Here's a localism story. Locals will probably feel a good deal of schadenfreude at my expense after hearing this, especially Doc Flavanoid, if he still lurks here.
So I paddled out to 1 foot but clean and fun Kelly's Cove today. There were a few longboarders, a couple of shortboarders, and a crew of 6 or 7 high school kids of beginner ability on Wavestorms .
The Wavestorm kids were burning people and eating sh!t in front of them, periodically sitting on the inside in the way of anyone who caught a wave at the peak, and generally acting like shithead 14-16 year olds. I'm a high school teacher, so my instinct is to regulate that kind of behavior. I paddled up to one of them after he burned some guy two feet beside him and told him to cut it out. Nothing threatening or mean about it, just stern.
The kid goes back to his crew and tells them what happened and they all paddled up and start vibing me really hard, talking about being locals and they can do whatever they want. I argue my point for another minute and then paddle away because it's not worth the negative energy.
About 5 minutes later a well-known alpha local paddles out and sits 10 yards away. Meanwhile one of the kids paddles over to me and wants to shake my hand to bury that hatchet. He says they were just sticking up for his younger brother, and it's all good. The alpha local overhears and asks what happened. I explain, expecting him to laugh or perhaps even reinforce what I was telling the kids. Instead, he tells me that as a transplant I'm not in a position to teach anyone anything and that these kids are locals and can do whatever they want. Given my respect for him, I just nod and say okay. Five minutes later I get a wave and go in feeling no small amount of confusion and shame.
For context, I moved to SF 16 years ago but only started surfing again after many years away 5 years ago. I always assumed that if you were respectful, a strong surfer and weren't just a visitor, you could do some enforcing when it was reasonably called for. This is my first time being taught the lesson I was given today.