So, after several months of wailing, gnashing of teeth, Catholic guilt, an inopportune empty toilet paper roll, laziness, anger, greed, gluttony an’ stuff, Trident presents the final article of our series of the Seven Deadly Surfing Sins. Today it’s the turn of Pride, a sin that has kinda transformed into a positive over the last few decades. Trident is not here to judge however. U2 released a popular song named Pride. Although we doubt anybody cares about U2 these days. So let’s circumvent any potential controversy by beginning with our usual cut and paste text: (if you’re read any of these damn articles, you know that’s always how this surfing sin series has begun.)
“Also known as the cardinal sins, they are (in no particular order – but this will be the order in which Trident publishes them): Gluttony, Lust, Greed, Wrath, Sloth, Envy and Pride.” Also this: “Anyhow, the seven deadly sins is now officially part of pop culture. Each sin was apparently represented by an animal, so why not learn something: a pig for Gluttony; a goat for Lust; a toad for Greed; a lion for Wrath; a snail for Sloth; a snake for Envy; and a peacock for Pride. Thank Trident Surf for your next Trivia evening win.”
Pride is arrogant, unrelenting, stubborn, narrow-minded, close-minded, obstinate, narcissistic, both self centred and self absorbed while often being self righteous. But sure, Pride has its bad points too. Haha. We kid. Seriously though, here is how Pride can manifest itself in the surfing scene:
Part Seven: Pride: Top Five surfing sins.
Number 1: Being too proud to reconsider your equipment.
None of us are Benjamin Button. This is an old reference. Haha! See what we did there?! Ah forget about it – you either got the joke or you’re Googling Benjamin Button right this instant. Point is; we all get older. And often fatter. Definitely less fit. And man – the ravages of one’s changing body is a bitter pill to swallow when it means we need to rethink what we’re surfing on. However, there are those surfers out there; old or young, fit or otherwise – that simply refuse to let go of their Pride and change their equipment as their bodies do. Granted, not changing your equipment may simply be a result of inexperience or ignorance rather than actual Pride. Trident must stress though, if you started surfing again at 60 years old after a 40 year sabbatical, it’s extremely unlikely the 24 litre 5’5 potato chip you were surfing on as a teenager will suffice any longer. Prove us wrong – and we will er, swallow our Pride. And our words. But trust us. We’re not wrong here.
Number 2: Being too proud to know when you’re beaten.
Not giving up is generally a good thing. However, when a Prideful surfer is not giving up, or is at least reconsidering their approach – you gotta ask yourself why. A stubborn refusal to look facts in the face is totally a bad thing in surfing. Like, why is everyone else say – paddling out further up at the point at a particular break? While you’re insisting on paddling out down by the beachbreak “coz there are no rocks there.” Meanwhile, you’re getting lambasted by 6 foot sets closing out on the shallow ledge you found your surfboard impaled on, like a butterfly on a lepidopterist’s (look it up) pin. Just like the equipment story, let go of your Pride and try a different approach. Just not by insisting on being driven out to the lineup in a speedboat. Like you’re some kind of reality television princess. ‘Coz that’s also Pride right there buddy.
Number 3: Being too proud to acknowledge those of superior skill, ability, knowledge and/or experience.
Jeez. This one is weird. You can be the kakkest surfer out there, but if your attitude is jovial, genial and friendly – all but the biggest dooses out there will enjoy hanging out in the lineup with you. However, if you are in fact the biggest doos out there, without being cognizant of the fact that almost everyone else is better than you too – well, that’s not amore, that’s Pride right there amigo. Work on that. There’s no shame in tuning someone else they ripped the stuffing outta their last wave, or they smacked a nice turn etc. It takes nothing to compliment someone else’s good surfing. Unless of course – you’re a Prideful doos.
Number 4: Taking Pride in trying to humiliate or embarrass others.
Look. You can perhaps be a better surfer than others out there, conversely to the above. But here’s a thought – let your surfing do the talking for you. No need to brag about what you can do. If we can’t see you do it – it doesn’t count anyway. That’s right, moron. So instead of sneering your way through the lineup, ‘coz you know you’ll smoke all these kooks surrounding you in the water, show some humility and just shred. No need to be fall victim to pride and brag about your surfing skill. Your surfing alone should be enough.
Number 5: Being full of Pride about your glory days.
Look. All good things come to an end. So do all bad things. So do all things actually, in the existentialist sense. Even the universe will one day cease to exist. Which is ironic, because for the Prideful surfer harping on about his first round heat when he nearly qualified for the ‘QS back in ‘89, he or she is the universe. We have all achieved something in life folks. Just as we’ve all failed. For some, those achievements are more obvious and public, while others simply achieved in their own quiet way. Either way, being prideful about one’s past glories is about as sensible as believing the same politician who initiated load shedding would end it when he said he would.
