etiquette question

You said your relatively new, well the good news is you chose to pick up the best sport/hobby/activity in the world, the bad news is allot of other people surf too, and just like in all areas of life, some people are just d****. With that being said, it doesn't sound like you did anything wrong, besides not calling homeboy out on his death stare. Next time just paddle outside of him obnoxiously and take his wave, then stare at him the rest of the session, that'll get him.

 

I just wouldn't have said anything at all.

 

He probably thought you were the guy that responded to his "MEET ME AT MY BREAK" post

 

I agree w/ ECsponger. If it went down as you described, you shouldn't have apologized, but assuming some guy isn't going to make a drop will get you in trouble, especially if they just got out on the water, they are feeling fresh, and you don't know their ability.

 

I always try not to paddle straight out, past everybody, and get the next set wave. If there's clearly a lineup already established when I arrive, I'll either paddle out a bit down from the peak, or take a few smaller ones on the inside first. Then I'll start positioning for a set wave. I consider paddling around everybody on my first paddle out bad etiquette. But it's not what I consider heinous, either... nobody's put in harms way.

You understand the mistake you made, and you've learned from that. You're also at least thinking about the issues of etiquette and safety, which is better than a lot of 1-year surfers. So, good on you for both. As for saying, "sorry"... I'll always say sorry if I snowballed a guy (made the wave break early, creating a section in front of him) even though I pulled back and didn't drop in.

I think what happens next is key. Did he paddle around everybody again? Repeatedly? Or did things simmer down and get back to normal. Sometimes people are amped up and geeked out, and make mistakes, then they settle down.

 

Man, I don't think you did anything wrong and probably shouldn't have said anything. I noticed you're in SoCal, in which case there are just a larger number off B=======D's in the water at any given time. Also, maybe he chuckled as he paddled away thinking "hehe, the look on that kid's face when I shot him a little stink eye was classic!" Regardless, don't sweat it.

That said..... I don't believe I have ever seen any queue ropes or turnstiles in any lineup I have ever been in. I surely don't paddle out and ask the first person I see where I can get my little numbered ticket that tells me when I can take a wave and at what point in the rotation. I don't cut people off or paddle around people, but I think the notion of there being a set rotation in the lineup falls into the "surfing as a group hug" notion and sounds more like someone's excuse for not catching waves.

 

Wave Hogger's Suck

Always apologize if you feel that you got in someones way.

Regarding wave hogs; after a few waves of hogging and you feel that you have no chance of getting any waves, SNAKE'M. Then give him the evil eye . He may respond with some choice words, but hold your ground and he will back off a bit. I always sit on hogger's, it drives them nuts.

 

Someone please come up with a comprehensive definition of "Wave Hog." Break it down to behavior and an exact number of waves caught that pushes someone into "Wave Hog" territory. This nebulous crap has got to stop.

Just because someone paddles out and sits deeper than you does not make them a Wave Hog. Sometimes it just means you have weak shoulders or are too impatient to wait for a set...

 

Here is the problem here. Some guys have surfed longer then others. Therefore are better and have enough confidence to paddle right out into a pack and take what wave they want. If you wanted to you could of paddled out further and inside everyone but you didn't. The next thing you did wrong was assume he wouldn't make the drop and tried to drop in on him without looking. Now this happens all the time. I had to yell at some old dude cause he couldn't take the time to turn his neck and see me flying down the line.
Now I wouldn't paddle out into a pack but thats me. You should find an area with not alot of surfers. Thats what I did for years. There is a pecking order in the line up and your at the bottom of it. There are some rules that only apply to newbies!

 

my question is did the guy you "almost" dropped in on try to make you aware of his presence by yelling to you so that you would hear him and back off? Or was the only clue that you might be dropping in on someone was that you saw him in the conrner of your eye?

My feeling is if the guy on the wave doesn't make an effort to make the person further down the line aware, then one might get dropped in on.

even though you backed out of the wave, you probably broke the face and he bailed on the ride.
(if you dropped in on my kid I'd be waiting for you at the shoreline.... lol... just kidding.)

as far as someone just paddling straight out and outside and taking the first wave that comes through cutting the line up order.... I don't know, I've never seen anyone get into it over that. I mean, once he's off on that wave, there most likely is going to be another wave or two in the set...

 

yup- sounds like a wave hog!

 

When a group of guys are surfing a spot, the pecking order tends to work itself out... everybody seems to "seek their own level," with the most experienced and fit guys getting the most/best waves. Good or bad, that's the way it works out 95% of the time. I think most guys who aren't as good tend to respect the experience and skill of the better guys, and tend to sit off to the shoulder, picking up the ones that swing wide or break a little further inside than the biggest set waves. But some guys, regardless of their skill level, will assert themselves into the lineup, and that's when things get vibey... when the natural order of things is changed by someone who (1) doesn't recognize that there is a "natural order," or (2) knowingly challenges it.

Personally, I don't see why this natural order can't be maintained, and at the same time, even the best still surf with some degree of courtesy. I guess that's my definition of Wave Hog - people who surf like they're the only ones in the water. Get your set waves... rip them up... and let a few go by before you get back out into the takeoff zone and do it again.

 

if you can keep up, paddle next to him and hold your position. it all comes down to positioning and paddle strength. no need to be aggressive, just be assertive and stand your ground. once someone realizes that you wont be beat in a paddle battle, they'll give you more space

 

like you said its just your side of the story but doesn't sound too bad. Not something that should jam up the other guys surf session to much. you didn't drop in on the guy really and saying sorry was was the right thing to do.

a wave hog to me is someone who cannot let a wave go. He doesn't paddle out to sit around watching other people surf. he is there to get his and doesn't give a hoot about others around him. He has something to prove. if he is not on a wave he is paddling back out or paddling for a wave. He shakes up the line up. Some people will sit deeper take off later and sometimes surf better because if they don't they will sit. A wave hog looks at a surf session as a competition. not always a bad thing.
everyone in there life as a surfer is a wave hog at some point. We are all there to get some waves right? some never stop being one. some grow out of it.

 

I personally don't know when the "Wait your turn " policy was enacted ??? If I'm at home guys that recognize each other will tend to " share" ... A guy that's been surfing a year ? I'm taking it , sorry. That said, I don't think you did anything wrong.
-Best of luck

 

Evening by pulling out you still "snowballed" him, probably just as bad as dropping in...maybe worse since no one gets the wave.

 

Here's how these guys handle it... the first 2:20 talks about order in the lineup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfB99em0OV0&feature=related

 

That works THERE ... no locals, few surfers, a well-defined take-off zone ,and surf guides. That won't work at junky,crowded mixed up east coast beachies . Try yelling "my turn ! " next session ...I don't think it'll fly

 

Where do I get my ticket to ride?