surfing etiquette thread

[rDJ]

I would say if its one of those spots with a single takeoff spot is, like on the end of a jetty breaking in one direction, you paddle around him if others are just going to anyway to get to the deep/priority spot. It sounds like the guy doesnt want the most critical part of the takeoff anyway. I would probably paddle around and get the priority but if i had a chance to gift the shoulder hopping guy a good wave from the priority spot i would.

Awesome that you wrote this. "but if i had a chance to gift the shoulder hopping guy a good wave from the priority spot i would"

If you paddle out on someone and they are sitting on the shoulder rather than the peak, you should definitely let some waves through for them. That's just common courtesy and good stoke.


On another.

If you and 3 of your friends paddle out on the inside of someone and you try to take the very first wave that comes through as soon as you get out there... you're gonna get dropped in on. You never take the first wave when you get out there. Always show respect and stoke to the surfer(s) who were out there first.


This happened to me on Sunday morning. I was out alone on a jetty for about 2 hours. 4 guys paddle out on me... like right on top of me. One guy literally paddles out and turns to take the first wave. So I dropped in front him. Show a little respect. Say hi first. And then you can start taking waves.

Etiquette (and just plain common courtesy) is dead.

[rDJ]

Actually on a serious note, you drop in, heading down the line, guy starts to paddle, you give him the hoot letting him know you are on it, and he still drops in.... My experience with this is usually bodyboarders and inexperienced surfers. I don't know, to me it's kind of common sense not to drop in, in front of someone. Ok, thanks Lee for letting me share!

Yeah it's a mistake if you are both paddling at the same time and you don't see the surfer on the inside catch it before you. But if the surfer is already up and surfing and you still paddle into the wave, that's just a dumb beginner mistake or some who is doing it on purpose.

[bauer]

When paddling out and you are inside of a breaking wave and a surfer is taking off on the wave DO NOT paddle to the shoulder go to the whitwater and DUCK DIVE it. The surfer on the wave has the right of way not the guy paddling out. If you are on a longboard then turn tutle or eat it.. but dont ruin the surfers wave cause you dont feel like going under water!!!!

[epidemicepic]

When paddling out and you are inside of a breaking wave and a surfer is taking off on the wave DO NOT paddle to the shoulder go to the whitwater and DUCK DIVE it. The surfer on the wave has the right of way not the guy paddling out. If you are on a longboard then turn tutle or eat it.. but dont ruin the surfers wave cause you dont feel like going under water!!!!

This happens to me 10 times every time i surf. It makes me so mad. Guys that have been surfing for 20 years even, i see paddling as hard as they can for the shoulder right where i want to do my top turn! It's ridiculous. I've had people apologize to me after doing this, and tell me "i never know which way to paddle!". PADDLE TOWARDS THE WHTIEWATER!!!!!!

[goofy footer]

Actually on a serious note, you drop in, heading down the line, guy starts to paddle, you give him the hoot letting him know you are on it, and he still drops in.... My experience with this is usually bodyboarders and inexperienced surfers. I don't know, to me it's kind of common sense not to drop in, in front of someone.

Ditto @ IRI you give the Hoot then you get the "What the F***" look and you wonder why Longboard Dave wears a Helmet ........................

[fupafest]

"Awesome that you wrote this. "but if i had a chance to gift the shoulder hopping guy a good wave from the priority spot i would"

If you paddle out on someone and they are sitting on the shoulder rather than the peak, you should definitely let some waves through for them. That's just common courtesy and good stoke."

Eh, I don't agree. This happened to me a few years back during Hurricane Bill. Me and one other guy are surfing a nice jetty. I'm beyond the peak backdooring each set. He is on the inside getting the smaller waves. The guy gets super agro b/c he isn't getting any set waves. I calmed the situation down and explained that if you want sets you need to surf where they are breaking. You can't expect the person with priority to just let a barrell go because your scared. Grow some nuts and surf in front of the jetty or keep enjoying watching the ppl with skill getting barrelled. Now there is a big difference between someone who keeps paddling to the point. If the dude paddled to the point, I would be happy to trade off sets but I'm NOT doing that with someone on the inside. I WILL paddle around EVERY time if you keep surfing the inside. Many times people complain about ettiqute but they don't position themselves in the line up appropately. The rules change for each spot, swell, skill level, ect. One set of rules just wont simply work for surfing. Rule of thumb, dont be a d*ck!!!

[fupafest]

One more that is the absolute worst....The big group of guys who paddle out and ruin your solo sess.

[bushwood]

This happens to me 10 times every time i surf. It makes me so mad. Guys that have been surfing for 20 years even, i see paddling as hard as they can for the shoulder right where i want to do my top turn! It's ridiculous. I've had people apologize to me after doing this, and tell me "i never know which way to paddle!". PADDLE TOWARDS THE WHTIEWATER!!!!!!

What i cant stand is a guy 20 fet in front of you paddling back out as your dropping in panics and jumps off his board and dives under leaving his board to bob around , now i have to avoid his free floating board and then worry where this guy is going to pop up at.
Hoenstly i would just like people to hold their position, i can negotiate a guy paddling striaght back out knowing where he is, better than someone trying bob and weave in order to miss me. I can stay high on the wave if needed to miss him then once past GO!

[rDJ]

"Awesome that you wrote this. "but if i had a chance to gift the shoulder hopping guy a good wave from the priority spot i would"

If you paddle out on someone and they are sitting on the shoulder rather than the peak, you should definitely let some waves through for them. That's just common courtesy and good stoke."

Eh, I don't agree. This happened to me a few years back during Hurricane Bill. Me and one other guy are surfing a nice jetty. I'm beyond the peak backdooring each set. He is on the inside getting the smaller waves. The guy gets super agro b/c he isn't getting any set waves. I calmed the situation down and explained that if you want sets you need to surf where they are breaking. You can't expect the person with priority to just let a barrell go because your scared. Grow some nuts and surf in front of the jetty or keep enjoying watching the ppl with skill getting barrelled. Now there is a big difference between someone who keeps paddling to the point. If the dude paddled to the point, I would be happy to trade off sets but I'm NOT doing that with someone on the inside. I WILL paddle around EVERY time if you keep surfing the inside. Many times people complain about ettiqute but they don't position themselves in the line up appropately. The rules change for each spot, swell, skill level, ect. One set of rules just wont simply work for surfing. Rule of thumb, dont be a d*ck!!!

I'm not saying let the best set waves go by you, but let the novice get some decent ones here or there.

Good example, I'm on a shortboard surfing a reef in San Diego and there is a group of longboarders holding the peak. One of the guys paddling back out to the peak after riding a wave says to me, "You're not not gonna get anything with us out here on longboards, so if you want a wave just hoot me off and you can have it". I thought that was super nice of the guy.

Another example, I'm out at Scripps Pier, super competitive wave in LaJolla. Head high plus and perfect conditions. Lots of pro-level surfers out, so I'm getting the scraps. Perfect set wave coming in and the guy next to me who has been ripping all day looks at me, nods says "go". One of the best waves of my life. I'm sure that good karma came back to that guy somehow.

So that's kinda where I'm coming from with this. If there's a disadvantaged surfer out on the shoulder, throw them a bone from time to time. It will come back to you somehow, I guaranty that. Because it's not always about "nutting up". Sometime they are out on that shoulder showing respect to you being the better surfer or the local. If I spot someone out on the shoulder really trying hard, I'll hoot them into a few just to spread the stoke.

Just like Duke says, "Just take your time - wave comes. Let the other guys go, catch another one."

[LBCrew]

If the dude paddled to the point, I would be happy to trade off sets but I'm NOT doing that with someone on the inside. I WILL paddle around EVERY time if you keep surfing the inside. Many times people complain about ettiqute but they don't position themselves in the line up appropately.

That's what I thought... get in the lineup, keep the rotation going, and everybody's gonna have a good time. I'll let one or two go to the guy on the inside ONLY if it's my turn and nobody's sitting right there behind me, frothing for his next. Start doing that and the guy who's next in the lineup will start taking them, and the guy on the inside will still get nothing.

Now how about this one... the guy with priority blows it on his takeoff, and paddles right back out to the take-off spot. Nope... sorry. Because while he was paddling into oblivion, I was slipping right over into his spot for the next wave.

So... does he get the next wave because he missed his? or worse... what if he paddled into a closeout? Does he get the next wave because his wave sucked?