What is a “gimme”?
A “gimme” is a wave that you give to someone else. You may be on the inside, you may be further out, you may have the priority, the wave is yours, but you decide to give your wave to someone else.
WHO IS IT FOR?
You may give a wave to a friend, or to someone less experienced than you, or you may give it to a random stranger. You could do a “gimme” to someone who is learning to surf, after all we all had to learn at some stage.
Doing a gimme could be the highlight of their session. You could make someone’s day or even their week! So share the waves and share the stoke! Do a “gimme”!
Doing a gimme could be the highlight of their session. You could make someone’s day or even their week! So share the waves and share the stoke! Do a “gimme”!
WHY THE GIMME STICKER?
Stick the “gimme” sticker on your surfboard as a visible reminder to give someone else a wave.
GET YOURS
Where does the term “gimme” in surfing come from?
Gimme, literally “give me”, has been adapted from the sport of golf. A gimme is a putt that is so short, it is considered unmissable and the other players agree that the putt can be counted automatically without it being played. So the other players give them the shot and assume it would have been successfully completed.
So a “gimme” in surfing is a wave that you ‘give me’ or give to someone else.
So a “gimme” in surfing is a wave that you ‘give me’ or give to someone else.
Why is there a need for gimmes?
Surfing has become more and more popular. That’s great! I get it. I love surfing. I love being in the ocean, being near the ocean, smelling the salty sea breeze, just seeing the ocean.
But it also means some surf breaks are becoming more and more crowded. You want to catch as many waves as you can, but crowds can make it difficult to catch waves and it can be extremely frustrating. Incidents of surf rage seem to be on the increase and conflict in the water seems to be becoming more common. Surfing is not about selfishly taking everything you can get from the sport.
But it also means some surf breaks are becoming more and more crowded. You want to catch as many waves as you can, but crowds can make it difficult to catch waves and it can be extremely frustrating. Incidents of surf rage seem to be on the increase and conflict in the water seems to be becoming more common. Surfing is not about selfishly taking everything you can get from the sport.
We need to nurture the traditional culture of surfing
There is also a great tradition and culture in surfing of respect, sharing, taking turns, giving back and having fun in the surf.
We need to nurture this traditional culture of surfing, the true culture of surfing, rather than take, take, take. So think about doing a “gimme” next time you are in the surf. Grab a sticker, put it on your board and make a commitment to be someone who gives back!
We need to nurture this traditional culture of surfing, the true culture of surfing, rather than take, take, take. So think about doing a “gimme” next time you are in the surf. Grab a sticker, put it on your board and make a commitment to be someone who gives back!