Surfing is a very social sport with its own unwritten code of proper behavior and ethics. Amazingly, this code is universally applicable to all surfing areas of the world. Knowledge of these rules will enable the surfer to avoid confrontations, make lasting friendships, and most of all, have fun while surfing. To explain these rules I have broken them down into subsections: 1. Have an accurate appraisal of your surfing abilities and surf breaks that match your skill level. Are you a novice surfer? An intermediate surfer? An expert? A novice surfer should only surf breaks that are gentle and forgiving "spilling" breakers. If a beginner ventures out into plunging point surf he becomes a danger not only to himself but to other surfers as the novice does not understand the dynamics of surfing in such waves. The beginner will often get in the way of other surfers and he may lose control of his board thus hitting himself or worse yet, another surfer. This is a serious breach of surfing protocol and will attract angry remarks from other surfers who are simply concerned for everyones well-being. 2. Don't drop in! You must understand the priority rule. One of the most serious breaches of surfing protocol involves "dropping in". In laymens terms this can be imagined as cutting someone off in a car. This act can actually turn the individuals surfing the whole surf point against you and you may even be "asked" to go in. You must understand that the surfer in the peak position (the most critical point of the wave that is about to break) in combination with "inside" position (the surfer who is deepest with peak position) has unequivocal possession of the wave. If you find that you are paddling with another surfer for the same wave, assess the situation. If you are not in priority position you must give way. If a surfer is already up and riding, he has established possession of the wave and thus you must not take off on his wave. To do so would be to drop in. By not dropping in you gain the respect of surfers and are more apt to make long lasting friendships with others and establish a good vibe in the water. This will ultimately allow you to fully enjoy the surfing experience. 3. Don't get in the way. Beginners and even intermediate surfers often make the mistake of "getting in the way". This occurs when a surfer is up and going down the line with speed and another prone surfer crosses his path while paddling out thus preventing the standing surfer from making the section. This can be avoided in the following way. When you are paddling out the natural inclination is to paddle away from the breaking part of the wave towards the shoulder of the wave. This action is feasible when no one is up surfing the wave but if a surfer is coming down the line you must change your course. If it looks like you will be getting in the way of the oncoming surfer because your course is over the shoulder paddle away from the shoulder in to the breaking section of the wave and push under the wave. By taking the beating and keeping out of the way of other fellow surfers you will gain their respect and ultimately their friendship. 4. Don't be a wave hog; Do share the waves Another important component of surfing courtesy is to share the waves. Many novice, intermediate and even expert surfers make the mistake of being to aggressive and taking all the waves. This is called "getting greedy" or "being a snake" in surfing lingo. If you behave like this you will attract negative attention and sometimes even verbal abuse. If you have a longboard you must understand that just because it is easier for you to catch a wave it does not give you the right to take all the waves. On the other hand if you share the waves you show that you have consideration for other surfers and in return they will usually show consideration for you. 5. Have a good attitude In surfing, your attitude is like a mirror. Your disposition will be reflected directly back to you. If you are aggressive and rude, you will be rewarded with aggressive and rude behavior. If you are polite and follow surfings protocols described above, this will be reflected directly back to you. The saying "what you put in is what you get out" rings true with surfers and surfing. A simple and effective method of getting other surfers to warm up to you is to smile. You will find that a smile followed by a kind comment will often break the ice with even the toughest local. Don't be afraid to talk to people. Part of the fun of surfing is to meet its eccentric and wild practitioners! Conclusion If
you follow these simple guidelines surfing can be a wonderful experience filled
with great memories and interesting friends. Remember don't let a bad attitude,
whether yours or another's get you down. It's all about fun, so what are you waiting
for? Get out there! |