There’s a certain etiquette surfers must follow to share the waves in a safe and friendly manner. Overlooking this critical process places other surfers and swimmers at risk for injury. When done correctly, surfing is a safe sport that multiple people can enjoy at once. However, proper etiquette must be followed when several people are surfing in the same area. To learn more about surfing etiquette 101, keep reading.
Match Your Surfing Skill Level
First and foremost, it’s important to note that certain ‘surf spots’ are tailored towards a particular skill level. When you’re out scouting the beaches for a new surf spot, try to find one that’s appropriate for your skill. Amateurs who try to tackle professional-class waves place themselves and others at danger.
Taking a few minutes to scout a surf spot before hitting the waves will give you a better idea of its intensity. If the waves look fast, choppy and overwhelming, keep scouting until you find a better location. You can also ask some of the locals about the waves to learn more.
Who Has The Right of Way?
The single most important rule to remember when surfing is that the person closest to the ‘peak’ of the wave has the right of way. When the wave hits its peak, the surfer closest to the middle where the whitewater is rolling over has the right of way. Contrary to what some people may believe, it’s not the surfer who’s off to the side of the peak.
You’ll want to try and learn the wave patterns of a surf spot to determine when and where they peak. Most locals probably already know this information, but going to a new surf spot for the first time will leave you clueless. Watch the waves and how they break, looking for patterns in their peaks. Using this information, you can paddle out and hit the peak to ensure you are given the right of way.
Surfing Etiquette Rules:
- Don’t snake another surfer’s wave
- Head for the peak to maintain the right of way
- Paddle towards the whitewater if you are caught inside the wave
- Don’t drop in to a surfer’s wave
- Communicate with other surfers through voice and hand gestures
- Hang on to your board (allowing it to float freely through the ocean is a hazard to others)
Hopefully, this will give you a better understanding of proper surfing etiquette. Above all else, though, be courteous and polite to others when you’re hitting the waves.