An Australian surfer has shared the moment he claims a rival athlete threatened to kill him and smash his knee during a confrontation in Indonesian waters. 

Lennix Smith, 21, shared footage of the surfing dispute on social media and delivered a blunt message to expats who believe living overseas gives them the right to intimidate visiting surfers.

The Billabong-sponsored talent from Shellharbour on the NSW south coast alleges a man grabbed his board, kicked it out from underneath him and screamed threats in his face.

He said the man had dropped in on him, which is when someone catches and rides a wave that another surfer is already riding or has the right of way to surf.

‘So after dropping in on me, this guy paddles up to me as fast as he can, grabs my board and kicks it out from underneath me, and then screams in my face,’ Smith said.

Recounting the confrontation, Smith claimed the man told him: ‘I will f***ing kill you. I will kill you. You just f***ed up big time.’

Aussie surfer Lennix Smith says he was threatened with death during a confrontation in Indonesia

The 21-year-old alleges another surfer grabbed his board and kicked it out from underneath him 

Smith shared footage of the surfing dispute before recounting the alleged threats on Instagram

Smith said the surfer repeatedly challenged him to throw a punch before threatening: ‘I will smash your knee.’

He claimed his response was to try to calm the situation, adding: ‘And I’m just like, what the hell? Chill out, bro.’

According to Smith, the man accused him of ‘snaking’, a surfing term for manoeuvring around another surfer to claim priority for a wave.

‘For about ten minutes straight, he continuously told me that he was gonna kill me, smash my knee, and ruin my surf career, and that he doesn’t give a fuck,’ he said.

The confrontation reportedly occurred at Scar Reef in Sumbawa, an Indonesian island east of Bali. The lead-up to the wave shown in Smith’s post remains unclear.

Smith said the rival claimed to have lived in Indonesia for more than 25 years and used his video to take aim at a broader attitude he believes is spoiling surfing in the region.

‘I just find it honestly crazy that these guys come over here for five minutes and think that they’re locals and start carrying on,’ he said.

‘They just don’t realise, like, they’re the ones that are ruining it for everyone. Like, they come out with this crazy ego, worst vibe ever. 

The Shellharbour surfer says the man threatened to smash his knee and ruin his surfing career

Smith called out foreigners who believe living in Indonesia gives them authority over visiting surfers

‘They kill the vibe so hard, and surfing is meant to be fun. And these guys are so aggressive, and they don’t even realise it.

‘There’s too many of these guys who come over to the Indonesia and think that just because they have lived here for 5 minutes means that they are entitled too act the way they do, and they don’t even realise that people like themselves ruin surfing for everyone.’

His account drew support from surfing great Shane Dorian, who rejected the idea that someone’s years spent in Indonesia made them a local.

‘There are Indonesians and then there are foreigners, there is no in between. Living there does not make someone a local,’ Dorian wrote.

Another commenter offered a personal endorsement of Smith’s behaviour in the water, saying they had surfed alongside him and fellow surfer Hughie at Macaronis for a week.

‘You guys waited your turn, were respectful and chatted to everyone,’ they wrote.

‘I was so impressed I sent an email to your sponsors telling them they were supporting good humans. Well done Lennix, keep being decent.’

Smith has been surfing since he was three years old, learning under the guidance of his father Matt Smith.

He collected two Australian titles by the age of 16 before winning the 2021 Oakberry Tweed Coast Pro junior event.

Smith then claimed his first senior title at the 2023 Gold Coast Open QS 1000 and is working towards a place on surfing’s elite Championship Tour.