Fists are up in tense war over the waves

A violent confrontation earlier this month between three teams of tow surfers and one paddle surfer at Todos Santos Island off Ensenada, Mexico, underscores the growing tensions between these rivals for big wave space.

Keith Head, 34, an aerospace worker from Corona del Mar, said he was in 8- to 10-foot surf at Todos Santos when the Jet Ski pilots began pulling their surfers through the take-off zone, releasing them onto the faces of waves before paddlers had a chance to catch them. This was a violation of the usual protocol -- if there are paddlers in the lineup, tow-in surfers must stay out.

Head said he acted out of frustration when he paddled to the boat that brought out the Jet Skiers and cut its anchor chain. About 20 minutes later, he was “pummeled” by at least two of the tow surfers. Head, who did not fight back, suffered only bumps and bruises. The fins were torn from his surfboard.

The incident has been the subject of debate in surfing-related Internet chat rooms, with Head receiving support and criticism for his action because cutting the anchor line of a vessel is a serious breach of maritime law.

Evan Slater, Surfing Magazine’s editor in chief, said one of the tow surfers told him Head “got off easy.” (A phone call to the residence of one of the tow surfers was not returned.)

Though there have been other incidents, the turf agreement generally is abided by in U.S. waters, Slater said, partly because of a law requiring jet-powered personal watercraft to stay 200 feet from surfers and swimmers. There is no such law in Mexico.

-- Pete Thomas