TAKE A TRIP

 

Unless you were blind, you'd realise that a bunch of sandbags and some roadwork cordons blocking three quarters of the footpath in front of you may just trip you up should you happen to stumble upon them. And, of course, if you were blind, you wouldn't be able to read the warning sign that the council workers have so thoughtfully sprayed there to alert you to the fact that this collection of objects could pose a problem for new players. Such are the hzzards (sic) of the land-locked. 

The surfer, on the other hand, has to watch out for other floating obstacles in her path like backpackers trying out the sport for the first time. My old stomping ground of Bondi is full of them. Up here on the North Shore, however, things are a lot more chilled. I was one of just two out at Whale Beach last Friday catching some lovely lefts off the new banks that have formed in the middle of the beach. And true to its name, the spot also offered up several northward migrating cetaceans of the Southern Right variety. Despite the onset of the school holidays, Saturday was only marginally more busy and the break was graced by a curious pod of dolphins cruising just beyond the breakers.  

By the time Sunday rocked around the swell had dropped off and the sea life was a lot less obvious. Still, the water was warm and the waves were fun and the whole experience was simply divine. Then the grommets paddled out and the scene suddenly became a lot more aggro. The frothers seemed to enjoy dropping in on each other which is all well and good but when one of them did the same to a Brazilian stranger, it was on. Failing to explain why he didn't back off after repeated calls to do so, the kid and his clan resorted to racism, telling the guy to "go home". So as not to let them harsh my buzz I caught the next wave in and called it a day.
I guess having dickheads spoil a surf with their  ignorant attitudes is an occupational hazard of the sport. They may rip but sometimes it's at the expense of brain cells. Call it a 'rip hzzard' and steer clear. But please, don't put up another sign!