Just started surfing a few months ago and wanted to ask about some common sense courtesy in the break..I surf w/some friends too, but wanted to see what other people had to say. Using a longboard for now so my tendancy is to stay away from groups and shortboards unless I'm with them. Thanks
Your instincts are right! The best thing you can do is avoid the popular breaks and surf in empty spots. Also, don't drop in on people! These 2 things will make your future surfing much more pleasant.
Wow... there is intelligent life on Earth... how refreshing! Very wise of you to ask that question, K Nobody minds a beginner who's trying hard to stay out of the way and follow the rules of etiquette, while still catch a few waves. You don't have to surf in isolation, but it's better for you to find a spot where there are few others, just because it means more waves for YOU and your friends. Learning to surf is hard enough without the frustration and hassle of dealing with crowds. It is my very strong opinion that while nobody owns the surf, and no one is "entitled" any more than anyone else to waves, good surfers, who surf the same breaks regularly have most likely developed the skill, strength and wave knowledge to literally "out surf" you and most others who are not locals, or are beginners. Find a less crowded spot, with softer or smaller waves. Chances are the good surfers are not seeking out these spots and you'll have better waves for learning. If you do go to a popular spot, sit down near the shoulder and get the ones that swing wide, or the ones that people fall on. By all means, do not drop in on anyone (except your friends.. Ha!) If you have to, you can sit a bit on the inside and catch the ones that don't quite break where the lineup is. But it's better to sit down the beach than inside if possible. Safer, too... Also.. surf early and late in the day, or other "off peak" hours.
used to stay away in awe of the locals...now paddle out right next to the best guy on your bic and go straight on the best wave and don't look
Noob 101: 1. Avoid groups of short boarders between the ages of 14-22. Everyone that age is a **** regardless. 2. Avoid certain "kook" items- like hats and crap. Dont get into all of that unless you can rip to back it up. 3. ALWAYS look back towards the peak / curl of the wave to make sure that your the first one up. Hang out outside and pick your waves early- start moving and paddling around early to make it obvious to those around you. 4. Lastly, and most importantly, NEVER back out of a wave that you have a good line on, its better to take your poundings than to be that puss who keeps wasting waves. Push yourself, the surface of the water is amazingly forgiving, its the bottom that hurts. -the stud
Yep This is what you want to avoid at ALL costs. Closest person to the peak has the right-of-way. Jersey Shore has nothing on this Classic IRI situation.
I"m also still learning and figured out a really good but obivious trick this summer. I paddle out with the best of the them and when a good wave came I'd pass it up and let evenone else go knowing that there was very likely a good wave right after it which would be much more or entirely open. I'm not sure about being slightly inside though I found myself more in peoples way being inside. The other thing was at some point surfing along with others also forced me to learn more control over the board. Some of those summer days though are crazy and I would count 100 so people out.
Bad indications, if you are still learning. It sounds like you are: -surfing in crowds (100+) as a learner. -forcing yourself to learn of board control at the expense of others when you should already HAVE board control if you are surfing around others -engaging in lineup tactics as a beginner. I'm just curious - do you surf at Indian River Inlet?
lol lol,lmao, your aboslutely right and funny as @?* for calling that spot out. Dead right on the nose.
hopefully you didn't figure out I'm at IRI because I was ever in your way. But points well taken. I mostly ride a twin fin Pearson Arrow and sometimes a Walden Magic What I was trying to say is that at a place like IRI, during the summer it's either sit on the beach and watch or go out and be respectful, friendly and ready to give up waves and wait if it means you might be in anyones way. Because no matter how far down you go there are people all along. And you are very right learning board control at the risk of others safety is irresposible, I'm not advocating that, but I am saying that at a certain point I felt I could be out there learning but not being in anyone's way. I'm also totally ready and would like to hear it from someone on the beach (or internet) if i'm off. And be cool about it. The last thing I want to do is hurt or piss anyone off. Everyone I have met at IRI have been really cool and helpful.
beginners are cool - its the ones 1-2 years under their belt that are annoying - false confidence - inflated sense of ability i.e. KOOK!
Sorry, I was just having a little fun at your expense...20 yrs ago i was learning to surfing at IRI and remember being in people's way. You sound like you have a positive outlook. Oh yeah 100+ at IRI is no joke. Delaware in the summer is straight up retarded. During danielle/earl swell i surfed there one weekday and there were easily 125-150 heads in the water. Lineup is about 1/4 mile long.
just be careful and pay attention. your best bet is to avoid crowds, but sometimes you cant. when surfing in crowded areas: -watch where the wave is breaking and avoid paddling out directly into the lineup - stay towards the outside of the lineup and observe how each wave is chosen, and who the locals are. alot of the time there will be 1 or 2 people that get almost every wave, but thats because they rip and have been surfing there for a long time. let them get waves, even if it does piss you off -also, if a good wave comes in, and a bunch of people go for it, wait for the one behind it and go for that one. this is called a set (if you dont know that already)
This thread is awesome. Why can't this forum be like this anymore? What was that first tropical storm we had in OC? Colin? And it didn't do poop for us? One afternoon that swell (3ft max) I saw the most people ever out in the spots that Ive ever seen, probably ever. We had to just find a gap in the water and take what we could get. Hey Otto! Where'd you go?!
That's funny I grew up in DE, but never really surfed unitl now. But do remember the crowds...Thanks for all the replies it has been most helpful.
to expand on- "avoid paddling out directly into the lineup" When you're paddling out and someone is riding a wave, I'm pretty sure the best thing to do is paddle to the left if they're going right (down the wave), or vice versa, because if you don't get around them all the way, all they have to do is go straight (as opposed to you going right as they right down the wave, and if you can't get out of their way in time, they're forced to bail out).
Yeah, basically, the rules are as follows: If you do in fact get a decent ride and go into the inside, you must look back out at the lineup and be aware of how far down the line the wave breaks. When paddling back out, you MUST swing WAAAAY wide, making sure that there is ABSOLUTELY no way that some ripper is going to link up a 200 yard wave and come right at you... Paddle EXTREMELY out of the way, like up a channel, and then paddle horizontally back to the lineup... Second word of advice, stay OUT of the lineup. You have no business being there for a couple of years... The best way to get GOOD waves as a beginner is as follows: Sit on the shoulder, pretty much being the further guy from the peak... Watch for the good set waves. 99% of the guys out will be hugging around each other in the same 20 yard take off zone… Now, most of these guys are going to have to concede the wave to whoever is in position… And every few waves, you will get a less than adequate surfer take off, make it somewhat down the face and line, making everyone in the actual lineup not go, wait, wait, wait… watch watch watch, and when you see a guy blow the wave, you are now safely setup on the shoulder and can take off on the first open section as the wave comes towards you…. I learned to surf in the most crowded region in the country, so this trick worked for me for years… on EPIC days… when guys are out jocking for position, MOST of them are too deep, but since its their turn to go, they gotta go… So wait and be patient for a good set wave, and “Clean up the scraps” is what I like to call it… And in any situation, stay away from crowds.. Until you REALLy know what you are doing, taking off on a shoulder, getting one turn in and floating the closeout is really all you are going to need to do… Anything else and you are in the way… Once you are sticking drops, clearing sections and learning how to do solid cutback turning, then you can move over to the lineup…. Cause the second you blow a wave in a real lineup, you might as well paddle in for the day… and god forbid you blow a wave, end up in the impact zone, flailing while other guys mow you down… You will get yelled at.. Told to leave, and then your stoke level will drop into negative-ville… Just look behind you on the wave, ALWAYS… Don’t sit in a lineup… Surf with friends that know what they are doing, and follow their lead… Don’t paddle out in conditions you Can’t handle… If the butterflies in your stomach are going nuts, you might as well sit on the beach, cause usually, when you paddle out, it ends up being bigger than it looked… If you don’t have the skills or equipment for that kind of swell, sit, watch, take notes and learn…. And duck diving is the single most important thing you will ever learn. It helps you get better waves, surf big surf, duck deep in the flats instead of getting run over… a good clean duck dive will save you in EVERY situation…. Cheers and good luck sir.
