"Look dude," he said to me, actually trying to be friendly, "you're over like a deep spot, so waves don't jack here. You're not going to catch anything." It troubled him to condescend, but it was excellent advice and a generous gesture, and he went on, making his first crack at being a great surfer and a descent guy. "Might as well come out to the peak for a few," he said, and then he snapped. He'd almost done it, almost done a good deed, but as he paddled off, he said over his shoulder, "Least you might get better."