Post it and they will come
In mid-2015 rangers at Sydney’s Royal National Park were overcome by the number of visitors to the park, particularly along the famed Coast Track. In a typical month 2,000 people would make the trek, but in May of that year the numbers spiked to 10,000.
An even bigger leap in numbers was felt last year at the park’s once-secluded Figure Eight Pools. In January 2016 the average number of visitors jumped from 1,000 visitors per month up to 9,000.
In both instances the sharp rise in visitors was due to Instagram. In the first case, users had seen photos of Wedding Cake Rock trending on the 'gram and wanted to post their own FOMO-inducing shots, in the second they were lured by the Figure Eight Pools and...well, the very same motivation.
Similar loving-nature-to-death stories are proliferating in parallel with the popularity of Instagram:
- Instagram is Loving Nature to Death
- Is Instagram Ruining the Great Outdoors?
- How Instagram Is Destroying Our Natural Wonders
- The Depressing Reality Behind One of Instagram's Most Popular Nature Shots
- 10 Tourist Destinations Ruined by Instagram
- How And Why Instagram Crowd Is Ruining Nature
On and on they go, all saying much the same thing: how photographic exposure of wild placeshave inadvertently led to their decline.
This week the ABC posted it’s own locally flavoured story featuring a Tasmanian photographer. In the article, Jason Futril, aka Tassiegrammer, reflected on how he exposed little known natural gems on Instagram and promptly saw a horde of followers beat a path - literally beat a path, the area was degraded following their arrival - to his once-secret spots.
"Are we causing some of the most beautiful, unknown, and hard-to-find locations to die a slow death?" asked a contrite Futril.
It’s all horribly depressing stuff, highlighting as it does some of the worst instinctive traits: herd behaviour, pack mentality, and ego.
The inclination, of course, is to overlay that lesson on to surfing. Nowhere is really secret anymore, Google Earth has seen to that, yet there are many regions that fly under the radar but risk having their cover blown by trophy hunters seeking an online ego massage. Surfing’s got plenty of form in this regard. You don’t have to travel too far back and surf mags proudly advertised ‘secret spots’ on the the cover while surfing atlases sold by the truckload. Yet go even further back and you’ll find surfers were actively looking for other surfers to paddle out with. Supply met demand...up until the demands changed.
Social media turned everything on its head. It's given disgruntled locals a chance to say enough's enough, yet it's also allowed photographers to wield more power than any print editor ever did. As the above examples illustrate, an unthinking or unscruplous photog has the ability to send herds of people to precise locations when they tag and expose their shots.
In the wider world a backlash is beginning. Denali National Park in Alaska asks people not to geotag the photos they post, while down in Tassie an ethical guide to nature photography urges Instagrammers to use the platform to raise awareness about threats to the subject.
Back in the surfing world, I notice that the most prominent IG photographers have eased up on tagging and exposing landmarks in their shots.
It can only be a good thing.
Comments
Same could be said of Swellnets camera that points at a once quite spot in Coolum.
Now overcrowded when it breaks!
The Currumbin camera has made the crowds noticeably worse too
Thanks for the tip off! I will be waiting for swell and will check it out...
Even though I have surfed it any times before..
How do you find the time to surf, commenting here, stabmag and who knows where else seems to be a full time gig for you??
And don't know Tim tam same could be said about you reading the mindless dribble on stabmag and all the other sites... Lol
You gonna ruin this forum with your mindless dribble too “Joiny”?
Are you going to complain about everything and basically be an old fart?
When was the last time you did a floater?
Do you know how to do one?
Thats right bro, all the surfcams, every one of them, every last one no matter where. Plus all the posted photos and articles about any surf location. Swellnet is 100% resposible for destruction of culture as well as environmental vandalism. And it is the height of rudeness and arrogance to deny it or try to distance itself from this responsibility.
Yep they did the same to my local. Then they took the camera down after
2 1/2 yrs but the crowds stayed!
http://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-analysis/2018/01/23/australia-day-...
Did we leave out the hashtags, WJ?
If only Stu. Instagram has contributed to crowds no doubt forecasting websites do to.
"there are many regions that fly under the radar but risk having their cover blown by trophy hunters seeking an online ego massage" theres also other regions that have seen increases to crowds and part of that is surf forecasting websites by those looking to run a profitable website.
One article laments a social media outlet yet on the same page posts reasonably accurate forecasts. Perhaps that can be your next surfpolitik forecast and the crowds will come.
Forecasting is bad but Instagram is the devil's tool. Shit like this has to be written and thank fuck someone has said it even if it is on a forecasting website.
Instagram isn't great for surfing but knowing a spot is one thing knowing how to forecast it is another.
Its all fkn bad mate. Its fkn infantile and to think people are makin big bucks off this shit. It is a vulgar display of shit integrity. Look the surf cams on here have a little disclaimer at the bottom which says respect the locals. At the bottom of the very tool which offers the ultimate disrespect. Anyone who sees it should be offended. Can you run a swell forecasting site which gives regional info with no photos, no articles , no social interaction and still make money? If not then I suggest its not a viable job.
Speak for yourself bud.I can't live where I was born and raised due to work and a young family. Surf cams keep me sane, so do forecasts.
Social media is a two edge sword....personally i hate it and loath it when some semi pro will pull up to spot near here and if its good he will be straight on his mobile bringing in the photogs and mates...instant crowd...who go on social media and talk it up...you missed it.......spew.
I've found a few spots from trawling Insta.
It works for me!
There's two ways to look at a local of a "owned" surfbreak...
1. The rights to the break for being lucky enough to have been born there! Gaining the rights to drop in and be a prick to outsiders abusing them with possible violence and property damage ..And the right to take waves everyday of the week no mater how many waves they have ridden that week..
2.The outsider westy who loves surfing maybe even more than the locals of that break.. Who grew up without waves landlocked and have 1 maybe 2days to come try and get a wave of a often jealously run break full of locals who have been getting waves before work and after work and often now with forecasts a preplanned day of mid week to score more waves..Monday-Friday
And then after all these waves still complain about having to give a few away to the crew that where not born with waves in there suburbs on the weekends.
Sometimes I wonder how poor these guys are that have waves everyday of the week but still cry foal when haveing to share to the underprivileged westy... Two days a week...
nah, thats pretty much complete bullshit eh.
Explain!
Point 1 is bullshit.
And Point 2 is bullshit too.
Have to agree both points aren't right.
Hmm maybe maybe not.. I will fight this one with freeride cheers.
Well you can't even add any content as to why or any "mature" answers to why its bullshit.. So your comment is bullshit and substandard useless crap...
I could, but I can't be bothered.
Your way of thinking is typical close minded surfer!
If it was to enter the "real" world in a court of law you would be laughed at...
Its the same as saying someone from Brighton has less rights to use a kids park if it was in a different suburb than there's.
It is nice our "surfer" pretend ownership of water and breaks...
But really our ideals can be as real as money in the stock market....
Their. Not There's.
You need to slow down before you write.
Also closed minded - not close minded. If we don’t maintain grammar then it’s a slippery slope
Punctuation is important too Kaiser.
It is indeed a slippery slope.
Hahaha woof woof is very obviously trying hard to defend his actions of surf touring. I really appreciate when someone new paddles out alone and acts with integrity and respect. But I dont believe that someone so committed to being all over this, and possibly other, tourism websites , in such a sycophantic way, would have the integrity to be one of those people.
I respect locals! I paddle out by myself at a new locations. And I happily take leftovers.
But to have idiots yell and harass and drop in on principal which is more often the case..is not OK.
And its usually not because of a new guys attitude or actions at the new break..But due to the inbreeding inbred attitudes of some f--kwits..
To be honest it doesn't happen to me much I surf good enough mute most vocal challenges before it happens and I don't take photos..and I can read peoples pecking orders well.
But I witnesses many road rage like pricks attack people minding there own business because they don't surf as good as them at there break.
Not for disrespecting them I'm anyway or form.
But just because they are a not born there.
I concur ww is a dh
WW don't rock up to the beach on your baby horse and you may not draw so much attention to yourself.
But I like my pony!
Self Propagandagram.
Meh.
Write the same article once you've deleted surf reports and surf cams.
Swellnet,coastalwatch,willy,seaweed,surfline,MHB,and many other websites that help with forecasts only add to the total package and rituals of presurfing and post..
I would rather have them than lose one or two extra surfers in the water..
To be honest its not that different now as 20years ago..
I'm still getting the same wave count at all the same spots all over Australia as 20 year's ago..
Snapper two waves in a day in 2017 was the same amount of waves I got there in 2000 when that fkn bank started.
I’ve got to give it to you Stu and also Ben.
This is the issue that’s got to be raised but also the issue that’ll bite you in the arse.
Thanks for letting everyone know that it serves no surfer to blow any spots out of the water due to location , session or lifestyle pics.
Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy !
PS Jason Futril - Give yourself an uppercut you fucking moron.
You’re a grown man that knows that posting an enviable snapshot of a beautiful spot will always lead to the ruination of anything good of most places anywhere especially in the last few years.
Get an act.
Sooner.
There was always gonna be blow back, but fuck it, wilfully exposing stuff on Instagram bothers me. Bothers me more than conflated arguments about surf forecasts. Yeah, there's always room for gentle reminders about the dangers of surf media...hell, even public slap downs, most of the time we supply the online real estate for our own bloodshed, but as you say, it's the issue that's gotta be raised.
Stu exposing spots isn't fair on those in the know of those spots sure but in a world where peoples workplaces can be flexible and days off can be planned and taken around the picks of days the contribution of forecasting/report sites cannot be ignored.
Wonder how many Melbourne surfers head East or West depending on these sites the only difference is whose profiting from forecasting sites or Instagram. The revenue would come from the same sources consumer based companies.
On the topic of Instagram Maurice Cole seems fond of posting photos but from the tone of a few comments not necessarily the crowds at Bells.
Your basically saying no one deserves to surf unless they live on the coast..
I hate this attitude especially when some guys who live in Melbourne that have 80 percent less surf time than some guys living on the coast surf 90 × better than them.
What is your excuse then?
Not what I am saying at all woof woof and it's not the surf ability that is being discussed its not a dick swinging contest.
Not against people travelling to surf I would be a hypocrite if I was. The forecasting creates greater numbers in the areas the forecaster sends the crowds to simple as that. Creates bad vibes and attitude in the surf.
This world, this story, this article, this situation makes me feel sad.
Fuk it! Just go ride a wave and be Happy.
hahahahaha standard bulls**t, it's only OK for me to go there and take photos, everyone after me is bad and destroying the place, but it was OK for me to go because I am nice.
Swellnet; Ben, Stu, Craig: this article has a nice sentiment, but why don't you take some actual action about this? The swellnet instagram feed is a cesspit of surf spots. Some of them sensitive. Remove all the photos on swellnet's instagram. And then make use of all your followers educational posts reminding surfers of proper surf etiquette. Especially in quiet places. No large groups, no photos, no instagram posts, no instagram stories, no fucken snapchat stories.
No its OK because its them - everyone else doing it is bad, but not them, they are nice so its OK
I wish the whole fucking internet had arrived 30 years later than it did. I mean, how 'worse' off would we really be if it had?
I used to fucking hate instagram then I had a thought after losing a hard drive full of memories I could use it as a photo storage back up. I keep it locked private dont follow anyone have no followers loads of photos that no @#$t gets to see but me haha. Works a treat.
Mmm not sure about just you seeing them RB
Ha ha,the irony of it all,if your a good surfer ,low key and show respect you will always get waves no matter how much swellnet and other forecasting sites expose them,lol:):):)
That's right hotdog! I can't believe how much this pack of guys sulk and carry on its such a wanker what about me attitude..
If they spent less time in council meetings with old people in wheel chairs and actual go out and try get a wave. Rather THAN EXPECT it to be given to them they might injoy them self's.
Second how are they all here on this very site commenting on all subjects while checking the surf cams and forecast for there beach..
As long as no outsiders look at there beach its OK for them to look at the forecast..
The song what about me!it isn't fair ..
Was written for this baggy saggy old crippled bunch.
And generally the only come back at me is grammar and spelling..
I'm OK with that as most them couldn't do a turn to save them selfs and that's why they cry.
If they correct my spelling and say I shouldnt write because that.
Then unless you surf a shit load better than me don't write about something you can't do. Lol.
Same thing happening in mountain biking. Fortunately the offenders are embedded in the MTB world and realised it's in everyone's interest...including their own... to pull back on trail info.
Surf cams are possibly the number one direct cause of inflated lineups. Work flexibility has changed greatly in the last few years allowing people locked to non-coastal regions a new way/place of life which certainly has an effect. Also, people need to stop procreating. A raucous of groans when dad and his 4 kids come walking down the beach in the direction of your lineup.
"It can only be a good thing." Websites in glass houses...
My local (the cam isn't on Swellnet FWIW) often looks shit on cam and when I go down there it is super fun. So I guess it has kept me away as many times as it has got me down there. And if it wasn't there I probably would go down and check and get out there.
So it works both ways in some places.
I was more-so referring to non locals e.g. Brisbane residents. Cams and forecasts definitely have a noticeable influence on numbers in the lineup from these people.
About integrity. I pulled up at a nearby epic slab break a coupla years back and it was just starting to work. Fkn over run by people all overwhelmed ,not getting waves, paddling too close to the wave causing unridable closouts. And there were some of the younger generation of locals who I know, in their car. They were the new, you know, ' profesional' surfers who dont compete but make money from snap shots. Some of the young blokes who are in articles on here sometimes and who always publicize their surfs. I think they have contracts where they must make ph calls to publicists before each surf. You know what im saying, selling their own arse and everyone elses too. They were in a fit about the crowds and started talking tough about bashing them and dropping in etc. Can u see the prob here. This is one of the waves they publicize. They cant go out there and say anything to anyone about any type of behavior. They've lost their voice, they have no integrity . It doesnt even matter if a dick head in the surf isnt there because of them. Something I learnt about training elite athletes is that goes like this. When preparing for an event training is 100%. Diet is 100%. Rest is 100%. Integrity is a bit like that too. If you are involved this process in any way then you are 100% resposible.
Correct "OLDSOUTH " no one cares these days how good you are..
If you had to be a c u n t to get that wave.
Integrity in the water wins way more votes than being a local warrior any day..
Thanks stunet @ swellnet for doing this article ! This thread is good it has provoked plenty of discussion already and more to come hopefully.
Another related issue here on this link below:
https://www.swellnet.com/comment/560715
I notice a difference between the vicariousness of instagram and the actual joy of real life experience. That perfect wave in the pic, perfect spot, perfect dinner, perfect girl - it just drives the people subscribing to it, to sadness.
As for cams, I'd argue the local cam has changed the break in it's eye in the last 10 years - a wave where a distinct older group of surfers would dominate often on longboards became a wave of intermediate young surfers on mini mals, with greater numbers.
I really feel for the far N NSW and SE Qld surfers - you inherited paradise on earth, now everybody also wants a bit and will know exactly when to enjoy it. Last sojourn was manic from Ballina up to surfers, beautiful and warm with great shape yes, but very peopled.
There are ways around this phenomenon at present, but "a careless word, a needless sinking," as they used to say. For Instagram, just use the fickle nature of attention to your advantage - stop promoting an area for a while, then watch as focus is elsewhere and relative sanity returns to loved places. Hasn't the Australian Open tennis been fantastic?
"...difference between the vicariousness of instagram and the actual joy of real life experience."
Nicely put VJ. It's something that I am always aware of, even down to people sitting in buses on the smart phone, missing the trip!!!! Yep, even as mundane as that. It reminds me to be conscious of whatever is going on around me, find the meaning in the mundane. Fuck, take time to be bored, enjoy the boredom, find the creativity that invariably flows from boredom.
I suspect that there is a price to pay for living in the screen of your phone, probably something as simple as happiness, or more likely peace of mind, but maybe, just maybe, these things will see most people just go barking mad.
Interesting that zombie movies became such a big thing at the proximate time of the over-development of phones and apps we never needed and weren't asking for.
Interesting side effect to the whole royal national park explosion, the car parks that provide access to the waves in the area are often now at capacity early in the day, complete with traffic management who only allow a car down the hill once another leaves. Ironically enough I would guess that at least 60-70 percent of those cars at peak times belong to non surfing picknickers and day trippers, who effectively keep the numbers down in the water. So while the local town is struggling to keep upwith it all due to lack of bins, toilets, parking etc, provided you're down there early enough and prepared to hang for the day, you're sweet.
"There was always gonna be blow back, but fuck it, wilfully exposing stuff on Instagram bothers me. Bothers me more than conflated arguments about surf forecasts " Stunet.
Fair call there stunet, theres a big difference between providing a surf forecast which is actually a job that people do worldwide and posting copious amounts of pictures of a surfbreak that often many other fellow surfers share, on a really good day and making a comment such as #nocunout ! Surf forecasting has been an occupation for over 70 years, Walter Munk made it a real job. I found a few previously made threads on the topic of crowds , surfcams & forecasting on swellnet.
It looks like this new article Stunet wrote is referring to instagram and the negative repercussions. Yet half the public comments are pointing to surfcams and forecasts. Seems possible that those who are guilty are trying to turn it around, point the finger and change subject to callout Swellnet.coms behavior. In denial of the instagram self promotion advertising tool and the negative repercussions of creating insta-exposed and crowded lineups
'Internet surfcams':
https://www.swellnet.com/forums/wax/9116
'How does forecasting influence crowds:
https://www.swellnet.com/forums/wax/310372
'Swellnet Facebook':
https://www.swellnet.com/forums/wax/260636
'There’s a certain misconception that surrounds running photos of spots that aren’t particularly well known. The thinking goes that once the shot hits the presses, or the internet, untold people will see it and eventually make their way to said spot in order to crowd out the lineup, fill up the parking lot, cover the beach in litter and generally desecrate a once pristine secret shared by a select few. There was a time, when people got more of their pragmatic surfing information from the surf media and most coastlines were still unexplored in surfing terms, that this was more the case. But to claim the same thing now, in a world filled to the brim with more coastal developments springing up every minute, is slightly off base. Pristine lineups are certainly being “discovered” by more people and crowded out, but this is just as much a function of extreme demographic pressures in well-known surfing areas as it is any effect of spots being revealed in the media through photos or the odd contest.'
https://www.theinertia.com/business-media/the-ethics-of-exposing-the-sec...
Confounded misinformation.
I live in an area rich with waves.
It is off the beaten track from main cities.
Exposure through photos has increased crowds in two ways
1- more people are moving to the area to live and surf
2-people can now drive 4-5hours and not get skunked.
We get an influx of people everytime magic seaweed says good.
Fuck I love it when forecasts are wrong.
We have limited surf cams, none of which point at the best waves. If they did they would not last long.
I've got nothing against travellers so long as they understand they are at the back of the line.
Social mediatards ay...
It's a bit hard to call the wave when you've got a gopro in your mouth
We are talking about "instagram" the playschool site.
Tranquility trashed by selfie + retard intro.( Australian Waterfall Lots of water very wet).
Barbie photoshop album + babytalk captions.# So fabs # I love it more # Too much niceness!
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5min review!
Photo display/page instagram 6 v google 20 That's 3-4 x the scrolling .Who's that fit?
Photo search(hit) inst 50% gle 90%
Photo (Info/history) inst .1% gle 99%
Photo (Display/Edit) inst 00% gle 90%
www Search- inst 00% gle 100%
Link to www- inst 00% gle 100%
Disclaimer reviewer not an instagoogler ...(Conclusion = Instagram is pretty! Useless).
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Who has several lifetimes to waste looking at ruined photos of no name places + no tale?
I must thank webmaster for never linking me to pretty vague instagram Barbie photoshop.
Just 2 visits to clueless land and your away with fairies! # It's all too beautiful #Save yourself!
www now pay- news/tunes/history,windows downgrades, cartoon caption pics our legacy.
Turn your phones location off, that should help. Fuck, don't give away your information if you don't have to.
Why wouldn't you want to post a pic of something beautiful WITHOUT any identifying features, just putting it out there to be enjoyed and drooled over.
Or is it just to gain more followers?
I do't know, I wouldn't spend a minute working out how to instagram, and if it's anything like every other app, you have to give up your name, phone number, email, address, first born's name, father's occupation, bank account details, dick pics verified as yours, size of wife's bum etc.
Don't give up your privacy so easily! Don't give up your location unless you really need to.
I'm sure no one will be surprised by what I have to say but it was interesting to hear Stu say : "yet there are many regions that fly under the radar but risk having their cover blown by trophy hunters seeking an online ego massage"
The ultimate act of blowing the cover of a spot flying under the radar is to put a surf cam there.
That means one hundred percent surveillance from sun up to sun down and ensures not a single waking hour can "fly under the radar".
And it's amazing how even very well known spots could have those little sneaky windows where savvy operators or lucky punters could score that little golden session. The spaces in between.
Once the surf cam goes in, that is gone for good.
It's not just the actual fact of the surf cam itself, it's the way they are imposed on surf communities with no consultation in an underhanded and surreptitious manner.
The message is clear: we put you and this spot under constant surveillance so we can benefit by selling advertising .....and fuck you.
It's a truly pernicious development. When a business model relies on imposing constant surveillance of a spot and broadcasting that on the world wide web against the wishes of a community living there it's a deeply unethical mode of making a living.
I'd love to see Swellnet take a lead and develop a code of conduct and ethics in relation to surf cams. And blowing out spots in general. I believe the self reflection and willingness is there.
I'm not saying every surf cam is wrong and has to go. People might be quite happy to have a general cam aimed in the regional vicinity to use as a guide to swell size and surface conditions. People then could use that information to make decisions without being spoon fed and without directing mega crowds at spots with cams aimed right at them.
I think a conversation needs to be had about it.
Just as a guide to who benefits from cams....it's not the punters....that just force feeds them into crowded locations. It's not the people living there. They fucking despise them.
Last winter......sneaky little long period S. I ended up surfing with a kiwi guy, who had followed his nose. It was just me and him trading off in perfect head high surf.
The kind of surf that would have been marginal with 10 people and a complete cluster fuck with 20.
With just me and him it was a memorable surf.
No way that could have happened with a surf cam pointed straight at us.
Steve, look at your last line. Now remember that time you raved about a sneaky uncrowded session at North Narrabeen a few years ago? You know, one of the most crowded beaches in Australia, and with three surf cameras facing it, yet you got it uncrowded.
Where's the consistency?
Also, it may surprise you to learn that we DID liase with the local Lennox community, some of them far more longstanding than yourself, however when things turned toxic they asked not to be included. I think they then learned, as we've long known, that surf cameras are popular in private and uncool in public. i.e people use them but won't admit to it.
It'd be great to have a discussion but I just don't think the rationality is there. Take the fella in this thread who accused Swellnet of bringing crowds to Currumbin with our camera. Currumbin, centre of the Gold Coast, a break visible from a main road and about 2,000 bedroom windows, a beach that's had surf cameras there for fifteen years, but when ours went in the crowds grew noticeably bigger.
Or the punter who blamed our camera for the recent crowding at his local when the surf cam had been offline for 18 months.
I could give many other examples...
I agree with you that the reflection is there on our behalf, we've been chastened, but an online forum where distractions like the above are constant just isn't the place.
The surfing population is skyrocketing, as is the coastal populace, especially in your neck of the woods where annual growth rates are around 5%. There's nothing anyone can do to control people moving to your beachside suburb, but surf cameras are a tangible thing, hence they cop the anger and it (mostly) ain't justified.
Sorry stu I know a can be conflicting! I would like to say thank you to swellnet for putting cams at Beach's so I can sometimes catch a sneaky solo session when I see no one is out.
Also so I can be first on to it for a hour or two when I see a swell is early or maybe there is a little onshore session that none of these complaining guys would surf anyway and inspires me for a bash when I would have other wise stayed home sinking beers crying about webcams..
Thanks swellnet for making surfing overall even more entertaining and being able to see what others have enjoyed around the state on the same swell.
And thanks swellnet for writing articles like this that will keep old farts at home crying about there split milk while I go out and enjoy a surf with the guys who can actually surf..
Thanks swellnet.
‘Accused swellnet of bringing the crowds to Currumbin with our camera’. All I said was the crowd has got noticeably worse since the camera came, and it’s true. Mostly due to the viewpoint that shows what’s happening behind the rock, something that can’t be seen from either driving across the bridge or the coastalwatch cam that has been operating for years. Also putting screen grabs on your Facebook page telling everyone how much it’s pumping probably doesn’t help either....
Complete and utter bollocks. If you think there's a large cohort of surfers that live nearby but only began surfing Currumbin when they could see vision of behind the rock then there's simply no basis for logical debate with you.
If you did liase with anyone here (apart from the landowners where the camera went) then I'll take your word for it......but not a single person I've spoken to including all the regular lifer locals at the Point wanted a bar of it.
Would you be prepared to front up and put the same arguments , which are no arguments at all really- just pretty feeble justifications for commercially valuable surveillance- to the members of your own surf community Stu if Ben wanted to put a camera down your neck of the woods?
The bigger issue of ethics.....building a business model around imposing cameras on communities against their will, remains unaddressed.
ps, that sneaky session at Narra had 15-20 blokes out, which seemed ultra uncrowded for a Sydney marquee break, but would probably be the minimum crowd for a weekday midday sesh.
I reckon that long range forecasting contributes more to crowds then anything else.
Noosa or any east coast point break for example every man and his dog knows what conditions will light it up. Problem is when everybody gets the hot tip 2 weeks in advance it gives you plenty of time to rearrange the diary.
Problem been that the models that prdeict these patterns are notoriously inaccurate that far in advance especially on the east coast. Had people telling me it was going to be off its tits on aus day long weekend 2 weeks prior, sunshine coast daily running stories about 20 ft surf everybody frothing dusting off thier guns.
Reality strikes a couple of days out yet everybody has planned time off so thier going surfing no matter what (not just this weekend past in particular but very very often, its not unusual to see a packed nationals carpark be greeted by waist high log waves) and you end up with 100’s of frustrated punters in a shit mood all scrapping over 2ft peelers. Not fun for anybody but leaves some room for those with the knowledge or flexibility to drop whatevers going on and surf a day or two later when the forecast swell actually arrives or the wind finally drops.
As for cams i can see how they crowd up a sneaky session but you’ve still got to actually be able to get to the beach (could take an hour to get in the water if your not local) so they would have a more localised affect as opposed to a forecast is my thoughts. Don’t know if its much worse then word getting out via text and everybody dropping tools but.
Theres too much emphasis on this long range stuff really is anyone actually checking these modelled systems from 14 days ago against what actually happens or is just forgotten on to the next one? I froth as hard as the next bloke but i think forecasters in general have gotta dial it back a bit untill a few days out at the earliest.
Anyway rant over at least swellnet isnt running “east coast swell alert” on facebook anytime its going to be head high so i’ll take you blokes anyday of the week, and ive scored countless waves from Bens forecasts so cant be to hard on him but would be nice if he was a bit more of a pessimist.
Just a hint guys ! Try a new spot that has less people they are usually within 5ks the beaches you cry about..
Or quit surfing be better for everone not hear you daily bullshit on why you can't get waves.
I live at a beach with four cameras & every surfer I know uses at least one of them. Good surfers too. The cams arent seen as anything but a good thing, the only time I hear about complaints is when I read articles like this on Swellnet. Maybe its an age thing? Ha ha
Ben and I have been having a similar discussion for some time and I hope we can tie it off with a decent discussion soon.
I thought it was pretty funny that Stu was lamenting another medium having an effect on unspoilt places given the irony/hypocrisy others have pointed out so well. If Swellnet is seriously concerned about this issue it would be good to see some changes in operations and service, but as most of the positive changes would likely affect the profitability of the business they might have less chance of happening.
The overwhelming opinion of surfers I talk to in this (very surf-focussed) part of the world is that the access to info had had a huge effect on crowds. The camera has some effect (everyone checks it) but it seems to be the forecasts which are the main game - telling people in serious detail what conditions will be like way in advance and going as far as directing them east/west of Melbourne. I would seriously suggest that the forecasters - particularly Craig - tone the act down, as it really is looking like a competition to see who is the best forecaster while the winner is...? It's at the point where the good days are so busy as to be dangerous and full of people who would do well to have more experience under their belt. But of course, why put in the time when you can be spoon-fed?
Of course Swellnet aren;t alone, and yes I read all about it too, but it really is killing the goose which laid the golden egg. Would I go back to having to study weather maps to make a punt in return for less crowded waves and a few more sneaky "surprise" sessions? Bloody oath.
Gary enjoys the level of cognitive dissonance some commenters can sustain - ducking onto swellnet to extract a bit of free, high quality information they use to make decisions on when to surf, and then after checking the cams and deciding not to surf for a while, taking a few minutes out of their now-free schedule to kindly drop a few hot takes on how surf forecasting and cams are ruining surfing.
Gary enjoys watching this far more than any cam, except for perhaps when he catches up on the action from www.garycam.com (NSFW).
It's almost as good as watching forums where people not only highlight that a sensitive spot has been pictured/mentioned/whatever, but then fall over themselves to give away unsubtle hints that broadcast what the spot is and where it's located.
Surfings changed. Share some waves and share some stoke.
Thats wonderful mk1. The ' aloha' spirit was always a big aspect of surf culture and still is. The point of the argument isnt about sharing the stoke. Its more about not rudely taking the stoke, or greedily selling the stoke. Come and get stoked if you can but dont fkn make it your business. Dont come and debase the value of the stoke. Profiting from stoke which is on another mans doorstep at his expense , not contributing to the maintenence or value of the stoke , ruining the stoke. That logically must be one of the most stupid , disrespectful and reckless actions anyone can make. The problem isn't to do with the sharing but with the taking.
I understand your point OldSouth and for too long a small group of Surf Corporates have exploited surfing for stock options and beach front mansions. This trend with IG is opening up surfing for everyone else, not to profit per se but to at least get some publicity and express themselves. And in some ways this is hurting those same corporates who have held a monopoly on surf publicity. If a photog instagrams a local charging a lesser known break, he's hardly profiting from this, surf photog is barely a business and more of a passion. He's sharing the stoke more than anything else, but might not feel like it if you are one of the inner circle local crew and aren't keen to share.
Personally I don't use social media, would never tag the location of a good wave (I wouldn't even upload it) and actively work to keep secret spots low key. But I see the way this is going and we might as well enjoy the ride - lot's of new surfers are!
With the continuous and rapid escalation of technology, it was only a matter of time before Google Earth became antiquated—and with the recent release of UrtheCast, we are now officially in the age of real-time satellite imagery.
"This real-time space station camera creeping of tomorrow represents a whole new generation of revelations, as the average Joe will now be able to scour the earth’s varied coastlines during forecasted swell events. No longer handicapped by historic images that only get updated on a multi-yearly basis, we stand to uncover an entire stable of new unknown and/or secret breaks that have heretofore gone unwitnessed under the right swell conditions—or been kept from the public eye by tight-lipped locals."
https://www.theinertia.com/surf/urthecast-redefining-the-search-for-the-...
Surfers (or the general public) won't be able afford it though.... can't find any pricing on its website but there's been similar products available over the years that are designed for commercial use (and are priced accordingly).
https://www.urthecast.com/
[NEWS]
Tech savvy kidz are getting hornier.
Little devils are starting to grow horns on their heads.
No! Not a beat up...Pay Attention!
Sounds like a porn epidemic but alas it's something more Typically Teen.
Recall your teachers & Mum saying: "Sit on your chair properly!"
Turns out they were stopping you from making your rebellious point.
You see, all this selfie shit & up skirting...topples the Kidz Brains! Brains! Brains! Yum!
Resulting in a bone spur to counter balance or strengthen the rear of the skull.
Normally reserved for the haunched up elderly...(Takes a lifetime of posture abuse)
Turns out Millennials refuse to wait forever in a queue...Does that sound right to you?
Mobile screen viewing brings on this Devil's Horn much faster & younger...
Just how much sooner? Have you got some Stats tbb? ...Hell Yeah!
41% of Sunshine Coast youth (18-31) grow Horns 1-3cm.(be like so fuckin jealous!)
Doctor says it's not genetic!
Obviously the Indian Doctor never visited 'laid back' crook neck Sunny Coast...
Qldurrs blame it on The Sunshine State rebranding to The Smart State number plate.
All happened way too soon leaving us Qldurrs dumbfounded.
Southerners reckon Qldurrs are bit behind the times.
Then their Southern smartphone smartass Teens must be super Horny by now.
The Kidz Horny selfie-rays are going viral...
Horn extensions impress the chix
Geriatric Horns fetch top dollar on The Black Market say Nursing Home poachers.
Sunny Coast Studs are locking horns in Alpha Male caged horn fighting rituals.
Noosa Chix keep asking will their horns look to big with this beaded necklace.
Parents are worried they'll have to trolley the kidz out or build ramps or some shit.
tbb advises parents against a good clip behind the ears...or we'll all be going to Hell.
Breaking News ...Intergalactic sized Lawsuit by christians chanting Devil be gone!
https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/human-body/younger-generation...
Qldurr Tech News was tossed out by the 'Big Round' Burley paper buoy...Gone Surfin'