How to Practice Proper Surfing Etiquette

You've decided to take up surfing as a regular sport. You have your board, you have your wet-suit and you have found a place to surf. Read this article to find out the rules of the water.

Things You'll Need

  • Ability to Observe
  • A Smile
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Instructions

    • 1

      Waxing Your Board. Before you go out, you may be waxing your board in the parking lot or on the beach near the break. Start by being friendly and bring extra wax in case someone needs to borrow some. If you are new at a spot it is always good to be extra friendly.

    • 2

      The Beach. Which beach should you surf at? When you are first starting out, pick a less-popular beach. It will be really difficult to learn how to surf at a crowded spot.

    • 3

      The Break. Point break or beach break. Point breaks offer more consistent waves, but the waves will only break in one spot. Beach breaks typically have many breaks running along the beach. Thus, point breaks will get more crowded than beach breaks. If you are a beginner, you will find more room for yourself at a beach break. A point break frequently has just one spot where you catch waves, leaving you battling with everyone else when the waves come in.

    • 4

      Selecting Your Spot in the Waves. Before you paddle out, take a look at the other people in the water. If you see a group of really good surfers catching waves in one area, then try to walk down the beach a bit and look for an area with less experienced surfers. Less experienced surfers will catch fewer waves and wipe out more frequently. Stay away from the people catching almost every single wave and paddling back out quickly.

    • 5

      Paddling Out. When you paddle out, the people already out in the water catching the waves have the right of way. Wait for a lull between sets of waves and start to paddle out. Hopefully you can paddle out to the break before the waves start rolling in again. If the waves start to roll in before you can get to the break, then watch out for other surfers catching the waves. It is your job to get out of another surfer's way when you are paddling out.

    • 6

      You Turn to Catch the Wave. The general rule is, whoever gets to the break first has first dibs on the waves. Depending on the area, however, a beginner may only get one chance to go for the wave. If you go for the wave and fail to catch it, assume you have been bumped to the back of the line even though you are still our by the break.

    • 7

      Catching the Wave. When it is your turn to ride the wave in, communicate with the other surfers to let them know you are "dropping in". You can either say "dropping in" or make eye contact or a signal with your hands to indicate you are catching the wave. This is especially important if you are a beginner because even if it is your turn, the other surfers will not necessarily be able to tell that you are trying to catch the wave.

    • 8

      Paddling Back Out. If you did not ride the wave all the way into the shore you can paddle back out to the wave break before the next lull. To do this, however, you must watch out for other surfers while paddling back out. You also want to paddle back out as fast as possible. If you did ride the wave all the way into the shore, be polite and wait for the next lull between wave sets and use that time to paddle back out.

    • 9

      Falling. First, never go out in the water without a leash on your board. When you fall, after making sure the board will not hit you in the head, it is your responsibility to pull your board close to you fast to avoid hitting another surfer. Even if you did not see anyone in the water near you, you should always pull your board towards you as fast as possible just in case.

    • 10

      Leaving the Water. Ride a wave as close to the shore as possible. Exit the water as fast as possible to avoid getting in someone's way. Never carry your board between yourself and the ocean. If a wave rolls in you will be knocked over and possibly dragged a bit. This not only looks funny but may also hurt.