etiquette question

[raekwon chef]

You should head down to Waikiki sometime. Surf etiquette isn't a word in ANY of those three spots.

Oi tomcat how's the surf in VA beach? I remember drinkin irish reds with a friend at croatan watching the flat water roll on. Are there spots I haven't heard of?

[arnie]

If I am paddling out and someone is coming on the wave towards me, I aim to get behind them by the time the wave reaches me, even if it does mean getting worked! If this fails, most guys will steer around you- if they have to cutback or whatever just apologize next time you see them. I have had guys have to cut round me and have just said sorry for "being a floundering retard" and usually they are cool. If all else fails, I bail my board and duck under the water as far as possible so i dont get run over and try to push my board out of the way. Nobody really wants to crash into each other- we get enough punishment from the ocean itself!

[Surfing-Innovation]

If I am paddling out and someone is coming on the wave towards me, I aim to get behind them by the time the wave reaches me, even if it does mean getting worked! If this fails, most guys will steer around you- if they have to cutback or whatever just apologize next time you see them. I have had guys have to cut round me and have just said sorry for "being a floundering retard" and usually they are cool. If all else fails, I bail my board and duck under the water as far as possible so i dont get run over and try to push my board out of the way. Nobody really wants to crash into each other- we get enough punishment from the ocean itself!

It's all good - but sometimes when you CAN'T get round behind the oncoming guy, then just make a REALLY good effort to paddle as hard as you can in the direction you're going - and stick to it. At least that way, you make it OBVIOUS that you're trying to get out of the way, make it OBVIOUS which way you're trying to go, and he should hopefully do his best to avoid you.

You can never account for the dick who just DELIBERATELY rides at you (there's a 'local' at Saunton who does JUST that and is well known for it!), but most people appreciate it as long as you're doing your best to avoid the collision.

Good will and showing that you're at least TRYING to do the right thing (and then going out of your way to say sorry if things don't go as planned) make all the difference IMHO

[tomcat360]

Oi tomcat how's the surf in VA beach? I remember drinkin irish reds with a friend at croatan watching the flat water roll on. Are there spots I haven't heard of?

Bad. Had one decent swell this summer think that's it.

[raekwon chef]

Oi tomcat how's the surf in VA beach? I remember drinkin irish reds with a friend at croatan watching the flat water roll on. Are there spots I haven't heard of?

Bad. Had one decent swell this summer think that's it.

Are there spots where conditions are still surfable?

[tomcat360]

Today? No

We get our days, it's just really a day to day/week to week thing. This summer has been pathetic, had one week that was nice because of Hurricane Bertha but that's the only tropical activity we have had.

[uglystick]

the surfer paddling back out should be aware of any surfers catching waves and attempt to paddle out of the way.

however, the surfer on the wave should have more ability to avoid a colision. (its easier and faster to turn your board when surfing rather than paddling)

In your case i would recommend looking before you paddle, as a begineer really it was your fault you gave the surfer paddling no chance to get out of the way. Your lucky all you got was a ugly stare back.

[CHarvey]

Don't be a bouy

[twerked]

i was sort of the dude paddling out today. i had just caught a wave, and was inside (real shallow sandbar beach break). so i was turning around, standing, and about to hop on my board, as i look right and see another dude coming down the line right at me. i couldn't get out of the way in time, couldn't duckdive, the water was about a foot and a half deep, couldn't run inside farther, too deep to run quickly. so i tried to get the board up and over the wave and just went under water. came up and the dude was in the water too. apologised, and went on my way. i felt bad, but at the same time he could've turned down the wave a bit to avoid me. we didn't collide or anything, so that was good. it was partially my fault, and i felt like an ass, it was a nice wave considering the conditions. but oh wells

[Thibb]

I had the exact same thing happen to me with some guy who came surfing towards me from about 25 metres. He had all the time in the world to avoid me in a number of ways but just kept coming right at me. Actually felt like he was aiming for me, so in the end I did what you did and saved myself as he was about two metres away from me. When I came up, I got the worst load of verbal abuse ever and just about everybody else around me got to listen to it. I felt like a complete idiot. Some of the locals told me not to mind him afterwards, so I'm guessing it wasn't all my fault.

[waterlily]

I have a couple of questions on this subject...

I am at the stage where i'm just starting to catch small green waves and doing bottom turns, but quite often when the waves are bigger and messier i'm still catching the whitewater. Sometimes people are on a wave coming towards me and I just don't know what to do as I'm not a very strong paddler and my board is too big to duck dive. Some of my friends, who are way better than me at surfing, say I should move towards the whitewater, but others say stay still so the other person can go around me - what should i do in this situation?

Also, yesterday, i was on a really nice wave (which is quite rare for me) and someone on a foamie starts paddling for the wave i'm on right in front of me. I pulled off the wave as I thought they were a beginner so it was just easier for me to get off rather than for her to move. I didn't say anything because i don't think i'm good enough to tell other people how to surf but then she did it twice more she obviously had no idea that what she was doing was wrong, or was just incredibly rude, should I have told her (in a polite way of course) that she really shouldn't paddle for a wave when someone else is on it?

[surferdude_scarborough]

1 you should always paddle towards the whitewater unless you are certain you cant get round behind the guy on the wave.

2 if someone is about to drop in on you then you should give a little shout to let them know you are there. if they still drop in they are either an arse or dont know what they are doing.

3 if this girl clearly doesnt know what she is doing then you should definately go over and let her know politely. no need to give her any sh!t just tell her nicely. otherwise she'll never learn.

[twerked]

3 if this girl clearly doesnt know what she is doing then you should definately go over and let her know politely. no need to give her any sh!t just tell her nicely. otherwise she'll never learn.

especially if she's hot...then offer surf lessons and advice

[surferdude_scarborough]

3 if this girl clearly doesnt know what she is doing then you should definately go over and let her know politely. no need to give her any sh!t just tell her nicely. otherwise she'll never learn.

especially if she's hot...then offer surf lessons and advice

good call

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

<------wave---------<
X

Y

Who has priority in this situation?

[raekwon chef]

<------wave---------<
X

Y

Who has priority in this situation?

the.ronin summed it up on page one (Scenario 2) . It's an odd predicament, but what the hell was Y thinking to get into that position, directly in front of the surfer closer to the wave? I'd understand if the lineup was crowded but that is one stupid position to be in.

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

<------wave---------<
X

Y

Who has priority in this situation?

the.ronin summed it up on page one (Scenario 2) . It's an odd predicament, but what the hell was Y thinking to get into that position, directly in front of the surfer closer to the wave? I'd understand if the lineup was crowded but that is one stupid position to be in.

that didn't come out right. i was trying to position Y a little further inside but deeper. but oh well...seems the more aggressive surfer usually gets priority.

[isaluteyou]

Heres an interesting sceneario you have just caught a wave and wiped out now heres the line Up (x=surfer Y=you)

<---------WAVE---------->

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

X X X X
X X


Y


Not your fault in that situation but without actually getting out the water how the hell are you supposed to paddle back out without getting in someones way. (this is not a fictional scenario witnessed it several times and had it happen several times)

The only sensible thing i ever been able to do in such a situation is to try paddle towards the broken part of the wave. Still a trickey one though

[drowningbitbybit]

<------wave---------<
X

Y



that didn't come out right. i was trying to position Y a little further inside but deeper. but oh well...seems the more aggressive surfer usually gets priority.

So they're both in the line up, but Y is sitting a bit deeper and the wave is breaking to the right?
Sounds like a typical longboard Vs shortboard scenario

Realistically, I'd say if X can get on it, then he gets priority. Not sure if thats right or fair, but just the way it goes

[esonscar]

Ideally a steer round would have been the move in this posts’ case.

Generally…..
……………..….If someone paddling out is paddling out I prefer them to continue to do so. That way he knows where he’s going and I know where he’s going ! and a steer round or floater over is easily achieved (once you can do these moves of course ).

The person paddling out may have had a pasting on the inside and couldn’t give a toss who is coming towards him, he /she just wants to get outside for a rest – so that’s how I see that one.

If I’m paddling out, I either stop with my arms in a clearly non paddling position – or if I’ve been pummeled and am delirious with breathlessness and muscle tiredness I feebly point to where I am going and just keep going – clearly communicating my intention.

Either way don’t zig zag and look all awkward – that’ll get you run over for being a knob end !
Bear in mind when someone steers around you, it can be very close indeed so don’t panic or get worked up – who’s gonna dent their $500.00+ board for one or two erroneous close calls ? – that’s what long boards are for !!!!!!!!!!!

Juz my experience and I’ve never had any conflict doing this

EDIT: Whoever is nearest the breraking peak has priority, fun when you choose to switch and go backdoor through the section