Winch Spots: READ BEFORE YOU VOTE!

nick · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject: Winch Spots: READ BEFORE YOU VOTE!

WARNING: Thread with potentially serious content. Those without the ability to handle serious content should avoid exposure to these dangerous levels of seriousness.

I just read a thread that was posted recently giving away directions to a Florida winch spot and with my fascist mod powers, I temporarily hid it in order to ask this question to the multitude (yall).

On the surfing forums, posting the location of a break (other than ones that have been super well-known for years) is grounds for a ban and it made me think about how similar this applies to winch spots. Like great surf breaks, there are some winch spots that are widely known and have been seshed for years. In the same respect, there are many more amazing surf breaks that aren't blown up because they have been closely guarded by those who discovered them. Now I'm not suggesting that you beat the shît out of anyone who comes to your winch spot with a camera (they do that in surfing sometimes), but I think the way that wakeskating is growing, we need to protect our spots from people that don't know what they are doing.

Before I go any further I'd like to say that I don't believe that the original poster of that thread fits in that category. I've been winching with him before and I know he's shredded plenty of winch spots and knows what to expect. If I would have gotten his text message earlier I would have gladly told him where it is. But A LOT of people read the forums, exponentially more than post, which is why I don't think explicit directions to winch spots should be given away so publicly. Second point of conflict: Who's to say who should or shouldn't be able to hit a winch spot? I'm definitely not claiming that authority! I guess this is up to the locals as to how much stewardship they want over their spots. Wakeskating has always been such a welcoming community and I don't want that to change, but with such growth, there has to be structure if we want these spots to be around for wakeskating generations to come...

I'd really like some other people's perspectives on this, especially if you have experience winching.
Please keep the responses intelligent.

thanks

`nick

Gnarly Dancer 42 · 360 flip Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5121 City: kalamazoo

yeah that makes a lot of sense. its the same way with snowboarding street spots, you dont want other people to come to your spot and build their jump and not tear it down when they leave or disrespect the people that allow you to do what you do.

we dont want people that don't know what they're doing to ruin it for everyone else

mr.foonis · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

yeah man i totally agree with you, its the same thing as awesome calm water spots (like how my cove used to be), once people find out where they are there are always boats there and it turns into a crappy riding spot (like my present day cove)

kornhouse · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 5:35 pm Post subject:

Well It's great to get new people out there but it's best that the newcomer(s) go with at least one more experienced, level-headed person as far as winching goes. I say level-headed because if a bunch of morons go out and winch a spillway close to the public eye and a cop comes and questions them and the people winching are d!cks to said authority then chances are that eventually there will be less leeway the next time cops see someone near the spillway. If anyone gives a hot-tempered cop a bad attitude and gets arrested then that won't be good exposure at all for wakeskating. Even though the media probably won't even call it wakeskating or winching haha.

I know most cops usually think winching is like the coolest thing ever and have always let us off with a "now you kids have fun and stay safe" but does what I said make sense?

chriscut · Backside 180 Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 2000

I totally agree. banplz.

daniel · Back Big Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 3669 City: Duncan

I agree, but have been one to ask where a spot is. Neutral

Then after a reply kinda like this I realized that wasn't a question to ask in a forum but rather a pm and they can respond from there as they please.

Annnd now that I was introduced to bing maps I just sit on there and search and search and search.

yookyle · Backside 180 Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 1002 City: Reno

i think everyone should have the right to shred winch spots especially if they never had.
but again noone wants there favorite spot blow up because some idiot posted google maps straight to the spot.

PMs ftw

Mr. Top Hat · Dead Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 5818

i dont want them posted. word of mouth works just fine

Evan71 · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject:

nick, that pic, you could like trick on to the bank and shred down like in skating. like flat to slope?? would that work?

and posting winch spots would be definite roust

Greg T · Skeezer Joined: 13 Sep 2003 Posts: 2448 City: ohio

I'd say it's up to the person/people who found the spot. If they want everyone to know about it, that's their call. If they are willing to tell friends about it, then they have to trust them not to spread the word if they don't want it spread.

daniel · Back Big Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 3669 City: Duncan

Greg T, but how do you know who found the gap if others don't post?

mr.foonis · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 7:44 pm Post subject:

i think all info on location should be given by PMs cause otherwise they will get overrun with people who wont respect the spot or the people at the spot. aka NEWBS Crazy Eyes

EJazzle · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 7:51 pm Post subject:

i say dont be a dbag about spots. wakeskating isn't nearly as big as either skating or surfing. And isn't getting HUGE like either of those sports anytime soon. Think about how many people have winches. I agree with top hat. But even if a spot is posted on here its not gonna get "Blown up" pretty much everyone on here that can hit it knows where its at or how to find out its location. So in a way getting posted on here isnt that big of a deal.

Just keep the spots clean and don't disrespect the cops or homeowners even if they are mean to you first. That way everyone gets to enjoy the spots! Cool

good thread

-LoGiK- · Kickflip Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 2747 City: Orlando

LiquidForce71, its already been done.

DIRK · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 8:17 pm Post subject:

kornhouse · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 8:22 pm Post subject:

DIRK, That's happened to us before, we were just about to leave though.

tad · 360 flip Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5031

I thought I was the only one who hates seeing "Spot or Not."

Winching isn't like skateboarding where you can go into any little town and find 10 spots in a night to session. You can be lucky to find one spot a month, if you have the time. (Unless you live in Texas.) I think it's wack when people come on here looking for everyone's spots that they found after sitting in front of google earth till 3 in the morning and spending a full days worth of gas and time to go scope it.

Locals only, betch.

Haha just kidding.

-=AlexXx=- · Posted: Jul 01, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

All im going to say is, it sucks finding a spot and showing some people that spot after they call you up to find it, then driving by it at a later date and seeing them hitting it, with no missed calls. It makes you never want to show anyone your spots again. Certain people can be disrespectful. Some people on this forum know how "they" are.... But w/e. Word of mouth works good for me. Friends should share with friends as long as those friends will share back. But i agree fully what EJ said. wakeskating is not nearly, or is going be nearly as big as surfing or skating, there are a multitude of "poser surfers and skaters" that will just go out and sit on there surf boards or just go and loiter at a good gap or skate spot.... but with wakeskating if ur going to a gap, ur gunna do work. as long as u can ollie ur gunna have fun. Lets keep it low key! Good thread nick.

McLOVIN · Backside 180 Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 1673

the only problem with this whole word of mouth thing is that people like me who are not "IN" the florida wakeskate click have no way of taking part in some awesome winch spots.

scott a · "a" is for angel Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 4126

Get to know some of the locals and maybe they'll be willing to show you around.