Good Surf Etiquette

Surf etiquette is how to behave in the line up and on the beach. I hate to use the word etiquette, but that's what it is called. It's the rules of surfing... even though there are no rules. It's about being safe and avoiding injury. It's about having fun and sharing waves. It's good vibes. It's Buena onda.

1. The person closest to the peak has priority. Period. That means that if someone is closer to the breaking part of the wave, then you don't go. It doesn't matter how good you surf, where you're from, who your daddy is or how rich you are- If someone is taking off, or about to take off, inside you when you are paddling for a wave, then you stop paddling and wait for the next one.

2. When you are paddling out and you see someone up and riding a wave, it is your responsibility to get out of the way. That means you avoid them even if it means getting steamrolled by whitewater. You don't ever paddle in front of someone or race them to the face of the wave unless you are absolutely positive you won't get in their way.

3. After you catch a wave and you are paddling back out, don't paddle past everyone to the top of the point. It's sort of like waiting in line- you wait your turn. If your surfing a beach break then this rule doesn't really apply. Just try to share waves and don't be a wave hog.

4. Don't show up to a break with 9 guys in a van with 9 surfboards, paddle out and take over the line up. That's just not cool. This "rule" will always be a challenge for us because on surf missions we travel in groups, in a van, typically with 9 guys and 9 surfboards. So we have an uphill battle.