That's exactly the attitude that I have seen in surfers and really didn't care for.

It's hard to get better or even start a sport when the people already doing it are out to get you.  That happens a lot in surfing.

SYOTR

Taking a snippet out of the story, which wasn't complete to begin with, makes us both look bad.

The guys I did this to were "regulars" at the beach I lived at (as someone else posted the way to get good is to move to the beach. I did, and agree with the statement). They were not good surfers, just moderately wealthy older men with longboards who abused the wave catching power of their boards over the short board I chose to surf on that day. They showed me no respect as a local (lived there for many years by that point), and I didn't say anything at the time. When the tables were evened out, I used my better ability and showed them a little lesson. One of them had once said to me that I should find a different place to surf. Took that in stride as well.

An eye for an eye makes the world blind, but this was not nearly as serious, and late in that session one of them did ask me to stop taking all the waves (of course a few snuck by, but that doesn't mean they were in any position to catch them, those guys followed me because they knew I knew where to be. I learned to jockey them on my longboard, trying the same on a shortie would burn out my arms). I responded a little snarky, of course, reminding him about the session a couple of weeks before. He just kinda sulked, looked down, and said sorry. One of the other guys was too proud to admit he had been an ass, so I kept messing with him.

This is in no way my normal attitude in the lineup, and I'm the first to spot decent shortboarders and give them waves that they're in position for, as I'd hope for the same. Do unto others as you will have others do unto you. When good surfers who aren't dicks recognize each other in the lineup, they start communicating about who's going which way, who's in better position, who's been waiting longer, etc.

Communication, I think that helps all of us. Being cold to each other and not being helpful to the group vibe brings the whole thing down. Some people are just dicks, good surfer or bad.

I ran a surfer over when it was packed out there. He popped up out of nowhere and flipped over then I glazed his board slightly. He was cool and no damage. I have surfed there a lot over the years in different conditions and also surfed in many other spots in Washington. Westhaven has a nice easy break for kayaks and nice sloping sandy beach (not to shallow). Plus it is plenty big to avoid other people if need be. I have been out there when double red flags were flying in 10-15 foot swells with no one else out there. That is a bit big though and wont do that again...