Surfing
Dive into the world of surf etiquette in the lineup.
In a perfect surfing world, we'd go up to our favorite spots, locate the break, and tuck in for a smooth session unperturbed by others. In the real world, of course, there’s a fair chance that you’re not the only one with the same idea — depending on your spot in question, you’ll probably have to share that glory with a posse of other adrenaline-chasing hopefuls.
Don’t know where to apply your surf etiquette when catching waves? Watch "Made In" to find the best surf destinations to try out.
While surfing is a pure activity bound only by the limits of the ocean and one’s energy levels, there are a few unwritten ‘rules’ that need to be considered when leaping into the drink around other surfers. Think of it as a surfers’ code of conduct: basic guidelines on surf etiquette that’ll help you navigate the throngs, and minimize any issues you might come across along the way.
Surf Safety & Etiquette with the Surfing Sage
Speaking to directly from Queensland’s golden Noosa Heads, surfing sage Craig Regan can attest to how difficult it is to get a decent wave when you’re surrounded by a forest of boards.
“It was just bizarre,” says Regan after his recent session: “You’ve got ten guys going up for one wave, boards everywhere, all cutting across — hectic stuff.”
This is the thing: Good spots attract more surfers. What happens when there are too many on the dancefloor? Just like on the roads, there are rules in place to make sure things don’t get too chaotic on the water. ‘Right of way’ is an important convention: The rider who’s out the furthest and has been waiting the longest has surf priority to take the wave. Next in the hierarchy is the rider closest to the breaking part of the wave, and if more than one rider is close, then it’s up to whoever gets on their feet first.
All this is nice on paper, of course, but it doesn’t always work in reality. Though there wasn’t too much aggression in his session, Regan’s the first to admit that etiquette flies out the window when you’ve got 100 excited and thirsty surfers fending for the same thrill.
“It makes surfing really unenjoyable,” Regan says. “I much prefer when there’s just five or six out there, and you’re just relaxing or enjoying the view, just picking off your waves as they come through.”
Navigating local surf etiquette: Snaking and wave stealing explained
For all its freedom from the ‘human’ world, surfing is not immune to politics. Akin to most aspects of society, surfers can get a little territorial about their home turf. Given surf’s history and its ‘club’-based origins, locals can be particularly fierce about wave ownership: an extra layer of unwritten, and sometimes nebulous rules to navigate. Some even move to places specifically to live as a surfer. This means they are most likely to be protective of their turf.
Say you’ve rocked up to a beach and there’s a bunch of locals out surfing. As a pleasantry it’s not a bad idea to show some basic respect — don’t simply snake your way in and rush out for the break. Observe if there’s an order or rhythm in place, and find your spot in it.
What if you cop aggression from the locals if you do try to get your way in? What if you’re waiting patiently for a ride that never comes?
“I think there’s two things at play here,” says Regan. “Locals can bunch up in a group and push out the ‘un-local’, and they hog the main take-off point, and they push each other into the right spots so they take the wave — a lot of people wouldn’t know it goes on unless you’re in the know. Then you’ve [got] those who are really good, and whether they’re local or not, doesn’t matter. Because they know how to work the line-up. Depends on how much nous you’ve got.”
“Yeah, it’s a bit of an expose on human behavior and how people react under conditions that are a little bit pressured,” Regan says. “There’s a lot of screaming and yelling at times, people yelling at people ‘get off my wave’ and all that.”
In the end, says Regan, if you’re going to challenge the locals, it pays to be good, and to have some nerve.
“If you know how to surf, you get their respect and they let you go,” says Regan. “Earn your respect, and you’ll be considered. But jeez, you’ve got to be good.”
Expert advice on surf safety for beginners and beyond
If all that sounds a bit dramatic, especially if you’re a novice or still learning how to ride, consider seeking your comfort zone elsewhere.
“Best bet is to find yourself another spot to surf. Otherwise, you’re going to just have to be respectful or wait for a wave where you’re in the right position, and then you probably won’t get too many waves.”
Find somewhere calmer, without the congestion, and have a smoother time.
It’s worth adding here that all this totally depends on the ‘type’ of break you’re dealing with. If you happen to be on a point break, for example, it’ll be more difficult if it’s busy — a point break is a repetitive situation where the breaks are going to come in pretty much the same spot off the point. That one take-off position can become very congested if there are 20 riders all vying for it.
Compare this with a beach break, where you can sit up and down the beach, and one set break might have four or five different take-offs — a far better scenario if it’s clogged with riders.
At the end of that day, whatever your break, show some basic respect, but be realistic too. Never drop in on other riders, don’t hog the take-off point, and in general, don’t be a douche. If you do happen to transgress any of these rules — even if they’re not perfect, to begin with — make sure to apologize — most riders have probably transgressed the rules themselves and will appreciate the communication.
But before all that, choose the right spot — especially if you’re just starting out.
“If [I] was a beginner I wouldn’t be surfing a point break unless I was one of two riders out there,” says Regan. “Hit the beaches — find some spot where there are a few more options … or bring a really big guy to beat off the others!”
Main takeaways of surfing etiquette
- The surfer who’s out the furthest and has been waiting the longest has wave priority in the surf lineup.
- The surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave has the next right-of-way, and if more than one rider is close, then it’s up to whoever gets on their feet first.
- Earn your respect from the local riders.
- Find a spot that suits your level of surfing — not only will you have a lot more fun and catch more waves, but you'll also keep yourself and those around you safe.
- If you're a beginner, think about staying away from the point breaks.
- Never dropping in on other riders. Your bad drop in etiquette is a guaranteed way to lose the respect of local surfers.
- Don’t hog the take-off point.
- Have fun!
Ride the waves, respect the flow
Surfing is about respecting the rhythm of the ocean and the unwritten etiquette code to keep the lineup in harmony. The thrill of catching waves is universal and navigating crowds requires a nod to local hierarchy.
