Know How: Surf Etiquette

I used to find it so strange that there were rules surrounding surfing. With surfing being all about “freedom” it seemed incongruous to have rules. However, the more I became involved in surfing the more I realised the need for some basic codes of conduct to keep everyone safe in the water. Each issue we’ll provide you with a few basic rules to help keep you and your fellow surfer’s safe in the water this summer….

Body positioning for paddling
You can often tell a beginner surfer before they even begin to paddle simply by the way they lay on their board. A real beginner will be unsteady and unbalanced on their board. Here’s a quick tip to help you find your sweet spot for paddling.

Make sure you are not too far forward or too far back. The nose of your board should be just above the surface of the water, (no more than 5cm) and your legs in line with the centre line. When starting out, take the time to learn your correct paddle position as it will make paddling that much easier.

Who has right of way when paddling out?
The person paddling out or the surfer?

Paddling out can be a bit of a challenge at a busy break and with a surfer flying down the line towards you you need to know what to do.

The basic rule of thumb is to paddle wide of the break if you can. By that we mean paddle out away from where everyone is surfing and then once out the back paddle into the lineup. If that’s not possible (often when there is a beach break) then make sure you paddle around behind the surfer heading your way. For example, if you are paddling out and you see a surfer coming towards you, start paddling towards the tail of their board. This may mean you get pummelled by the white water yourself but it is your responsibility to get out of the way.

If you are at a break where there are a large number of beginner surfers then you will find that most of them surf straight into the beach, rather than along the wave. In this case simply make sure you do your best to get out of their way, whether that means holding your ground or simply paddling straight out. The most important thing to remember is that it is your responsibility to get out of the way. You can not assume the person riding the wave will manoeuvre (or even be capable of manoeuvring) away from you, so make sure you stay clear.

If you do find yourself in the impact zone or about to be pummelled or collide with another surfer, whatever you do hold onto your board; flying board will do even more damage.