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Surfing & Traffic
Signs, traffic lights and Sunday-drivers
abound everywhere. For some, driving in today's world
can be extremely stressful, leading to high anxiety.
Stop and go, stop and go, drivers cutting in and out,
bottlenecking in the roads. Day after day our freeways
and roads are becoming more congested. Similarly Suring's
exploding population is leading to congestion in the
waves. Both driving and surfing are experiencing exponential
growth, but there are major differences between the
two.
Somehow without the benefit of signs, traffic cops,
official rules and laws, the highway system for surfers
appears to be running smoothly. Applying surfing principals,
starting with respect, is essential in maintaining order.
Perhaps if surfing principals were a part of driver
training programs, our roads and freeways would be much
smoother and driving experiences would become much more
relaxing.
Malama ke kai is Hawaiian for respect the ocean. Beginning
surfers learn quickly to respect the ocean and others.
Experienced surfers have the fullest reverence for 20-inch
high waves as they do for waves 20 feet high. Pipeline
master Gerry Lopez's worst injury came from falling
off on a one-foot wave after letting his guard down,
ironically, after a day of riding large, dangerous surf
unscathed. Maybe it would be beneficial for drivers
to learn Hawaiian for respect the road. It could prove
dangerous for those who don't.
Driving locally can be like surfing small waves. Sometimes
drivers close to home drop their guard because everything
is familiar and they know just where they are headed.
Often drivers will hold one hand on the steering wheel
while watching the road or scenery, holding a cell phone
while having a conversation with the other hand. Statistics
show many accidents occur with in five miles of a person's
residence. Just as veteran surfers should respect the
ocean, each and every lime they enter regardless of
wave size, drivers should maintain respect and awareness
regardless of traveling speed, congestion, location
or conditions. Safe driving and surfing both must begin
with reverence and respect at all limes.
Multiple surfers arc able to ride waves safely together
as long as they are all moving in the same direction.
When a surfer decides to drop in late, right in frot
of another surfer already riding, not only is a late
drop-in considered highly rude, it can be extremely
dangerous. For the most part, the overwhelming majority
of experienced surfers are respectful, courteous and
don't drop in on advancing surfers. Drop-ins are kapu.
Drivers who are aggressive and act in erratically or
pull out unexpectedly in front of others, often are
the root cause for automobile collisions. These drivers
need to learn respect and the golden surfing rule, no
drop- ins. Dropping in unexpectedly on another driver
can be even more dangerous than dropping in on a surfer
and is equally, if not more rude, considering the potential
consequences of such an act.
Respectful surfers always pay attention, slay alert
and keep their eyes on what they are doing. These surfers
are able to look ahead and anticipate if someone is
going to drop on them or see other hazards than could
develop. It is important for drivers to keep their eyes
on the road at all times just like surfers who ride
the waves. Whether surfing the same surfing spot every
day or daily driving the same roads a good rule of thumb
is to always expect the unexpected. The best way to
handle the unexpected is by keeping the eyes wide-open,
slaying alert, and watching where you are going.
On any Sunday, certain well known surfing spots attract
maximum capacity thrill seekers anxious to ride waves.
Sunday surfers you could say. Some surfing spots become
so crowded surfers will be squeezed together tighter
than sardine: packed in a can. In addition to tight,
packed line-ups, a steady stream of surfers will be
paddling out while other surfers are riding in. On any
given day, surfers will be everywhere. Respect helps
maintain harmony in surfing line ups and also is key
to safely navigating our nationfs freeway and highway
systems. Seasoned surfers know respect is more than
just a word in any language. Respect means taking action
by being aware and paying attention and being courteous
with others.
When drivers respect and surfers practice respect, remain
patient and watch out ft the other guy, traffic both
in the ocean an on the land, flows smoother and is more
relaxing for all. Sea you in the surf.
The Willis Bros. are surfing experts recognized for
surfing the worlds largest waves and teaching thousands
in Hawaii and California to surf.
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