Localism is like a turd that won’t flush

Yes, it’s back again, the big ugly conversation that won’t got away, a bit like that turd that won’t flush at your inlaw’s place.

The conversational hexakaidecagon (16 sided shape) is more complicated than a country’s national budget and I am constantly hearing fresh views and opinions on the subject. I used to think that you could find parallels across all walks of life, but have since come to realise that this is a very different and entirely unique beast.

For some reason I have made life and location changes every seven years, not by choice, it’s just the way my life seems to pan out. Seven years and then it’s a change of country and job title. It follows, then that I have experience of 'breaking the ice' within various surf communities in some different countries and what I have found is not what you might expect.

What I have found, however, is that different places have extremely varied rules. The one constant seems to be is that only the foolish think that their local spot is Pipeline. Secret spots become (as is inevitable) non secret and someone has be left accountable.

So in the vane effort to try and see all sixteen sides of this problem I would like to invite you, yes you, who surfs somewhere and who has a local break, to voice your opinion. You will not be judged. I am attempting to go above and beyond the ‘bigger picture’ and endevouring to step right back and get a satellite type global image of the issue. I just need your help to answer all or any of the following.

• Local Priority – how should it work?

• Secret Spots – How to keep them secret? Is it possible?

• What makes a Local? – This is my favorite.

• Valid reasons to to take it to the beach (fight)

Gone are the days of stamped, self addressed envelopes so either comment on the thread below (about the above questions) or send me an email to [email protected] on the subject. Remember everyone is entitled to their opioion, so voice yours.

We will be following up with some more words based on your words. The most useful or amusing answers will receive something cool from us in the actual post.

Right now off to try and flush one more time.