When My Board Got Dinged: A Lesson from the Lineup

05/28/2025 -- by Intan Surf in 🌊 Surf Progress Journal

🌧️ Thursday Afternoon Energy

Last week on Thursday around 3:30 PM, I paddled out for what I thought would be a chill surf session. The sky was gloomy—like it couldn’t decide between sun or more rain. We’d had heavy downpours nearly every day that week, and you could still feel it in the water. The current was moving quietly but strong, and a light wind stirred things up just enough to make the waves feel wild.

Still, I felt ready. Surfing when the weather’s moody has a different kind of vibe, and I was excited.

🌊 Just Another Wave... Until It Wasn't

I’d already caught my second or third wave when the accident happened. I was paddling back out, mind focused, arms steady. That’s when I noticed Mohammed, a beginner surfer I’d just chatted with earlier on the beach. He told me he was from the UK, had just arrived in Batukaras the day before with his girlfriend from Italy. We’d exchanged smiles and a few friendly words before hitting the water.

Now, I saw him dropping in on his very first wave—and he was coming straight toward me.

At first, I thought maybe he’d angle left or right, but nope… he kept going straight.

About 3–5 meters out, I realized, uh oh, this is gonna be close.

I paddled hard to the left, hoping to dodge him, but it was already too late. I jumped off my board into the water just in time.

💥 The Ding

I didn’t get hit (thankfully 🙏), but my board wasn’t so lucky. Mohammed’s fin clipped it hard enough to leave a noticeable ding.

At first, I didn’t realize the damage. Mohammed came over, looking shocked and sorry. He apologized immediately. Then I heard my dad calling out from the lineup, asking if I was okay. I gave him a thumbs-up and shouted, “I’m good!” I wasn’t hurt, just shaken for a second.

I paddled back out and caught a couple more waves—trying to stay positive. But then Dad noticed something: my front left rail had a ding. It wasn’t huge, but it was real. That’s when we decided to head back to the beach and check it out.

🧼 Wax Patch... and Back in the Water

While I rested, my dad gave the ding a quick check, then patched it with a bit of surf wax—our classic emergency fix when I don’t want to stop surfing 😅

The waves still looked fun, and I really didn’t want to end the session feeling down. So I jumped back in for another 30 minutes and scored a few nice ones. Two or three more waves later, I was smiling again. That’s surfing, right? Ups, downs, and everything in between.

🛹 Street Chat & Respect in the Lineup

On the walk home, I ran into Mohammed again. He apologized once more, and I told him everything was okay. I explained what happened, and he seemed really sorry and humble about it.

He’s new, and everyone starts somewhere—but it reminded me how important awareness and control are, even when you're just starting out. The ocean is fun, but also serious. We all share the lineup, so watching out for each other is part of the surf culture.

🛠️ Master Ding Repair by Mr. Japro

That evening, my dad and I took the board to Mr. Japro, our go-to surfboard repair wizard in Batukaras. He’s seriously the best. If there’s any kind of surfboard issue in BK, Mr. Japro can fix it. 🧙‍♂️🔧

While my board’s getting repaired, I’m going to take a few days off or wait for my custom board, which is still in progress. (Super stoked for that one, by the way!)