‘KOOKS’ OFF THE LEASH
New wave of hipsters accused of dropping in and putting locals in danger
TENSIONS are rising between long-term local and ‘out-of-towner’ hipsters disregarding surfing safety at an iconic location.
Rainbow Bay locals say the ‘kooks’ are putting others in danger with their lack of leg ropes, surfing etiquette and skill.
LOOKING cool in the ocean has Rainbow Bay locals hot under the collar as a new wave of hipster surfers descends on the iconic location.
A lack of leg ropes, a lack of surf etiquette and lack of skill are combining to create tensions between long-time local surfers and “out-of-towners’’ coming to Rainbow Bay primarily on long boards to ride the waves.
Friends of Rainbow Bay member Mena Tsikleas said the offenders were mainly hipsters, both men and women, who thought it was cool to go “old school” and surf without leg ropes.
“What they are doing is creating a dangerous environment not only for other surfers but also swimmers due to lost boards being swept into the beach in the whitewash,” Mr Tsikleas said.
“The vast majority of surfers here use leg ropes and know what to do but there is a minority which is causing havoc because they have no respect for other surfers, they can’t surf and when they do cause an incident, they don’t care. Due to sandpumping, Rainbow Bay now isn’t a bay shape anymore but just a straight beach which means that these surfers, who don’t seem to care, just surf through swimming areas.
“The lifeguards can tell them to stay out of the swimming zone but they are either ignored or abused by these ‘kooks’.
“There are signs up that advise people to go to Greenmount Beach if they want to swim because the lifeguards are concerned for the safety of swimmers due to the actions of surfers who are only interested in catching waves, not other people.
“We want people to come here and enjoy this beautiful place but those who do come here need to be respectful of the rules of the ocean.
“I simply can’t understand why you wouldn’t wear a leg rope. It beats having to swim a long way to get your board back.”
Long-time Rainbow Bay champion surfer Sally Paxton agreed with Mr Tsikleas about the influx of hipster surfers who were spoiling it for everyone.
“I hate to say it but some of the young women out there are the worst because they simply don’t know what they are doing,” Ms Paxton said.
“I have friends who have daughters and are encouraging them to take up surfing and are teaching the correct rules in the waves such as who has the ‘right of wave’ and not to drop in, but when you get people out there who have no regard for those unofficial but accepted rules, it makes it very difficult.”
Mr Tsikleas said the Friends of Rainbow Bay was considering a petition calling for a “no leg rope, no surf” rule but admitted it would be difficult to impose.
“If this continues to deteriorate, we might see a situation like that in Byron Bay where a local law firm there is advertising in the media that if you have been hit by an errant surfboard and know the details about the owner, they will take up your case for litigation,” he said.
Gold Coast Surf Life Saving co-ordinator Nathan Fife, who is also on the World Surfing Reserves committee, said it was not just Rainbow Bay seeing more people taking on the “old school” surfing trend.
“It’s definitely an issue at any of the surfing breaks across the Gold Coast,” he said. “It’s not only for your safety, but for members of the public.”