Surfing Waves

Hi all,

I have a surf etiquette question to do with dropping in,..the break I've been surfing lately is super consistent and so pretty busy too. When on a new spot I will normally be respectful, suss it out a bit, wait my turn then pick off waves,. but on this spot with locals and everyone else there is no order or respect, there is lads that are paddling for every wave, sometimes pulling off if someone is catching it before them but generally not and just dropping in everywhere. I tried the first few sessions sitting tight and pick of a wave when I get some space but this rarely happens and I was getting cold and bored so you end up adapting and doing the same as the rest of the surfers there, paddle for whatever you want and make a call then when you get it on who has the wave ..which can a bit dodgy at times but what can you do!.
Anyway that was just to give an insight of the break, my question is who should pull back in the following scenario because I have been on both sides of it many times in the last few months and generally just pull off to avoid the agro but I wonder who should give way...
If 2 people are paddling for the same wave, and one catches it a bit further out so earlier but the other is a bit closer in to shore and deeper to the peak so ends up behind the other who should pull back?? I know that if someone is closer to the peak then the other guy is dropping in but what happens if that guy catches the wave earlier and is up on it but is slightly outside the other guy??..
By the way I don't think it makes any difference on this particular break but it just got me questioning it.

Thanks for any opinions!

Whether right or wrong, whoever is closest to the peak. If the guy further out wants priority he needs to call it when the other guy is still paddling, and stay close to the curl while riding.

Jimi wrote:Whether right or wrong, whoever is closest to the peak

I would say only to a certain extent, because of this line...

Ollies wrote: one catches it a bit further out so earlier but the other is a bit closer in to shore and deeper to the peak so ends up behind the other who should pull back??

Yes, the guy on the inside is closer to the peak, but assuming the guy is well up and riding by the time he gets in line with the surfer on the inside, then I'd say it was very bad form to take off on the peak behind him.

In dog eat dog surf like this, you often get people paddling back to the inside after a wave and not care whether anyone else has caught a wave so there is no taking turns system. "but hey I'm back inside I have priority again".
The further out technique is to paddle at an angle that heads you toward the curl angling out the guy on the inside, let him know "I'm taking this one" two things make sure you get it, make sure you make it!
If you are on a longboard watch that you don't abuse the paddling power to take this attitude.
If the guy snakes anyway practice your fade, stall and your stinkeye.

Simple rule system.

Guy inside who has selected the wave after a few = priority
Guy outside who has left a few go through and shared a bit his turn = priority
Guy who has just paddled back from his last wave to the inside = take a number and wait your turn.
Split peak call which way you are going left right. = equal priority.
This applies if all surfers are about equal in skill, where there are less skilled surfers they are often martyred by the better surfers.
All this is in an ideal world BTW, and at some breaks it applies.

At a chaos break it's up to you to choose your approach to the attitude, will your approach better the attitude or escalate it.
Sometimes I just go elsewhere!
But not at my home break

Cheers for the replies, yea that's pretty much like I taught, like you said the situation I was trying to describe was where your up and riding and someone ends up behind you full of vocals, I would have taking off on the peak also but with the second guy marginally deeper and a good bit inside,. like Jaffa said it is dog eat dog but I would still sit and let a few go ahead of me and generally try to pick one off when a few are paddling back out so theres less people on the peak going for the wave. Equally when I am sitting slightly inside and deeper I may start paddling for a wave but will watch the surfer paddling from further out just incase they miss but if it looks like they will catch it I pull straight back,..so was just looking for opinions of what is the right thing to do having been on both sides of it... Thanks for the opinions anyway, better to be sure and good to know, like was said though I don't think right or wrong comes into it here, more greet ignorance with ignorance .. or get to bed earlier to be on it at dawn.

So long as you don't drop in on me I am chill with whatever happens in the lineup, I don't get agro unless someone does something on purpose. I think in your case first up is first on, but either way things happen, just makes sure you keep the stoke going