddahT]

As I recently returned from my annual visit back home to Hawaii i can't help but notice that each year comes with it's own surprises and unfortunately some let downs. In response to the Pipe beatdown I wonder how far will local bruddah's continue to let the violence escalate? I can see the frustration in trying to protect something as precious as local surf breaks but at what means? Building a mall at Sharks Cove, a rock wall in front of V-land, or any more development will only add to the frustration.

How far away will we get from the Spirit of Aloha that Eddie, Duke, and Buffallo have taught us as children of the aina? Is the future of Hawaii the grimm reality of a "Wolf-Pack"(perpetuated by a generation of "wanna-be hawaiian" thugs) at every surf-spot what we can look foward to?

Or how about the "local pro longboarder" (initials L.H) who works as a beach boy by day smoozing tourists but recently was seen wanting to beat the crap out of some haole malihini who accidentaly dinged his precious board? I got a front row seat at seeing this so called "ambassador of aloha" (which is what beach-boys originally were)
paddle out at 5:00 p.m. when he was pau hana to a well known and regularly crowded town spot, to only inform everyone he was there and that no one better get in his way! Seems he really learned his lesson ( so he says in a magazine interview a few years back) about not getting involved in things that don't concern him. Right on bruddah! Keep crackin heads over waves! That's the true spirit!

I wonder how far away from aloha we will let ourselves get? Aloha is giving, it's sharing, it's loving with not expecting anything in return. While we must protect our island home at what cost will we loose our souls? As the Pipe beatdown video has already shown - it may simply be too late for this generation......

[Adder]

bruddahT u staying at latigo bay in cali?????

[Thebigz0]

What an awesome article, such a great perspective...

[surfer9joe]

Im sure those guys got such a woody for the opportunity to beat that guy up, perfect target for them, a blonde hoale with mental problems

On another forum they were ragging in Rasta for being "incoherent" in the article, I thought it was pretty cool, he's probaly a bit high Im guessing


I'll be fighting the casino for the next three days in vegas myself...naw its for a conference but Im sure some debouchery will occur

[soloman]

the prominance of the testosterone driven attitudes in der wasser is the main reason i suf less nowadays...

i've recently been asked the question by peoples i ain't seen in awhile,"still surfing?" i answer,"not as much..." they assume i curtail myactivities because of age. not so.

in my 35 years of surfing, i've seen it all. but todays durfers really, really take the fucking cake.

factoid #1- the north shore is dominated by people not born here. am i complaining? not so. just stating fact. draw yer own conclusions.

factoid #2- internet and didital cameras produce a shitload of info at yer fingertips... again, draw your own conclusions...

the mere fact that there are more people out thereis enough to keep me away.

i was showing some old family pictures to a nephew who just turned 18. we had a rare collection of shots from an old tracks session, around 19 years ago. we were the only people in the water.

the kid couldn't believe it...

s9j, seems like you have a issue with racism, you should think this through. i believe it wouldn't be any better for the perp if he was local. probably worst, i'ld think...

and about camera dudes just standing by and taking pictures? i believe there is a law if you stand by and do not "render aid". if you see aproblem and do nothiing to fix it, you are part of it. that's what i feel about assholes with cameras taking pictures of anothers unfortunate circumstance AS IT UNFOLDS. sell your fucking camera and buy a .45acp, jackass.

by the way, where were all you donkeys after this went down? i was so embarassed for kainoa that i "quit surfing". nobody had my back. now this shit comes up again?

i just got a job offer from the bureau of indian health services, maleko. arizona, in da mountains. i can't take this particular offer becuase of timing. mama is still in school for another year. then i'm done with this surfing bullshit, although i'll always love it.

surfing has evolved from what it originally was, gentlemen. it is no longer "man alone with the sea". now it's "fuck with all the other guys to see who's the baddest."

just a bunch of selfish bad-asses... not my kind of people.

[blahlah]

Aloha Solo,

I think you make some interesting points.

s9j, seems like you have a issue with racism, you should think this through. i believe it wouldn't be any better for the perp if he was local. probably worst, i'ld think...

I don't think S9J was saying it would have been better if the victim was "local" (by the way, why does "local" only refer to non-white people? there are a lot of white people who have been here longer than plenny recent non-white arrivals). I think S9J was just pointing out that the victim was an especially good target because he was "ha'ole." I don't think anyone could disagree with that. We do live in a place where "reverse-racism" is common and pretty well accepted, unfortunately.

and about camera dudes just standing by and taking pictures? i believe there is a law if you stand by and do not "render aid". if you see aproblem and do nothiing to fix it, you are part of it. that's what i feel about assholes with cameras taking pictures of anothers unfortunate circumstance AS IT UNFOLDS. sell your fucking camera and buy a .45acp, jackass.

I totally agree.

by the way, where were all you donkeys after this went down? i was so embarassed for kainoa that i "quit surfing". nobody had my back. now this shit comes up again?

I remember reading your previous posts and I appreciated your perspective. Just because people don't respond doesn't mean they don't value your opinion. Perhaps people felt that nothing more needed to be said.

Also, it sounds to me like you bring a positive vibe to the ocean, so I think your quitting surfing actually is a loss to other surfers (and to yourself since I think it makes you happy). If more people surfed and lived with positive attitudes, I think that would win out over the jerks that like to bust heads in. But maybe I'm just an idealist.

Also, I don't like being called a "donkey." It's not very nice. However, you aren't the first person to say that, and I definitely acknowledge that I can be pretty "donkey-ish." So I forgive you.

Thanks for your perspective and have a nice day.

[Guest]

[surf4fun]

I am glad to see that others are concerned about the violence associated with surfing.
After watching that video of the "pipeline beatdown" I was super sickened
at how pathetically archaic some surfing thugs can be and how sad it is that no one really jumped in there to stop it. The guy took so many hits to the face. I can't imagine being the guy who did that to another human and trying to tell his kids he's a "good guy" or feeling good about himself.
I live on the mainland now and hate the weather, the crowds and the waves (usually), but I love not worrying that my car is going to get ripped off by some tweaker while I surf or that if I unknowingly look at someone the "wrong way" I may get in a physical confrontation (and I am a girl, but it still happens to us).

I too get so bummed out by the agro mentality in the water that I have grumbled to myself that I am finding another outlit for fun, because like soloman said it is no longer an experience between man and the sea, but man competing with man, which is no different than on land.

[HMARK]

After watching that video of the "pipeline beatdown" I was super sickened
at how pathetically archaic some surfing thugs can be and how sad it is that no one really jumped in there to stop it. The guy took so many hits to the face. I can't imagine being the guy who did that to another human and trying to tell his kids he's a "good guy" or feeling good about himself.

It is amazing that one man can do to another. The statement about how do you explain telling your kid your a good guy...It really hits the spot.

I am lucky enough to have my daughter hanging with me alot of the time - 13 y/o and wiser than those years, and of course driving around town, etc, you get the road rage urges alot. She always reminds me that "its OK" or "calm down" or something to that effect. It really makes a point to me that what am I really upset about? Not so much the fools driving, or whatevas, but more the frustration of it all.

Like Rasta's point - what are you defending? Waves? Localism? I think the only thing really worth defending is your family, home, and self. I am far from the perfect example, but THINKING first, rather than reacting, seems to be the smarter move. If everyone would THINK first, maybe the incidents would not take place.

It is sad to think that many of us are looking for other outlets, different sports, or giving up all together. Seems UNFAIR to the past dedications. All those good days. Those GREAT days. And all the effort of the sub-par days. With postive attitudes, and some peace in our hearts, maybe the future of the sport will evolve back to a better place. Maybe not. But I think I will feel better about myself for at least TRYING to make some positive change.

Thugs and wanna - be thugs. Arent they just a pisser? You can hardly get out and about in public now without running into some form of this retard. Argggggh. You can pick 'em out a mile away. What does being thuggush prove? Garrans ballbearings got someone tougher than you. Or they gotta gun. Either way - LOSERVILLE.

Guess we just gotta start someplace, and maybe it will do some good, instead of nothing, or get worse.

[Rich]

All that said you guys are right, you can still get stoke in hawaii though, with the right mind set. As far as that vid of the beat down. Bud an I were discussin it and agreed that whatever that guy did, it didn't warrant a beat down especially since he was already outnumbered by the entire beach.. wouldn't it have been better to restrain him then call the police? of course. Let it all be a lesson to us. Till then hunt down some good waves and reportem here! just me 2 cents. loha all.

[Guest]

Yep, Rich I think I would still rather live Hawaii.

[Jah]

Good points everyone. I think the violence was unwarranted. I truly believe rich is right and there is more stoke in hawaii per square foot than anywhere else! (TAHITI maybe a close race ) but you have to constantly remind yourself to kick back and no harm no foul. I periodically find myself slipping into negative mode and it's something I work on, it doesn't come natural to be constantly happy in today's society. You have to work on it and pass it along to others you encounter!

[HMARK]

whatever that guy did, it didn't warrant a beat down

I think that s the bottom line - neva deserve the abuse - and the Kitty Genovese syndrome was in full effect - "no like get involved" only looked like the lady in the video was fed up with the bs going down, seemed like her being there ended what coulda been a murder...

[Guest]

OK I was finally able to watch this entire video.
The kid got his ass kicked in the water to begin with there was no need for the 2nd attack. Ever have an altercation in the water like that >?
hells no I haven't. THe kid stuck up for himself and hes got some balls if ya asked me , but he did get his ass kicked, almost drowned and barely made it to the beach. The only reason the 2 nd beating occured was because local boy seen he had an easy victim, the kid all hurt and local boy decideds to show off like hes the man.
He knew he wouldn't lose so he just like show off like one tough guy.
then we have all this video and shit and the guy wasn't jailed for that ?
no repercussion ?
if you remeber right after that fight Buds site was crashed.
hmm makes me wonder. Didn't you say it was some brazilian hackers or something ?

well anyway forget all that nonsense, what about the NBA.
can you believe that crap, the players fight the fans.
there were some pretty heavy suspensions and all those guys gonna lose mad money, but to be a professional you gotta maintain your sanity and obviously these guys lost it.
what the hell has society come to man, we live in america the greates country in the world and this is the type of shit that goes on.
pro surfers beating up dumb haoles who want to catch a closeout during a damn dick dragging match, and NBA brothers attacking the fans like they still live in the hood , meanwhile they're making 6 million a season. for 6 mill the fans should be able to throw whatever they hell they please at the players.

and one last word about the pipe incident , it sick how many people just watched this kid get pounded. from the lifeguards to the judges and contest organizer and to and evey dumb ass watching a boogie boarding contest u guys suck.