Being an avid traveller i was just wondering which country or place everyone thinks has the best skills/ability in the water
I'm not talking about which country has the best pro surfers but best average surfers in any lineup on any given day
With a few places in Central America fighting for second I think the best locals i have seen are the Balinese
Even the most average of local surfs with grace and style
They look like they are born to surf
As for the worst i'm thinking Perth metro or a Euro country but do they really count
Not that there aren't people who rip in Perth, Its just that the average majority are Kooks
Be interested to hear all opinions

Dumb question imo.

Yeah kinda loaded question really. Were ever the best surf is constantly.

Its like saying the best Skiers or snow boarders are the ones that live in the snow fields..IMO

TimKay said...

Is that because your from Perth Doggie

No thats what I think of the question, you also said county not city, then bag out Perth.

If you want an answer to the title, it would have to be Hawaii then Australia as the best, Afganistan as the worst.
Imo QLD surfers are up there with the best I would say, but then you get Vic chargers SA desert dwellers WA south and north chargers Tas slab riders ect.

Still a dumb question imo..

We need to remember the 'water' guys you see in Bali (the case in most third world coastal areas), most likely spent everyday of their childhood on the beach or on fishing boats/free diving with their dad's and uncles to earn money rather than attend school. Even to date these fishermen still navigate the oceans without all the positioning equipment most runabouts in developed countries are fitted with. I'm sure if our classrooms were in the ocean we would all be as comfortable in the water as the people you mention in your experiences. After all this, I'm sure there are still people in Bali who can't swim.

I would still rate Australia's water awareness pretty well. Considering the time we actually spend in the water in relation to school/work and everything else we do.

Off topic, I saw a program the other night that explained how 'free divers/fisherman' in Thailand have learnt to reduce the apperture of their eyes under water to increase the focal plane. Apparently anyone can learn to this - mine just sting!

Well time for you guys to ask a good question
I'm waiting

Not today i'm working

Just thought i would stir the steamy **** pot and say NZ

I'm a kook and proud of it. But give me a couple of years and I'll out paddle and surf you
Sure us Perthians aren't that great but atleast we pug away at it. Even if waves aren't good we'll still be out there and with every morning spent in the water is a morning we get better and closer to taking the crown of better surfers in the world

Ados said...

newguy said...

I'm a kook and proud of it. But give me a couple of years and I'll out paddle and surf you
Sure us Perthians aren't that great but atleast we pug away at it. Even if waves aren't good we'll still be out there and with every morning spent in the water is a morning we get better and closer to taking the crown of better surfers in the world

good one mate. As a proud Perth surfer I agree that we make the most of the conditions we have. Call me a 'kook' or whatever but I just love to surf no matter if I spend half the session going over the falls or that special moment when it all comes together. Its all about perspective. In my mind I am the best surfer I can be at this moment.

Couldnt agree more Ados and newguy, well said

I think with the amount of people surfing these days and a lot of those starting when they are older than 12, the general ability everywhere isn't very high. Everywhere I have been the average ability is pretty low, guys who can do turns and look like they have some style are usually better than average and they would have no chance against a good guy who these days is someone who can do an air reverse.

Seeing the question wasn't limited to species or countries, the place I think has the best AND worst surfers would be planet Earth. I'm gonna go for dolphins as the best surfers. Never seen a kook dolphin. Heck, they don't even need a board. The worst surfers are humans. Kinda look outta place in the ocean. Except for maybe Tom Curren. Anyway I'm sure Flipper would agree

Up at my local there is often quiet a few older guys out there cutting up. But the young guns OMG. Some of these kids have never surfed anywere else and they are pulling airs. A few of them i have seen struggle with the fundermentials but excell in the air, and surfing backwards

They make me sick.[}:)]

Don't worry bout it Geoffro, i've seen plenty of blokes from Perth charging....City Beach is in Perth isn't it?

Geoffro said...

Pretty offended by this thread. Yeah our waves aren't usually the best, but sometimes they're good. I surf everyday, sometimes twice (weather permitting), yet you get to say we're the worst in the world. I'm not very good but plenty of people rip and **** at least we're fit! Just get out and paddle! Here's a tip, don't just sit on the dunes at Trigg and judge every Perth surfer accordingly! On another note, didn't Kelly Slater grow up surfing poor quality waves too?

+ one, I agree in total mate!

The surf at Scarborough can get really good sometimes , just check out the large photo behind the counter at the Ripcurl shop in Scarborough. But I agree with Doggie the Balos are easily the best surfers at their local breaks , they all rip with style.