Right of way question

[waikikikichan]

With that new info, I would conclude you were wrong and didn’t have priority. Is easier to figure out priority at the peak before or as the wave breaks. But once the wave is rolling, getting on, is getting on after.
Using tactics / jockeying, one could get behind another rider who was up way earlier by paddling up to the soup, spin and bounce off the white water. Then yell at the other guy for riding in front of him. Happens all the time. It’s called SNAKING.

[alex_k]

With that new info, I would conclude you were wrong and didn’t have priority

Agreed! I thought I probably didn't but wanted to hash it out and fully understand the situation. Now I am confident that I did not and getting hit by the wash was right.

[dtc]

All I can say is that if I were surfer B, I would have given you priority. If you think about what would have happened after you both caught the wave - surfer A is between surfer B and the shoulder, so surfer A has right of way as Surfer A is clearly on the inside and must have started on the inside

However, if you were trying to catch the white water and then pop up and try to surf around to the face, then its bit less clear

Still 95% of the time you can see if someone inside you is paddling for the wave or is lining up to paddle for the wave, so it shouldnt be a surprise when they catch the wave and you have to stop. But pulling out is safer; being right is not much comfort when you are in hospital.

Also, god I hate people who paddle back through the line up. I get it if you fall off, sometimes you have no option but to be there until you can paddle wider. It amazes me how many surfer (and swimmers for that matter) assume that all other surfers have good board control and will just turn around them.

[alex_k]

I've had a lot more experience since posting this, and one thing I've noticed is that this happens absolutely all the time, especially at point breaks. There is a conflict between someone who takes off earlier outside but down the line and someone who is closer to the peak in the direction of the line but inside.

Sometimes people sit way inside compared to those who are waiting for set waves, and if someone's up and surfing from the set wave takeoff, first to feet and closest to peak, they have priority, no ambiguity. Someone caught inside really doesn't. It's no good to wait in the whitewater and pop up behind people if they're already up and surfing, as dtc commented. If the surfer inside is very close and could take off at the same time, however, this is a classic, egregious drop in by the surfer on the shoulder and a dangerous move.

The difference between these two scenarios, however, is sometimes only seconds. The guy on the shoulder had priority here, but only by a tiny, tiny amount of time. Even given that, his actions were not considerate and moderately dangerous. As tomthetreeman commented, just call the wave pal and at least I'd have had a second of warning to get out of the way.

To me, this is best resolved and handled with communication, verbal wave calling, respect and generosity. Sometimes it is also settled by who is a better surfer, more local or willing to just take the wave. In reality, sometimes it is settled by who is more risk taking or even who is more of a jerk. Further, it's important for surfers not to play chicken, but some people do and it's dangerous for everyone involved.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts a while back,