Westbound Boarder

In putting together this beginning surf series (check out our tips for beginning surfers) we’d be remiss if we didn’t touch upon etiquette.  Surfing’s a great sport, but with thousands of surfers in the water at any given time, all banking on that “perfect wave,” there are a few “unwritten rules” surfers should abide by while hitting the tube:

• If you’re up and riding, you have the right of way (and if you’re not – get out of the way!  When the rider slams into you, you’re the only one to blame).
• Don’t drop in on another surfer; meaning, if you go to catch a wave and someone else around you has already claimed it, leave it to them and wait for the next one.  I promise, there will be more.
• When surfing in a group, never walk behind someone.  A wave could crash at any moment, potentially knocking that person straight into you.
• Choose your location wisely – if you’re a beginner looking to surf in a hot zone, well, don’t.  Leave the big waves to the more advanced riders and come back when you can match up.
• Respect the locals.  After all, who wants to be that “lame American who snaked my turf?”  Not I.

During my recent lesson with Bill Sharp at the Huntington Beach Surf School, Bill mentioned that good etiquette isn’t as well-respected here in the US as it is in South Africa, where he grew up surfing.  In South Africa, all surfers know and abide by the rules, creating a safe, proactive surfing environment with a good vibe.  But in America it can sometimes be a free-for-all.  I bet it would be pretty interesting to compare the two…

For more information on surf etiquette a a detailed rules guide, check out the Surfers Code of Ethics, developed by the Surfrider Foundation.  And if you take one thing away from this post, and one thing only, remember this – “Give Respect to Gain Respect,” as said by the Foundation itself.