Surfing etiquette

[jeri]

Hi I hope someone can help me on this.

I am new to surfing and i never know where to move to when someone is surfing towards me. Normally i get out of their way just, or they pull out of the wave. But today I had 2 guys coming straight for me and really close to me by the time i saw them. I didn't know where to go so i let go of my board and ducked. One of them told me off but didn't tell me what i should have done which would have helped.

I know i probably shouldn't have let go of my board but if i had stayed where i was there would have been a crash! I wasn't actually paddling out but i was a bit closer to the shore than the line up as i wasn't catching the big waves. But i thought i was plenty out of the way of the surfers in the line up. And there were other surfers in the water around me.

When i am surfing and there are people in my way i always come of the wave to avoid them - i am still learning to surf around them. But people don't seem to do the same for me.

Help!!

[kitesurfer]

Hi, its difficult to know what to do when 2 guys are bearing down on you. If i was you in that situation i would stay put and show no intention of moving and cover your head if they get really close.
In the usual situation paddling out you paddle between the person up and riding and duck under the broken white water. Never try to paddle in front of a surfer just to avoid getting one break on your head. This is very bad form.

KS

[isaluteyou]

Never try to paddle in front of a surfer just to avoid getting one break on your head. This is very bad form.

Yup the ammount of thrashings i have taken by paddling into the belly of an 8ft beast just to ensure i dont ruin another surfers ride

But back to the point as you are new and i assume mainly surfing the inside/foamies. It isnt really your fault. The other surfers should be savvy enough to spot you and surf around you in most cases. On crowded summer days its like playing dodgem cars. As long as you are not intentionally putting yourself directly in front of the take off zone. Not much more you can do. However if you are taking off on a wave that has a rider on it already then thats not good play. If you find yourself caught and unable to get yourself out of harms way as a last resort ditch your board as TBH its a whole lot easier for a surfer to kick out of a wave or change direction than it is to paddle/jump your way out of harms way. It sounds like the two other surfers didnt read the situation correctly and have no right to moan.

Just keep these things in mind and you will be fine and 99% of the time in the right.

1 - dont take off on a wave if someone else in on it already.
2 - look before taking off on a wave not only down the line but to see whats in front of you as well.
3 - dont paddle out in front of any surfer. Rather paddle away even if it means taking a wave on the head.
4 - Never turn your back on the ocean. In other words keep an eye on whats going on all the time

Its a learning procces the more your experience the more you will know how to deal with situations as they arrise. Just be midfull that some surfers have absolutely no regard for etiquette. You cant do much about that. I have actually had to physically throw someone off their board because they practically dropped in on my head. Just an illustration that you need to think quickly.

[dougirwin13]

5 - When you are inside always keep an eye on incoming waves.
6 - When paddling out stay well clear of the curl - either go through the channel or the whitewater.
7 - When you are in the way think fast and commit. *

* Head immediately and clearly to the channel or the whitewater, whichever is closer. When in doubt head for the whitewater. Where you go matters less than commiting to a direction. A competent surfer on the wave should have no problems avoiding you. Do not vacillate and go left, right, left, right... Where am I going? What am I doing? Who am I? What is all this wet stuff? Oh my god did I really sleep with her last night?!? That will cause an accident, ending in dinged boards, pissed off surfers and possible injury.