Who's wave?

[oldgrom22]

Out surfing last week on a small day and came across a situation and wanted to hear your guys' opinions on the matter. Went for a wave, going right down the line. Cruising, I see a guy taking a left coming my way, our waves are coming together on the inside. He pulls off and I proceed to turn left and cruise in for a small reform. Paddled back and didn't think much of it, until a while later the same situation happens to another pair and they almost collide.

In that situation, who has the right to continue riding and who should kick out? I would assume it's more of a courtesy thing, I would've kicked out if the guy going left didn't already do so but can see that as a problem if both riders are assuming the other is going to pull off the wave.

[Big H]

I don't know which is the correct thing, but around here both sides kick out.

[oldmansurfer]

Maybe if it happens enough you could arrange for one to go high on the wave and the other to go low on the wave and cross paths.

[Tudeo]

Both should try to kick out in time before things get dangerous, but if one already did the other is free to ride the wave alone.
Good intentions will avoid a 'game of chicken', and risk of collision.

[drowningbitbybit]

I've had this happen to me.

Surfing off the bank a little way from the point and going left. Then the wave hits the point and breaks towards its usual right. Noone going right off the point even seems aware of the possibility of anyone going left

Whose wave is it? Whoever stood up first.

In practise, the longboarder going right towards the shortboarder going left (as in this case) knows damn well that the shortboarder is going to come off worst and just ploughs on through

[drowningbitbybit]

Oh, and on another occasion, this happened to me and a friend, so he went low, I went high and we both carried on

[dtc]

I have seen a collision because of this, but it was about 2 seconds after take off. One guy was sitting off the shoulder for a normal right wave but a wave came through breaking left and he took off going left. The other guy was sitting at the (normal) peak and went right. The wave was pretty much a close out really, but they both popped up and before they were set on the wave ....'bang'. Both long boarders... No injuries fortunately

[oldgrom22]

Probably best to just kick out regardless of the other rider, not worth a potential ding for a couple seconds of facetime on an inside reform. Thanks for the replies all