Way back before recorded history, like back in the early 2000’s, Trident had a mate who wasn’t particularly good at surfing. We all have those mates, who don’t surf all that well. Maybe you’re the mate who doesn’t surf all that well. Nonetheless, it matters not – we are talking about our old chum as an example. So yes, Trident’s said friend thoroughly enjoyed the activity, even though quite frankly, he had all the surfing skills of encrusted roadkill.
Why should this anecdote matter in the slightest to our loyal audience? Well, said mate significantly once told Trident he “doesn’t want to get better at surfing because I enjoy it so much at my current level.” I mean come on! Who actively does not want to get better at something?
Because? Reasons.
“Nah, I’m quite happy only learning to drive my vehicle in a parking lot so I can only drive in parking lots for the rest of my life.”
“I’m more than happy only learning a sloppy rendition of an E Major chord in guitar so I can play as well as Maroon Five.”
“It’s all good, I’m quite happy reading at only a Grade Five level, so I will happily stay functionally illiterate for my entire life. Then become president of South Africa.”
Anyhow, Trident’s mate. Jeez. After perfecting his technique of getting to his feet in white water then falling off backwards, he eventually left South Africa. Whatever happened to his surfing, Poseidon only knows, but he did move to a landlocked area. Presumably to continue his enjoyment of surfing “by not improving beyond his current level.”
What sayeth the Pro’s?
So there we go. He loved surfing, but could only just about manage popping up. So what about the rest of us; the surfers beyond that level – pro’s, local legends, average Joe’s, stylemeisters, intermediates, novices and the like? Or does your name need to be Jack Robinson, John John Florence, Jordy Smith or begin with a J to really enjoy surfing?
Photo courtesy of William Veitch.
There are also surfers who clearly overrate their abilities, or who are ignorant of the fact that when they surf, they resemble a Slinky spring going uphill and defying the laws of physics. Trident reckons in the Dunning Kruger effect. Google it, but in a nutshell, and somewhat crudely put – the more incompetent you are, the less you are aware of how incompetent you are.
So Dunning Kruger applies to surfing of course. But we do feel there is more to say on the topic of how good you need to be at surfing to enjoy surfing. This is a developing subject.
