The Canary Islands are well-known for their quality waves and world-class surf fueled by a 360-degree window of Atlantic Ocean swells.

The Spanish archipelago is actually the go-to destination for all sorts of water sports enthusiasts.

If Fuerteventura is perfect for windsurfers and kiteboarders, El Frontón is the ultimate bodyboarding slab, and El Quemao is the Canarian Pipeline.

The Canary tourism board promotes their waves abroad, runs international competitive events, and invites foreigners to try their pristine waves.

However, there’s always the flip side to it. Local surfers have been complaining about the excess of surf tourism in the Canarian waters.

And then, at some point, surf localism incidents pop up.

Punch and Rocks

At Punta Blanca, in Alcalá, Tenerife, things escalated.

A Venezuelan surfer was hit in the face while surfing the break by a local known as Tintin.

Cristian Mederos was in the water when Tintin made sure he was not welcome at Punta Blanca. The whole incident was shot by his girlfriend, Alexandra Caraballo.

However, the heated exchange did not end in the water.

The aggressor chased Mederos out of the water and started picking rocks from the ground and throwing them at the surf tourist.

At some point, Alexandra’s dog, distressed, bit the enraged local.

Despite attempts to cool down Tintin, the insults and rocks continued to be thrown.

The video of the incident was posted online and quickly sparked concerns, not only among the local surfing community but also among Canarians in general.

Alexandra and Cristian reported the assault to the police, but they were told that the charges would take six to eight months to be processed.

The couple was on vacation in the Canary Islands, so they wouldn’t be present for the legal procedures.

Caraballo also noted that this wasn’t the first time the Punta Blanca locals threatened non-local surfers, and highlighted a testimonial left by a tourist on Google Maps.

@la.pulga.ale @Christian Mederos Tinoco ♬ original sound – Alexandra Caraballo

Tintin’s Perspective

Later, Tintin released his version of the story.

“I want to apologize for having picked up the rocks during the incident, and to apologize to the surfing community. I’m not proud of the incident that happened in Punta Blanca. No one wants to see arguments in the water.”

“What was shown in their video does not reflect the full reality.”

“No one was injured. What you see in the clip is only one part of what really happened. I want to make it clear that the main responsibility does not fall on the locals, but on those who did not respect the spot.”

“They tried to impose their way of surfing and disrupted a balance that has been maintained in Punta Blanca. That balance exists thanks to generations of surfers who take care of their waves.”

“We Canary Islanders are tired of seeing our waves overcrowded, of seeing our identity fade away, and of seeing so many people arrive without respect, trying to impose their own rules.”

“These are places with history, culture, and a very fragile balance. The reality is simple and forceful: when respect disappears, conflict appears.”

“When a local culture is cared for, a wave survives.”

“Punta Blanca is not the problem. Punta Blanca is the mirror that shows what the Canary Islands are letting slip away.”

“Punta Blanca continues to be an example of how respect for local culture keeps a surf break alive, safe, and authentic.”

“When these people arrived at Punta Blanca – a break with decades of history and respect – they bothered and disrespected a place that has always worked thanks to local order and culture.”

“It doesn’t show in the video, but there were previous provocations and attitudes that made the situation tense. No one was injured, and what you see in the clip is only part of what really happened.”

“It’s a painful symbol of how surfing can become distorted when people forget who has cared for these waves for generations.”

“Thank you all for understanding, and apologies to the surfing community. I hope this also serves as an example to help protect other local breaks that are becoming more and more overcrowded.”

A Fine Line

There is a fine balance between protecting a surf break and the right to ride any wave available anywhere in the world.

In theory, no one owns the ocean. Not even the beach. However, when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

The unwritten surfer’s code tells us that if we’re visiting a peak that is not our home break, we should approach it with respect, care, and humbleness.

Show patience and wait for your turn. Talk with the locals and ask for advice. Also, look for alternative peaks where there are fewer surfers.

Overcrowded waves are not fun for anyone, yet ultimately, physical violence cannot be tolerated.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com