Who has priority?

[Onelove]

This is a unique situation as this is a unique wave.

I was in Costa surfing a super long world class left river mouth point. It was a very crowded morning with perfect winds and 2 foot overhead on the sets. 800 yard rides were popping on every big set.

I found myself on the perfect wave, best I had ever been on. I looked down the line as I was dropping and there was no one. It wasn’t even a debate in what would occur.i made 4 or 5 big sweeping carves and was maybe 100-150 yards in when I started to hear yelling. I had made it wayyyyyy in front of the curl, like yards, and began a cutback to get back into the powers of the wave.

A local, and also a really good surfer without a doubt was screaming down the line. He called for me (F’n gringo) to get off the wave. He had dropped while I was way down in front of the breaking part of the wave surfing the wall.

When I dropped I was the only person on wave and closest to the curl. When he dropped I was already down the line but he was technically closest to the curl. I made 2 more big carves and pooped off the top and gave him the wave avoiding confrontation with locals, but was told later the guy was a jerk and I heard him the rest of the day in the lineup here and there.

No one could give an answer on priority there, but was told we should have just both rode it—which was totally doable and I was totally open to. As a matter of fact happily invited and got invited into many party waves with locals.

Anyway, how does priority work there? I figure he had priority by rule, but his way of Gettingthere was in poor form.

It stands out because I had nothing but open face for hundreds and hundreds of yards. My biggest lost opportunity of the trip.

[Onelove]

Popped off back not pooped. Lol

[oldmansurfer]

It's difficult to say from what you provided. 800 yard rides but did you paddle out around everyone? I once had 800 + yard rides and paddled out past everyone but they were 650 + yards in from the peak.

[dtc]

If you are on the wave you have priority. People dont get to drop in behind you already surfing and then claim they have priority. Thats why ('technically') SUPs have priority when they pick up waves 30m out from where the surfers are sitting

[jaffa1949]

You genuinely had priority, he could have let it go. A big drive well out on the shoulder creates space for someone to drop in behind you! Attitude and I'm a local D.head, makes caution reasonable on a foreign wave.

Sounds like a great wave!

[Onelove]

It's difficult to say from what you provided. 800 yard rides but did you paddle out around everyone? I once had 800 + yard rides and paddled out past everyone but they were 650 + yards in from the peak.

You paddle out through the middle of the river, then have to paddle right to the left point. 600 to 1000 yards is what is typically thrown Around when it is really good there. It was really good.

[Onelove]

It's difficult to say from what you provided. 800 yard rides but did you paddle out around everyone? I once had 800 + yard rides and paddled out past everyone but they were 650 + yards in from the peak.

https://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/surfers-guide/boca-barranca.asp

Boca Barranca

[Big H]

It's difficult to say from what you provided. 800 yard rides but did you paddle out around everyone? I once had 800 + yard rides and paddled out past everyone but they were 650 + yards in from the peak.

https://www.govisitcostarica.com/travelInfo/surfers-guide/boca-barranca.asp

LOL....that is the world's worst photo of a surf break.

[oldmansurfer]

The question was did you paddle around everyone? And if you did how far past them did you go?

[Onelove]

On my initial way out? I was first one out, still dark.

When paddling back out after a wave I would paddle past a lot of people. there are multiple take off spots. I would tend to go to the 2nd or 3rd grouping and wait my turn. It’s about 100 yards from where the break initiates. There are some early close out sections occasionally, so closest to initial peak is not always the best spot.

Yes, that is a pitiful picture, but it’s about 2000 yards away on the bridge. I was more providing the info.

I’m ready to get back there. Easter weekend was crazy crowded. Want it in July.

[Onelove]

Wether 500 yards or 1000.Anything between those numbers is just bonkers.

[oldmansurfer]

Sounds like you had the priority but you can't paddle around someone within the takeoff zone and if you are near to the group but paddle past them so there is a wide speration between you and the group then you should wait for them to catch some waves before you do.

[Onelove]

That makes sense old man. I assure you after that long ass paddle back I gave plenty of time before getting mine. It is a good 15 minutes from when 1 takes a wave to when they return to their spot.

I do believe I was ok here. Was respectful, waited my turn, rode a long way down the line, but someone dropped in when I had driven way out onto the shoulder ahead—putting them closer to the curl. I think every scenario was acceptable—even when he dropped—but it was his temper that made it a situation.

Crowded day with a spoiled gringo from 2500 miles away on his home break on a great wave. I empathize—but it still sucked.

[RinkyDink]

That makes sense old man. I assure you after that long ass paddle back I gave plenty of time before getting mine. It is a good 15 minutes from when 1 takes a wave to when they return to their spot.

I do believe I was ok here. Was respectful, waited my turn, rode a long way down the line, but someone dropped in when I had driven way out onto the shoulder ahead—putting them closer to the curl. I think every scenario was acceptable—even when he dropped—but it was his temper that made it a situation.

Crowded day with a spoiled gringo from 2500 miles away on his home break on a great wave. I empathize—but it still sucked.

It sounds to me like you had the right of way. The trouble is that you're always going to find morons out there. Surfing etiquette is for people who are invested in a surf break functioning so that the greatest number of surfers get a chance to ride a wave. Unfortunately, there are other surfers who don't give a rip about etiquette--they're either kooks or believe in privilege, pecking orders, yada yada yada . . .

[BoMan]

WKKKChan crafted another visual on point.
http://alohaki.jugem.jp/

[steveylang]

Is it possible that the other guy didn’t even know you had gotten in first behind everyone, or thought that you were a second surfer (or 3rd I guess), that had dropped in after him?

[jaffa1949]

In the original post , one love was told the guy was a meathead so it is highly likely he knew, a long carve out to the shoulder leaves a gap for those sorts to to pull an alpha male I’m a local D head stunt.