Basic Surfing Rules for New Surfers
Here are some basic rules for surfers (new & old) which is not all encompassing, but it gives you some basics to work with and even expand on. Here goes:
1. The first one up and/or first one on the wave where the curl begins has the right of way. “Shoulder-Hopping” is not acceptable behavior. It is also called “Dropping-In” and it means that you jumped in front of someone already coming down the line. You can do it if there is no way that you affected the other surfer via time and distance but the opinion is in the eye of the beholder meaning they guy or gal already on the wave.
2. If you are a Stand-Up Surfer (SUP) you really need to enforce some personal discipline. It is tempting to take all the waves and tempting to be selfish. Control the urge. Many people who SUP (not all) have really been setting a bad tone and the overall feeling in the water is one of hatred. Try to change the feeling by being a disciplined & good-natured person on your SUP. You can actually share in harmony by letting the surfers know when a big set approaches they may not see or other situations that appear to you first due to your viewing advantage. Remember that you have a significant advantage over standard surfers with an assisted form of propulsion. If you are learning, then do so away from crowds.
3. If you are going surfing – remember – it is an individual sport. Leave your platoon of buddies at home. Make friends in the water. Just imagine you are at Starbucks and some dork gets in line in front of you with 27 of his best friends and they all want some kind of complicated to create drink like a double skinny pumpkin latte’ with chocolate sprinkles on top of a dollop of whip cream sweetened with an artificial sweetener of course, shaken (not stirred) over finely crushed ice brought in from the polar ice-cap. You’d hate them while you stand in line. Same thing applies to surfing. Leave you buddies at home and make a new friend. And don’t drink latte’s – it makes you look like an absolute sissy…
4. Paddle out to the break (line-up) in the channel away from the drop-zone (path) that guys are surfing on. If you must get in someone’s way that is on a wave and you are paddling out – don’t head for the peak. Take the hit/pounding by paddling thru the other surfers’ contrails – never in their intended path.
5. When you do paddle out, don’t paddle directly into the peak position in the place where you would have priority. Work your way into that spot, get in line, and take turns. Show respect to the regular’s in the line-up. Greet them and show respect. Same with those that came out earlier than you. They have more of a right to the waves than you since they have been waiting longer paying their dues. If you are surfing by yourself, take turns with yourself. It is good practice…
6. Leave the pro surfers alone… Remember this - the pro’s get constantly bothered by geeks everywhere they go from Foodland, to the gas station, to taking a morning dump in that latrine near the beach. It is even worse in foreign countries. Just because you know their name – don’t think or expect them to know yours. They could care less about you really. Expect them to be rude.
7. Be kind to kids (grommets) in the line-up. You can correct them but recognize that they likely have a really big Uncle on the beach that will pound your head in if you screw with that “grom” in the water. And remember, kids have nothing to lose. They will charge because they don’t know better and they don’t have to go to work in the morning like you do. So they don’t care if they run you over or drop in on you and get hurt. They will not obey the rules under any circumstance. Expect the worst from them.
9. Don’t be a wave-hog; no one is impressed by you and your innate ability to paddle back out quickly to the point of priority and take off again and again regardless of it being your turn or not. If you are a wave hog, then expect the entire line-up to do away with any of these rules and a host of watercraft will drop you in on just for good measure.
10. For the guys – some women in the water will attempt to use a “Bikini Pass” on you unwittingly. This is where she wears a thong or two postage stamps for a top while surfing and smiles/flirts at everyone and will use that charm against you. Smile back, but adhere to the rules & hold her to the same rules. Don’t let her drop in on you. And remember – if you don’t think that you would have had a chance with that gal on dry land, the ocean is no different. She is playing you for a fool. Enjoy the view.
11. If you get in an argument in the water – your Karma is gone. Same with all the folks in earshot of you and the person you are fighting with. Take it elsewhere. Your session is ruined but don’t ruin everyone else’s session too. It is amazing what a simple apology from the heart can do when given. Don’t expect one – but be willing to whip one out to someone else. Be the bigger person in the water. Trust me, this is one of the hardest rules to follow as surfing attracts a whole crop of knuckleheads. They want to look cool and surfing is (what they believe) and instant ticket to being a cool guy.
12. If you paddle for wave after wave after wave and don’t make it, then expect people to treat you like the kook you are. They won’t follow any of these rules even if you are in the right. When you blow a wave, you also blow it for others. You can get away with it once or twice, but after that – all bets are off.
13. If you are catching a wave and it has both a left and right peak, let the folks around you know which way you are going so the way you aren’t isn’t wasted. Just yell out “going right” or something. Then actually go that way as no one likes someone that says they are going one way, then gets selfish and goes the other way.
14. Don’t use etiquette against folks in the water. There are some norms and you will find “slick-dicks” in the water that use those social norms to screw people over. Like when a wave is coming, they will paddle around you to gain priority over you. Or they paddle out and take over the peak giving them priority over all others waiting. Or they block you on your takeoff by sitting in the take-off / drop-zone blocking you from coming down the face. Then they turn/burn on the very wave that they blocked you on believing that you are none-the-wiser…
15. Carry some wax on your person when you paddle out. You would be amazed at how something so inexpensive and insignificant, can mean so much to someone in need in the water. Just cram it in your pocket. You made need some too!
16. If you are riding a longboard, give the guys sitting on the inside on shortboards a wave now and again. Don’t sit outside and take all the best waves. Let some go.
17. Be a good steward in and out of the water. Each and everytime you go to the beach, pick up some trash in the parking lot and take it home with you or dispose of it properly. This random act of kindness will not go unnoticed and it will pay you back in Karma sometime. No one expects you to dedicate your life to this project, but if everyone does a little bit, then that means that a few don’t have to do a whole bunch. It goes without saying (but I’ll say it) that you shouldn’t throw trash out yourself.
18. If you see someone breaking into a car in the parking lot – then stop them! You can do it by telling other folks or calling the cops or whatever. Doesn’t cost anything to call 911. Even if you think something is sketchy, call the cops. You are paying their salary – may as well ask them to do something for you.
19. Know what battles to fight in the water. Not everything deserves a nuclear reaction from you. Trust me, I know this well. If you come across a jackass, just ignore them. That can sometimes be the best offense / defense as some guys do rotten stuff just to get noticed. They think that surfing is a gang affiliation or something. Now at some breaks (like Pipeline), there was a dire need for someone to regulate the line-up so out there you may encounter groups of guys and a more strict set of rules or guys who don’t follow the rules yet are accepted by all. For those types of places, read the addendum to this set of rules before paddling out.
20. Surf the right size board for conditions and/or your skill set.
21. Always maintain positive control of your surfboard to the best of your ability. Duck Dive or Turtle Roll if you are hit by a wave but hold onto your board. The leash is only to be used as a leash as a last resort. Your hands are the primary tools used to hold your board.
22. Finally – if you aren’t having fun then you aren’t having fun. It isn’t the guy who catches the most waves that is having the best time. Whether you surf 20 footers to 2 footers, the guy having the most fun is the real winner.
