What is the Surf Etiquette?
Every sport has guidelines. The surfing etiquette are rules established to give structure to the surfing. These rules are not for some bugger who can then insist on their right but are there to protect you and the other surfers from possible dangers caused by people and to guarantee the fun in the water.
Why is the Surf Etiquette so important?
First and foremost, the surf etiquette is there to guarantee a safe interaction between surfers in the water. The ocean itself offers a wide range of natural hazards, such as currents, the reef, etc. The surf etiquette avoids additional risks, such as accidental collisions and accidents.
The number of surfers continues to grow rapidly and many surf spots are getting more and more crowded. With the respect of the surf etiquette it should be ensured that every surfer can go home at the end of the day with enough waves, no injuries, and the priceless sense of stoke.
The Rules of Surfing
Not every surf school starts off with teaching the surf etiquette to beginners of surfing and you would be surprised how few advanced surfers do not know it. To make sure you don’t miss out and can teach your friends, we stated the surf etiquette below.
1. Look for a Beach/Wave within your abilities
The first rule of surf etiquette is to always choose a beach for surfing that suits your skills to avoid problems and dangers early on. That is, if you are a beginner, you should rather not paddle out at 5-meter-high waves. Or you paddle out on a spot where you know nothing about currents, animals, reef conditions.
The most important thing is to assess your own abilities. What can I do? What do I dare to do, up to what point do I feel comfortable? Where are my limits?
In order to choose a suitable beach for you, you should take into account the bottom of the spot, the type of waves – and conditions and wave size and also inform yourself about possible encounters, such as rip currents, marine animals, etc..
As a beginner, we recommend a beach with a sandy bottom, a beach break, where you can safely practice your paddling and popup in white water. Mostly these beaches have the advantage that you can rent boards and equipment, book surf lessons and catch your first waves in a group of your level.
To make recommendations for the level of intermediates is a bit more difficult. Here it is important to be able to correctly assess the power and type of wave. Often they look smaller from the outside than when you are actually sitting in the action in the lineup. (We have all been there ;))
Sometimes it just happens that you paddle out and find out in the lineup that the waves are much bigger than you thought and don’t match your own level. Then, guys, there’s no shame in admitting it and waiting for the right time to paddle back to shore and have a drink.
2. The Right of Way
To prevent surfers from surfing over each other and still get a fair amount of waves, there is the second rule of surf etiquette. The Right of way verry much like road traffic, regulates who has it and who is therefore entitled to the wave. At the same time, it is also the rule whose disregard is one of the most frequent points of contention.
With beginner it is possible that several surfers take ONE white water wave. However, for unbroken waves (green waves), it is the rule that only one surfer per wave has the right to surf it. All other surfers should respect this by not paddling for or surfing the same wave.
The right of way is used in different areas of surfing and applies from every surf beginner to the 11 times world champion Kelly slater. (even though pros like to set up their own rules sometimes ;))
In the following we will introduce you to the different areas of the surfing rule and at the same time clear up a few misunderstandings.
Priority
When a surfer has the so-called priority, it means that the surfer has the right of way in the wave. Basically, the surfer who is closest to the peak has priority. The peak here is the point where the wave starts to break first. This means that in the case of a righthander (wave that breaks to the right), the surfer sitting on the far left has priority.
If the leftmost surfer does not take the wave or does not want it, the surfer to his right now has priority. If this surfer does not take the wave, his right neighbor and so on. As soon as a surfer has surfed the wave, he paddles back and lines up (in an ideal world) on the far right.
Through this system, one achieves a natural order/queue. By respecting this surf etiquette it becomes possible, theoretically, to distribute the waves fairly among the surfers. Therefore, after your surfed wave or when you paddle into the lineup for the first time, make sure that you line up correctly.
Dropping in
Dropping in is the activity when a surfer who has no priority disregards the right of way rule and surfs the wave of another surfer. This can lead not only to arguments aka bad vibes in the lineup but also to serious injuries. Drop ins often happen unintentionally and are part of the nature of the sport.
Also, to clear up a misconception: not the first surfer to stand on his legs actually has priority. This can often be the case with longboards and softtops, as this type of board allows you to catch waves earlier. Therefore, when you are on this type of board, you should pay special attention to see if another surfer is closer to the peak and intends to surf the wave.
How to avoid
To prevent a possible drop in, you should observe and analyze the surf spot, the peak and the lineup beforehand. For example, you can already determine on the beach how and in which direction the waves break, where the peak is and where the best and right spot for a successful take off would be.
Once you make it into the lineup, take a breath to regain your strength and observe your surrounding lineup. For example, you’ll know which surfers are taking waves deep and late, and you’ll know how to react to their surfing style. Sometimes, especially in the beginner/intermediate area, there are surfers who surf the wave, no matter what, in a certain direction. Here you may have the opportunity to surf the wave as well.
Once you spot a good wave for you to surf. make sure to see realism how many surfers are sitting closer to the peak than you. For example, if there are five surfers closer than you, it is unlikely that they will all paddle for the wave, but none will catch it. In this case, you can save paddling power and reposition yourself for the next wave.
(Extra tip: usually a set consists of several waves. Many surfers often paddle for the first wave, but only one surfer can surf it. Use this knowledge to position yourself well for the second or third set wave).
If you are paddling for the wave with only a few other surfers, you should check twice with a sideways glance if other surfers are closer to the peak than you. The first look should happen before you start paddling. After your last paddle stroke just before the pop-up, you should take one last look to make sure you can safely ride the wave without dropping in on others.
How to act when you dropped in
Despite all consideration and experience: It happened – You dropped in. Maybe someone sitting depper than you took the wave, the sun blinded you that bad so that you didn’t see the surfer or you forgot to do your side-glance out of pure stoke. Don’t panic – there are ways to handle the situation.
If you can, pull out of the wave by maneuvering over the lip back into the behind of the wave or try to jump out without slamming your board into the surfers face. If you succeed and the surfer can surf his wave, wait until he is back in the lineup, say sorry or raise your hand apologetically and give the surfer your nicest smile.
If you drop in and end the wave for another surfer it will take more than a nice smile and you will face a bit more of a challenge. If he doesn’t knock all your teeth out right away, apologize immediately and explain that it wasn’t intentional at all. Also, make sure that it doesn’t happen again and maybe give the surfer your next wave as a surfer-sorry. Good vibes only guys – good vibes only.
Snaking
Snaking is the sneaky art of taking someone else’s wave without actually dropping into it. It happens when surfer B, while paddling for the wave, quickly paddles around surfer A, who is originally sitting closer to the peak, and thus steals the priority.
While the drop-in can happen accidentally, snaking can only be done intentionally. This is also the reason why snaking is pretty much the worst thing you can do. In some lineups it can then happen that the “snaker” is also intentionally dropped in for which provides further breeding ground for controversy.
It all leads to our heartfelt advice: Stay out of that kinda trouble.
Take Turns
Especially in busy lineups it is difficult that every surfer gets the fair amount of waves. But what works in wave pools, can also work in the ocean: Take turns.
This means that after you surfed a wave, you get back in the „queue” and don’t paddle straight back to the peak position past all the other surfers waiting. It also means that you should not take every wave you could theoretically catch.
Especially with a bigger board you can often be earlier in the wave and can catch it a bit further out than other surfers. However, you don’t exactly make yourself popular by doing this because you take away the chance of riding a wave, especially for shortboarders. Try to find a good balance between catching waves yourself and leaving them to other surfers.
3. Respect Locals and local Beaches
Localism. Sensitive topic.
Imagine you are sitting peacefully in your living room, someone sits down on your favorite armchair, takes the bag of chips out of your hand, eats them and when he leaves, he leaves the remains on the carpet.
How would you feel about that?
I don’t know if there is any actual historical evidence of the emergence of localism, but I do know that it is primarily a phenomenon and, frankly, a problem of the last two decades.
Localism describes a reaction of local surfers and locals to surf tourists, whose intension is to protect their spot and their wave.
But how does it come about?
Local surfers often face great challenges. For example, in the evenings after their work, they have to share the few waves they get before sunset with surfers who basically have all the days of their vacation to surf. Maybe the tourists stay near the spot and leave a garbage dump the next day.
I know that it is not always the rule and pretty much the worst case scenario. But my point here is to sensitize you to the issue and show why it has led to these extreme levels of localism.
Today, localism is often associated with locals dropping in on foreign surfers, stolen wetsuits and verbal arguments. However, there are ways to prevent problems and to share the lineup together:
Be patient. Don’t paddle straight to the peak. Wait on the inside for smaller waves in the beginning. When you paddle out, give everyone a smile and be friendly and if you can, give them a quick hello in the local language. Anyway, a few words in the local language can do wonders.
Also, leave the beach and the sea cleaner than you found it. This doesn’t always require a big beach-cleanup, but if you take your trash and a little more with you, you show the local community that you respect them and their home.
Also, if you’re staying near neighbors, be aware of the nightly silence and keep the volume in mind or invite your neighbors ;). But technically: Nobody likes to sleep next to a disco.
4. Paddle out the right Way (= Wide or White)
When paddling from the shore into the lineup, be careful not to get in the way of anyone surfing.
There are two options: Paddle wide or white.
Some surf spots have a channel that you can use to paddle out. More precisely, this means that you paddle in a wide arc around the breaking wave. But be careful of currents.
However, if there is no channel, it is important to be as little as possible in the way of surfing surfers when paddling out, so as not to endanger yourself and them. So if you see a surfer riding a wave, and you are not sure if you will get over the wave in time, always choose to paddle through the white water.
This means more effort and yes, it takes more strength, but you won’t be in the way of a surfer’s potential ride of a lifetime.
5. Communicate
As in many other life situations: Communication is key.
For example, to a surfer paddling right next to you a “Go, Go, Go!” gives the signal and reassurance that you are not going to take that wave and the surfer can catch it.
On the other hand, a signal that you are taking the wave is not only beneficial for yourself (preventing a drop in) but also saves other surfers a lot of paddling- effort. I myself used “Hey!” at the beginning, but personally I felt like it sounded a bit rude. So I’ve replaced it now with a “Yeeew!”.
At an A-Frame Break surfers can share the peak with communicating a simple “Left/Right”. These verbal signals preserve surfing rules and double the fun. Yeeew!
6. Don’t throw your Surfboard
Have in mind that the thing under your feet, that can give you the fun of your life, can also be extremely dangerous. So keep that in mind and never, ever throw your board.
Surfboards are usually 5 – 10 feet long. With a leash pretty much the same length is added. This means that when you let go of your board, technically everyone within 10-20 feet is potentially in your striking range.
This means that if you are paddling out and have to go through white water, you should either master the technique of the duck dive or the turtle roll. Also as a beginner, you should make sure that your board is not parallel to the wave and thus offers a lot of surface to be dragged away by it.
I know, there are situations in which it makes no sense to hold on to your own surfboard. For example, there may be an 11-foot wave breaking right in front of you. In this exceptional case, before you let go of your board, make sure that no one is in your close reach! Sidenote: This could be prevented in most cases by Surf Etiquette #1 (Chose a spot of your abilities).
7. Be nice & friendly and have fun
With all these surf rules, Surf Etiquette, localism, etc.: You should always keep in mind that you are doing the best sport there is on this planet.
Surfing is always about having a good time in the water and enjoying yourself. If you manage tp project this as well as in Greet like-minded people, roote and cheer for them!
And if someone doesn’t follow the surf etiquette, well, no big fuss about it from your side. Try to think of it this way: Do not do to others what you do not want done to you.
So try to stick to the surfing rules to your best abilities and if a Fauxpas happens, apologize and next time you know better.
No matter if you are a bloody beginner or an experienced surfer, feel like an ambassador of surfing. You are the one who carries the relics of a millennium-old awesome sport and lifestyle into the future. So act like it. Enjoy yourself and don’t fuck up.
People also ask:
What is “Burning”?
Burning is another word for dropping in and means that the surfer who was originally on the wave has taken off his wave and you have surfed it yourself.
What does “Kook” mean in Surfing?
A kook is a rather derogatory or insulting term used in the surfing world. Most often it is applied in connection with a surfing novice, people who do not observe surfing etiquette.
What to do if a surfer is coming at you?
As described in #4 of the Surf Etiquette: If you are not sure you will get over the wave in time when there is already a surfer on it, always choose to paddle/duckdive/turtleroll through the whitewater.
