The Backlash
Edit:
——
So I have had some really good feedback on the Scotland vid, but also some very angry and also some concerned and constructive feedback. It may be hard to believe for some, but my intentions for the video really were good. It seems I may have missed the mark somewhat and was possibly a little naive about my voice over on the video. I have taken out most of the voice over to exclude spot names and some other stuff I mentionedand replaced the video on Vimeo with the new one. That means that any site with the video embedded will be showing the new one too. (I have uploaded and swapped out the video at the time of writing this, but it may take a couple of hours for the new upload to be transcoded by Vimeo)
I realise that for some it may seem to be too little too late, but I do apoligise to anyone that was offended and, for lack of a better phrase, pissed off by the voice over.
This was our first video and we are learning as we go so a sincere apology to the local surfers in the area and I hope you can believe that no harm was intended and this really was a case of believing I wasn’t giving any locations away.
The video is a little weird without the voice over and when I get some time I will do a new one that hopefully appeals to everyone.
To everyone who commented, thanks very much. I’m sure I still won’t be welcome in a lot of places, but I hope you’re all getting waves wherever you are and if you’re ever in East London, South Africa when we’re back there get in touch and I’ll take you surfing.
Original Post below:
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So just over 20 days ago I posted our first real travel video about our trip to Thurso, on the Scottish North Coast, and and the response has been great so far.
The video has been embedded on a bunch of different bodyboarding sites from around the world. Some of the best responses have come from Spanish and Portugeuse blogs and the video has even been embedded on a French bodyboarding forum. With the help of Google Translate. I managed to decipher what the various comments and posts said. One of the guys who commmented here on Video Surf Guide, and on a few of the other blogs, is a Spanish bodyboarder (Cercata) who is doing a trip to Chile in August and has offered to be our interpreter there if we can make it. What an awesome dude! So we are trying our best to make that trip part of our plans bacause that would be sick. We’ll see how that goes!
The good guys at sixty40 in South Africa also put the vid up on there site and, from what I hear via the tweet-vine, they have also mentioned it in the latest issue of the mag. Very stoked about that!! Go get the mag if you’re in SA – the guys are doing a sick job and in buying a copy you not only supprt what they’re doing, you also get a sick mag to read!
I was also contacted by one of the guys at the Riptide Mag forum (Doc – if you’re you’re on the forum and wonder who it was) a couple of weeks back and asked if I’d be interested in doing an interview to put on the forum. It was good fun to do and gives some insight into what we’re doing here at Video Surf Guide so go check it out if you feel like a little read. – http://www.riptidemag.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3695
We have some great plans for the near(ish) future and a possible massive trip on the cards so I’ll keep you posted about all the developments on that front!
Our next post is a good one too so be sure to check that out soon!
You’re all awesome! Thanks for reading!!
A huge thanks to all the guys who made posts about our vid!!! Here are some links to them – go check them out!
- http://www.sixty40.co.za/video-114-thurso—videosurfguide-episode-2
- http://bodyboard.pt/videos-f5/scotland-t1056.html
- http://spongewars.com/v3e/?p=2204
- http://s224806679.mialojamiento.es/wordpress/?p=1110
- http://stayinverted.blogspot.com/2009/12/scotland.html
- http://ivanbodyboardcny.blogspot.com/2009/12/escocia-episode-2.html
- http://trueboarders.blogspot.com/2009/12/escocia.html
- http://orzanbay.blogspot.com/2009/12/scotland.html
- http://eneseubodyboard.blogspot.com/2009/12/thurso.html
55 Responses to “The Backlash”
whoop whoop, thanks for the mention bro!! The start of big things to come!
It’s all good man! I hope 2010 is awesome all round!!
Really sick video – that last spot that you surfed looks mental. Stoked you guys put this together.
Shot man! That spot was pretty awesome. I hope we get some more of that on our travels…
seriously why make a clip and put it on the net saying how good this place and that it is uncrowded? Like does it make you feel good that you can show everyone where the good uncrowded spots are? Is it like your claiming it, like you know something that alot of people dont know?
Because the people that do know would not appreciate this and I would be careful of where and how you do this! The fact you name the spots and give all this info just is mind blowing, why are you showing people all this?
plus it takes all the fun out of exploring and making a call to go check somewhere, instead they have guys like you holding their hands and showing them, its just stupid, there is no point.
It will be a shame to go up there again and see more people and have more kook “PRO” surfers on a ski claiming it for themselves in the mags, and for the cool local guys to start to feel the pressure of the crowds and then the shitty side of surfing is seen, thats not why we do it and its not what is about.
Seriously what’s the point of you doing this? I hope it makes you lots of money or you can look in the mirror and be really stoked on yourself!
HAPPY DAYS BUDDY!
Thanks for the comment and what you say is fair, but at the same time most people will never go to Scotland to surf – it’s out of the way and cold. We made a point of not showing exactly where the spots are and in no way can people find out by watching this video! No road signs, no landmarks – on purpose!! There is no info given besides the spot names and maybe you should go onto all the sites that have photos and videos of the spots and say the same things you’ve said here. Wannasurf and Magic Seaweed have way more info and there are guys posting photos of all those spots all over. How about a WQS event at Brimms – I’m sure nobody found out the location from that and all the videos on it?
Some responsibility lies with the locals too – if some guys go up to Thurso and know the names of spots they want to surf, but don’t know where they are, how do they find them unless a local tells them where it is? How do you think we found these places? We genuinely explored the area to find spots! We found #10’s on our own without ever even hearing about it and if it hadn’t have been for the fact that other people came there at the same time as us we wouldn’t even have known it had a name or had ever been surfed before. We put effort in and got some good sessions.
We know there are guys who live there and surf those waves and we respect that. We want to get people amped on travelling in general, but not spoon-feed them spot locations – which we have in no way done!
We don’t make a single cent from this – you won’t find any ads on the site or in the video? My mirror is doing fine and I don’t think a million people will arrive there tomorrow.
face it, doing something like this wont work, you cant go to a lesser known place and talk about how uncrowded it is and name spots. Going to well known places is maybe better, less interesting depends on what you target as the story.
It seems you have had a fair amount of criticism about this. Listen to it …. im sure you have, but be very careful about future projects/destinations.
What really is f**ked and a great shame is that you have made a difference in a negative way up that way from now on. I know Chris and Alex Sutherland and they are such legends, its such a shame that by you doing this the level of real surfing will diminish and naturally the local surfers and the whole beauty/vibe (why a solo mission in the cold is worth it) of the place will be changed/ruined in a bad way. A WQS doesnt help neither does what you first put up.
Ive seen numerous places around the world bent over and f**ked all for someone else’s glory and the locals are left to deal with the cleanup. sad that surfing has come to this and worse that it looks like the fire is burning brighter up that way.
Like i said before when the clip first came out, there is no point in doing something like this, not to the people that really matter, the people that have to deal with the aftermath. Too late now though, looks like a few “skulls will get smashed”.
I have learned, yes. And I have listened to what has been said. I don’t like making enemies or being disliked as much as any other normal person so the situation sucks, but as the saying goes – there’s no use crying over spilled milk. So I’ll roll with the punches, learn and allow the experience to grow me and help me improve in a bunch of areas.
I don’t think this video has had as big an effect as some people are thinking (although I am aware I could be wrong about that).
I really do appreciate the comments.
its great you got some good waves. nice. the film was nice. nicely shot. and the 7d is amazing. no issues there. the only problem i really had was with the voice over bit. couldn’t you have done the whole thing without mentioning any spot names? you didnt even need to say it was Scotland?
would you have lost anything by doing that? would your film have had any less meaning? or been any less valid artistically if youd have just shown waves and maby some music/score? you could have done that and never once mentioned any locations at all? why not? that would provide the impetus to travel and search for the viewer and yet not piss anyone off. it would have been win win. especially for the surfers up there.
Surf is finite bru. 5 guys at a heavy slab is already too many. im not being elitist. thats just how it is. this isnt like mountain biking or moto-x were its cool to tell everyone about your new trails you just found. or your out skating and find a cool transition and tell everyone. surfings not like that. once the news is out? then its out. once a place is on the route. its over. and the guys who’ve been working heavy overtime to get the money to spend a week in the back of their vans.. sleeping out in sub zero temps. we loose.
and just saying that because wannasurf is worse your ok? thats some funky logic there bru. its like saying Stalin was bad. but, so long as i dont kill a million people a month im good? or Ted Bundy was bad, so as long as i kill less than 35 women… im gold!?
you said “some responsibility lies with the locals”? wow! thats a pretty huge “disconnect” there brother! they are the guys up there putting in the hard miles and the hard compromises to get the waves WITHOUT THE CROWDS. and its those same locals who would be more than a little unhappy about a production like this. saying the responsibility for a movie like this lies with the guys who are up there and not shouting about it?? hmmm. funky logic.
I do realise its a bit much that i clicked to watch the film. and am now kinda giving you a hard time for it… but think it through. it could have been done without naming anything. so i’ll say thanks for the viewing, and im trying to keep this as constructive a critique as i can, so i’ll just quote Miki.
“SPOT NAMERS AND SET CLAIMERS RUINED SURFING!” M Dora.
its all cool tho. im in negotiation with some sponsors to bring my boys down to cape town to make a sick sick vid listing out some of the secrets down south on the kommetjie way. i hear its sick. consistent and uncrowded.
dont worry. its far away and cold so im sure no-one will care!
see you at the beach!
SamBO
Hey man,
I’m glad you liked the film in terms of how it was shot etc. Honestly I think the film would have lost something if we didn’t even mention it was Scotland, but I probably could have left the spot names out and I’ll remember that in future if the sposts we go to aren’t well known already. We don’t want to make music videos of people bodyboarding or surfing – we prefer a documentary approach.
We put in the overtime to do our trip too man and a lot of effort into looking for spots that we hadn’t heard of.
I think the Stalin logic is a bit overboard. All I was saying is that the info is already out there (and more detailed by far than this) if people are looking for it they will find that before this video anyway. Those site get tens of thousands of hits a day as opposed to the few we get a day at the moment…
It’s a name without a location. Guys surf ‘The Right’ in Oz and everyone knows the spots name and what the wave looks like, but does the whole world all of a sudden know where it is now because there is some video footage of it?
What I meant by the responsibility for locals is that if a traveller comes asking: “hey, can you tell me how to get to Brimms Ness?”, then don’t tell them if you don’t want them to know. There is seriously no way from watching that video that you could figure out how to get to any of those spots and believe it or not that was done on purpose. I get where you’re coming from and it is food for thought!
I’m not from Cape Town, but I really do believe that it is out of the way for most people too and not many people will go even if you do make a video of it. Even if you do give the spots locations away – which we haven’t done!
Sorry for the offence man!
Nah, cheers for the shout out, i’m already planning a trip there with a big group of mates. Head to thurso and go search either to the left or right of it! got it. thanks dude
Cool. Good luck with that man! I’m glad my extremely detailed and explicit directions will help you on your trip!
Anyone who goes on a surf trip and doesn’t go search either side of the main break is just lazy man. Left or right – it’s pretty a broad statement that applies to any stretch of coast anywhere…
I see you changed your name.
great vid mate, wouldn’t waste time sticking up for yourself (which you did rather well) on the whole “secret spot” thing, with things like Google Earth and the coast line survey of Ireland (entire coast photographed from a helicopter) it’s only a matter of time before someone determined can find a spot, and who deservers more to surf it, a begineer with a few good mates who are in the loop or someones who’s been inspired by pics/vids and spent weeks looking. Come to Ireland, we’d be glad to have you.
Thanks Dom! Yeah, I know what you mean – if you’re looking for info you’ll find it eventually…
I really hope we can make it to Ireland. I’ve always wanted to go there – for reasons other than surfing too. If you ever head over to South Africa and we’re back there, just drop me an email and we’ll arrange some waves!
Shot bru ………… just PM’d you my bank details. Do me a favour & put them up at the end of your vid….
ATT…. out
I’m not gonna lie to you – that doesn’t even make sense…
How’s Glasgow?
Dude….thats a pretty whack way to make your name in surf media. I would think long and hard about going to someone elses home town, home break and documenting it for the world to see….Your video was nice, but it wholly missed the point and feeling of surfing on the north coast….uncrowded? we’ll see how long that lasts…..how many non locals in that video….? naming is shaming bro.
Thanks for your comment. This issue has been discussed already so I’m not going to respond again, but I do get where you’re coming from and do consider all comments.
For the record – I’m not trying to make a name for myself in surf media.
Dear Riles
I think it was a brilliant little film. The commentary was pitched vwell, if anything overly diplomatic to pros-on-skis. The nay-sayers have just got some ill-thought out ideas. I’d heard/seen of all these spots bar one & still reckon your work won’t flood the place. Look forward to seeing more of your work soon.
Knock ‘em dead!
Thanks Justin! Yeah, I never intended to give away any secrets and still don’t feel I have, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Stoked you liked the film and really appreciate the comment!
“Come to Ireland, we’d be glad to have you…..”
i wouldnt imagine this person speaks for too many other irish surfers so hopefully you will not try to promote ireland with your new venture.
the continual flow of photos on msw, videos on youtube giving away info on quiet and secret spots it begs the question ‘what is the motivation behind this’ ? i’d imagine this site will eventually be a magnet for sponsors and ca$h. you are selling out the assets of the local riders -it’s not fair, it’s not welcome.
Hey, thanks for your comment. I genuinely appreciate it.
Our intention was not and will never be to divuldge the locatios of spots to people. I know the video mentioned names of spots, but nobody can find the spots from watching it and they are all (bar one) well known spots. This was our first video and we will try to improve, in all areas, with future ones.
If you don’t want people coming to surf in Ireland should you ever really go and surf anywhere else? Maybe you haven’t ever travelled and don’t plan, but I’m sure that a lot of people with the same sentiments, about surfers visiting Ireland, as you have. I have a sneaking feeling that more than a handful will grace the shores of places like Indo with their awesome presence this year. It could just be the pot and the kettle…
Dear Riles,
Not sure if this was your first trip to Scotland or not. So not sure if you’re aware that the crowds are increasing year on year already. This is, I would guess, mainly down to the frequent articles in the Cornwall based British surf mags and the exposure that has come from the Highland Open comp etc. It will surely also be a result of word of mouth from people who have made the effort to travel here and have had, like you, a great time surfing and experiencing what the country has to offer and wish to return to these relatively uncrowded waves again. However you must appreciate that filming, and naming, these lesser known spots and then posting that film on the net with a link to Surfers Path magazine is not going to help the situation or sit very well with a lot of local surfers.
You seem like a decent guy and I trust you when you say your intention was not to expose these places but I would think if you’d told the surfers you asked directions from that you were going to film your session and post it on the net the directions would have been A9 south and keep going.
Thanks. Yeah, looks like the next episode may have to be a little different in how it’s presented – I honestly intentionally edited it in a way that doesn’t show where the spots are or how to find them. By that I mean no road signs or landmarks etc. And I didn’t think the video gave anything away, but from some of the comments I guess I may have to re-evaluate the way I edit the future ones.
I would just like to say that I didn’t ask any locals for directions to spots – I found most info online before going up and for the rest we hiked along the coast searching. Also I didn’t approach those sites to ask them to post the video – not that that means I didn’t want other sites to embed it, but I did just put it up on Vimeo and it propagated from there.
Anyway, thanks for your comment and I will consider it when editing in future…
KOOK
Thanks, it’s nice to have a real Pro commenting on the site.
As someone else mentioned, don’t waste your time defending- you made a great vid and any increase in visitors will be much appreciated by local businesses. Especially if the dudes with attitude will stay at home to protect their own mini-domains.
Thanks mate!
“I live in a small town in South Africa”
Why didn’t you name it?
Don’t you want us there?
Would your friends at your home break get a bit upset if we came with all our friends and invited the world there too?
Is it yours and you’re a bit protective of it?
Do you like to keep it as it is?
Are you quite happy with respectful visitors who enjoy the hospitality and then keep their stories to their friends?
Would you be upset if somebody turned up and “sold” your break to make their name as a budding film-maker?
I wonder………
Thankfully our weather is so awful, all you’ll do it bring a lot of people a long way to spend lots of money getting cold and windblown. Fine for the local economy, but I’d be upset if I saved for a year and met our usual weather. Some of those who come will get some nice waves, but the vast majority will get skunked.
Why do you think most Scottish surfers go south to tropical areas for their big surf trips? It’s not because the waves are better, it’s because we won’t spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds for two weeks of sitting in a cold van in the rain, by a cold road to get two onshore surfs when it’s dark for 17 hours a day. We’ve all done it and we’re not stupid or rich enough to do it again.
Ireland is the same. Great on a good day, but you might need to wait a month for it.
Our weather might be rubbish, but sometimes it’s the best thing that ever happens to us. If it was good, the place would be mobbed, but it’s a complete gamble and you’re far more likely to get good surf and nice conditions for a lot less cash elsewhere. While I’m on the subject, if you could go out without gloves, it wasn’t winter.
You were lucky and got some nice waves and OK weather, but I’d think carefully about what your enthusiasm has led you to do.
I’d very, very, very quickly remove your voiceover and edit some of the film or you’ll really upset the very people who welcomed you and treated you with respect and courtesy.
You should show them some.
aw
Thanks Al,
The town I come from is called East London. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t think to and I plan to make several episodes about it when I get back. It has 300 days of sunshine a year and the waves are best in Winter. You’ll need a 3mm suit to be comfortable in Winter and a shorty or boardies in Summer. My homebreak that I grew up surfing is called Kennaways and it’s here. Pretty much only bodyboarders surf it, but a few stand-up have had decent sessions there. The most famous spot is called Nahoon Reef and it is here. The people are also really friendly and most of the guys in the water will be too if they know you are visiting from overseas.
So Scottish surfers can go South for their big surf trips to places that they saw videos of on the internet, but people shouldn’t make trips up to Scotland for the same reason? I know the weather in Scotland isn’t great and it’s expensive and that’s why most people won’t make the effort or spend the cash to go there. And if they do they may well be disappointed and never go back. They would rather spend the cash to go to South East Asia or the South Pacific.
Yeah, I may have made some mistakes with this vid (although I think there has been a lot of over reaction), but I will learn from them.
No real surfer would make something like this.
Point taken.
“So Scottish surfers can go South for their big surf trips to places that they saw videos of on the internet, but people shouldn’t make trips up to Scotland for the same reason?”
I didn’t say that – I’m just ensuring your viewers and readers realise what they’re in for if they take your advice and head to Scotland.
Surfing and travel have been linked since day one. One of the best feelings in the world is to walk round a headland and find waves you never know existed. I like to see nice waves in new places, but I’d rather embark on a journey of personal “surf discovery” in a new place thinking that there’s something, somewhere out there. Someone probably has surfed it before, but someone might not have done and on that day, for a couple of hours, it’s yours. You then give it back and leave it to the locals who have looked after it and kept it the way you found it, so it makes to the next persons day too. Regard it as conservation. You got that feeling, why deny it to others?
I have no problems with a video that labels a continent or country e.g. Africa, Northern Europe or even UK, Scotland or South Africa as a whole. The fact these places have waves is not news. I don’t like to see a town or break mentioned. Ask those at the big name spots whether they’d have been happier if they hadn’t been named and see what they say. We can all name places that are now unpleasant to surf in due to pressure of numbers and aggro in the water. Your video in its current form is contributing to this rot by fuelling the fire of localism which we all know destroys surfing. You have to take responsibility for this.
This isn’t the first video of surfing in Scotland. There are articles in magazines and people have been surfing here for 40+ years so it’s not really news. What’s secret about an area with a WQS event? What is different is that in the last few years there have been a few “inconsiderates” who have done exactly as you have and decided to publicise their ignorance by shouting about “their” find from the rooftops. It has made a huge difference to those who live there. The dream you’re selling in your video doesn’t exist, because of this media explosion at the hands of you and the others who seek to benefit personally by making money or finding fame. If it isn’t vanity, greed or naivety it can only be deliberate vandalism or misguided evangelism.
I’m not a local. I don’t live in the area of your film, but I feel strongly that you have abused the trust the locals placed in you. I’ve met a lot of travelling surfers over the last 20+ years who have shown respect for the spots you’ve visited and I cannot see why you think you should be different. It’s a shame, because it really looks like you had a great time. Why go and spoil it? Just take the video, re-edit it and then put it back on the site. Telling the world about your own back yard doesn’t make it right either – it just makes your mates lives less pleasant, so I’d take that info off too.
As it stands just now, by naming spots on your video you’ve invited everyone you can to a party you aren’t hosting. The power of the internet has sent your message to a world which now recognises you as a ticket selling gatecrasher. I doubt this was your intention, but that’s the result of your ill considered film. Without a rethink and backtrack I doubt you’ll find yourself welcome in the very places that seem important to you.
Point taken and I have removed the voice over for the most part, changed the title and removed any mention of spot names and the new video is playing now instead of the original. I swapped it out last night. I don’t want fame or money, just doing the things I love, but I clearly missed the mark on this one and have admitted that. I didn’t put enough thought into it and it’s a mistake I won’t make again.
I understand that I have alienated a lot of people – do I wish I could go back and change it – yes.
Thanks for your comments – I genuinely do appreciate them!
I’ll see how the edit turns out before commenting further
i guess the main problem is that it’s a video of good waves at a couple of the less-known spots.
kind of pointless removing the names of the places, either the places have already been blown up by surf mags or their name alone means very little.
i’m pretty sure you can count the number of scottish surfers who could make the take off at bagpipes or that right at the end of the vid on one hand and there is very little indication of where the places are. in my opinion the only people who could legitimately have a gripe are those that live there and surf those spots – not many and i’m pretty sure none have commented above. it’s better that there is someone out there getting barrelled than the spots being empty or having a couple of fools poo-stancing while the barrel fires off.
people have known about the quality of surf up there for a long time. the cold has always been the issue, but as wetsuits get better and more folk surf, scottish surfers are going to have to learn to get waves at their local spots the old fashioned way – surf the spots better than the visitors, rather than whining about vids like this.
if you are going to post more vids i’d recommend only showing footage of spots named on magicseaweed (and naming them) and doing a bit more ‘surf guide’ type stuff – no mention of skinandis?. also maybe mentioning your approach to the ‘secret spot’ issue somewhere on the site.
Yeah, thats the point I was trying to get across when responding to some of the other comments…
The idea from the start was to do a ‘surf guide’ type thing at the well known spots and places, and then keep any secret spots we have the privelage of surfing, a secret.
We wanted to do more docco type stuff about the town of Thurso, but it rained so much (everyday) that we couldn’t really film around town at all.
It was the first one and I have a better idea of what might work going foward from the comments and critisism we’ve recieved so hopefully things improve next time around.
There is some mention of the secret spot issue on the FAQ page, but maybe I should dedicate a page to that and put it in the navigation…
Thanks for your comment and suggestions!
How can you even think this is ok? You’re from South Africa- make a documentary about there, go up the skeleton coast and get lost for a year and make a documentary about that. Don’t go into someone’s else’s garden and take a piss.
You are an idiot.
Thanks Ben, I plan to make a bunch of episodes in and around South Africa – I’m sure you won’t mind watching those. By the way, the Skeleton Coast is in Namibia, not South Africa.
I’m sure if a professional filmaker from another country made a film of Kelly Slater or some other Pro’s surfing those spots you would have the same comments right? And you’d make the effort to let him know too? Maybe you should write to O’neill and ask them not to have contests up there anymore, not put videos of it online and prevent anyone watching from filming. Then write to all the mags that post pictures and stories and while you’re at it contact Magic Seaweed and get them to take down all the incredibly detailed information about the entire UK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoLN2YbWgoY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBPrUY6N2Xg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9KxTXdayYQ
I’m sure you never watch videos of other countries because you’re sticking to your principles. Like videos that British guys make of trips to Indo or the Canaries.
Riles, good on you for changing it and taking in peoples comments and criticisms and trying to improve your film making.
The idea from the start was to do a ’surf guide’ type thing at the well known spots and places, and then keep any secret spots we have the privelage of surfing, a secret.
Riles, i think this here lies the fundamental problem that is causing you the grief and really, we should all be REALLY HAPPY you are getting grief from it.
You are planning and doing surfing things which have an intention of educating and attracting more people to become surfers…and FINALLY today people are starting to get the (*&^ with this sort of thing, be it film, magazine or whatever.
The challenge is to make something that is a bit more intelligent. Document the local culture and feature the waves, i mean afterall you are only doing it all so you get to go surfing too right?
go surfing, enjoy it, film stuff, but dont attract people to surfing.
aloha
Hey Andrew,
Thanks for your comment. Yeah, we’ll definitely rethink how the future videos are done. I get what mean about the tone of them…
Thank you for your suggestions! Appreciate it!!
Where Should I start?..
At first I wanted to smash some skulls, who the f*ck do you guys think you are and what the f*ck were you thinking?!
Now I’m past it, yes I still hold a grudge who wouldn’t it. No it’s not just you, it’s not just the guys who turned up on the ski but more the blatant “F*CK YOU GUYS!” that everyone thinks that they can do what they want and not think about the consequences.
For weeks after I had people mailing me, have you seen this, they’re claiming that, He said this have you watched…. and on.
Actually before O’Neill turned up we had a meeting with some representatives of theirs where we ended up telling them that Thurso wasn’t ready for a QS event and that it shouldn’t go ahead but this fell on deaf ears.
For ages now the problem has been the average joe surfer who maybe is a little out of their depth but wants to have a go. Then again how do they progress without edging out of their comfort zone?
Your vid won’t convince masses of pro’s that they should turn up and start to take photos and whore themselves out to the highest bidder. They already know of the benefits of a wee Thurso trip and have done for quite a few years now. No it’ll be average joe, bumbling around on the inside when you’re trying to set your line. Next thing you’re going over the falls thinking “I should have made that section if I didn’t have to change my line”
I could moan for ages about how the crowds have changed here in the last five years but really I’m not going to. I’m not even going to call you a c*nt, no not even a f*ck you and don’t come back, not even a little, if I ever see you up here again I’m going to break your legs…
No I’m all for you coming back next year and hope that you start to appreciate just how quickly the crowds are expanding up here and when you’re sitting out in the line up have a wee look around and think to yourself “I helped this happen”
After all we all have to take responsibility for our actions, yours may be being snaked by the guy you’ve never seen, or dropped in on by that stand up that was dropping in on all of the bodyboarders. I’m sure that you do regret posting the vid for the negative comments that you’ve spent your time on replying to each one (which I think is quite admirable but at the same time you deserved the comment from Ben as this was also my first reaction, so let’s not be too hasty in shooting people down). At the same time I’m sure you’re stoked with all of the positive ones you’ve received which will spur you onwards.
As for me I think f*ck it, why should it be me who’s always pissed off about how the people who travel here act, why should it be me who’s session is always ruined by some goon, why should I care if the whole place goes to ratshit?!
Then you have a reply from the likes of Ali who also cares and it helps me to remember that maybe I’m not only talking for myself maybe there are others out there who feel the same way about the waves on the north shore and don’t want to see them ruined. Maybe that’s the reason I keep going.
Some have suggested that you go somewhere else and do whatever it is you want to, how about next time you make a documentary about how surfing has lost its soul? then you could advertise it in all the magazines, sell the movie on eBay to a major global surf company who could then use it as part of a learn to surf package that they sell to a surf school franchise who would tout for sunburned tourists from the city on Strathy beach?!
Or maybe you could do one with less about the spots more waves and crack, but I think you already know that. After all we all like a wee bit of self indulgent wave porn! ;o)
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the comment. You make a lot of good points.
About responding to posts – I do feel everyone is entitled to their opinion and I do consider all those opinions.
I appreciate the critisism (good or bad) even when it makes me look and/or or feel like an idiot – it will help me and the content to improve. It crossed my mind to close commenting or just not approve the harsh or negative ones, but everyone should be allowed to have their say so I have approved them all.
I will definitely be trying to improve the content in future and try to make it likeable to a much wider range of viewers…
Thank you for your suggestions.
Oh yeah I forgot to mention…
Poor post about where you’re from.
As for the locals taking responsibility, what do you want me to do, turn up with a baseball bat? Come on be sensible!
About where I’m from – the point was that those are relatively famous spots that people will know about before they go and can easily find out all the info onlie. It’s a small place that people don’t generally go to to surf so it won’t be overun.
I think the ‘locals’ comment was taken a bit out of context – what I meant is that if a visitor comes asking about a secret spot by name, but doesn’t know where it is then just to not give directions to it. I didn’t ask for any while I was up there, but was told by a few guys who had been before me that they asked and where given directions. No disrespect meant and not suggesting violence.
Just for interests sake – do you actually live in Thurso? According to your IP Address you’re in Welshpool? I realize you could be travelling, but I was just interested to know…
My name is Chris Noble.
Maybe I am in in the middle of buttf*ck nowhere…
Maybe I’m not. I’m taking it you spent around five days up here and think that you can do what the f*ck you like. Much like Will Bailey.
Like I said last time around, next time you come up here and have a bad day in the surf remember you only have yourself to blame…
I get it man! You’ve made your point. It was 8 days (not that that makes a difference to anything, I know), and no, I don’t think I can do what I want – if I did I wouldn’t have changed the video.
Thanks for your comment.
try something more like…
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=262603512682
I live on the farm at thurso east…Is that local enough for you??? Warning violence is definatley on the way up here this was the last straw. strongly recomend you never come back especially as we all now know exactly what you look like.
No worries man. Strange that your IP Address says you’re in London, but I’ll take your word for it and assume you’re just away from home for a bit.
ask smith who i am he will tell you!! am in london having a quartazone injection in my ass for f*#*ed hip…as you can imagine my mood is less than good!!! just coz your so clueless dosent meen that you have not f*#*ed of every local in thurso!! trust me i know ask ozzy rick
Look dude,
I believed you’re from there, just wondering why it showed you’re in London – no sarcasm intended (although I do see how it could look that way). Sorry to hear that you’re dealing with an injury. Also, I know I’ve pissed people off, but at the same time I’m taking a lot of heat for what previous people have done. As you said – it’s the last straw – meaning there were a lot of other straws before. I’m not bitching about that – it is what it is and i’m taking it. I know I’m not welcome and I accept that.
The vid doesn’t give anything away (and never did), but I took on peoples opinions and concerns and changed it. I know I made mistakes and I’ve learned from them. It’s a crap situation, but it happened and now I’m willingly taking the heat without bitching and moaning about it.
I’m not at all trying to make out or believe that I haven’t pissed you guys off and I realize and understand that you’re angry.
I’m a decent dude – although that may not be apparent to you (I don’t expect it to be) – and I had no ill intentions.
Anyway, if you were ever in my town in SA I’d take you surfing and even give you a place to stay – I’m sure you’d never take me up on it with all the hatred in the air, but it’s a genuine offer.
I hope your hip gets better soon and you get some good waves when it is.
bru, you’re a good oke with a magic soul. Its sad that these ‘locals’ have reacted like that. If one of these scottish bru’s came to EL we would share a name and a direction or two so that they would have found some decent waves and had a positive stay. Maybe its the weather up there but these guys all seems way to pissed. You have handled the hate and criticism like the caring guy you are. I watched the video a bunch of times and marvelled at some of those spots…they are just big slabs that no average joe should or probably would paddle out into. I would rather surf elsewhere, somewhere a little warmer and with a slight warmer reception too. Scottish ‘locals’…I dont want to surf there even after watching the video…so theres your -1.
I think the local scots are just butt-hurt you didn’t put them in the video….maybe you should put the clips of andrew, chris and alex up so we can watch them eat shit..
aahhahahaha
Some of these guys sound like they 14. These comments are such a joke.
Ye shane, next time you know bro. I agree with the whole naming issue, was thinking that while watching the vid. Got to be careful, rather just show the potential and then let the travelers mission. Once the names are out, getting directions from locals is pretty easy. After being in Puerto now for a month, I’m beginning to relate with that
Later Bro