Localism can turn a potentially fun surf session into one that leaves you frustrated and with the nagging feeling of “damn, that guy was an asshole.” You show up at the beach, paddle out, and the first set wave you go for there he is, right behind you, shouting you off “his” wave. You kick out and paddle back out to the top of the lineup. He finishes his wave, paddles out past you, and takes the next set wave that comes through. And the next, and the next. Why? Because it’s his beach, after all.
Or at least that’s what we think of when we think of localism. “I’m a fan of localism – conscious localism, if it exists,” Kale Brock says in the video above. When I listen to his point of view I have to agree with him. Localism isn’t all negativity and possessive vibes in the lineup. Conscious localism can bring a sense of order to unruly situations, and create a means for allocating waves based on mutual respect and common decency. Follow along as Kale describes what he sees as positive versus negative localism, and how you, the everyday surfer, can navigate more “local” lineups respectfully, and still get your fair share of waves.
