Surfing is a sport that thrives on respect and camaraderie. Understanding and following proper surf etiquette is essential for maintaining a harmonious and enjoyable experience for everyone in the water. In this article, we’ll explore the key rules of surf etiquette, everyone deserves an equal amount of consideration and respect no matter where you are from or your surfing ability.

Surfing etiquette is more than just a set of rules; it’s a reflection of respect and consideration for others. Just like in everyday life, practicing good manners and etiquette in the water ensures a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Think of the surf rules as unspoken and commonly accepted: there is no written law, many people don’t actually know or care that the unspoken surfing rules exist and some people take advantage of surfers with lesser ability by exploiting the lack of knowledge. But, it’s still important to treat others as you would like to be treated. By following the unwritten laws of surfing, you contribute to a harmonious community and help maintain the sport’s integrity.

The History of Surfing Rules

Surfing’s unwritten rules have evolved over centuries, rooted in the ancient Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiians, considered the pioneers of modern surfing, developed a strict code of conduct called “kapu” that governed various aspects of life, including surfing.

Key Historical Moments:

Pre-Contact Hawaii: The kapu system dictated who could surf, where, and on what type of board. Royalty had exclusive rights to certain waves, while commoners were restricted to specific areas. No disrespect to the Hawaiians but in today’s age this is a ridiculous notion and surfing etiquette has come a long way, for some… There are still many people who believe that they have a right to surf somewhere over others, I’ll leave it up to you to decide how you feel about that.

Western Influence: With the arrival of Westerners, the rigid social structure of Hawaiian society began to change. Surfing became more accessible to the general public, and the rules governing the sport became less formal.

Modern Surfing: As surfing gained popularity worldwide, a new set of etiquette rules emerged. These rules were influenced by the evolving nature and introduction of competitive surfing, the increasing number of surfers sharing the waves and the nomadic nature of surf travel.

Today, surfing etiquette is a combination of traditional Hawaiian customs and modern practices. While the specific rules may vary slightly from place to place, the underlying principles remain the same: respect for others, the environment, and the sport itself.

So, What Are The Surfing Rules?

There are only four fundamental rules in surfing; priority, don’t drop in, don’t snake and right of way. But, because surfing is such a dynamic sport with very little structure in the line up, there is a lot of grey area around how these rules are perceived. In the following paragraphs, we’ll delve deeper into these four fundamental rules and explore specific scenarios where they might apply. These rules are especially important when learning to surf.

Surfing Rule #1: Priority

In simple terms, the surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave has the right to ride it. This means if you’re closer to where the wave is breaking, you have priority over other surfers paddling for the same wave. However, this leaves a lot of room for good surfers to take advantage of surfers with lesser ability by positioning themselves closer to the peak even though it may not be their turn.

That’s why courtesy is so important, and that is why there is more to this rule. So, let’s break it down.

There are four main factors to consider when dissecting priority: time waited, positioning and lastly, who stands up first:

Factor #1 – Surfer Waiting the Longest: Just like generally accepted societal rule, when you wait in line in the grocery store to checkout, the person that get’s to the line first get’s to go first. Or, the person waiting the longest is the one that has the right of way. This is generally the same concept in surfing, person waiting the longest get’s right of way.

Factor #2 – Surfer Closest to The Peak: Knowing who has waited the longest in a crowded line up is a very difficult task because there isn’t a defined line like at a grocery store. So, when a wave finally roles through, the person closest to the breaking part of the wave should get the wave.

But wait, there’s more…

Factor #3 – Surfer Furthest Out: You see, some people actually consider the person furthest out to have priority over the person closest to the breaking part of the wave. This is because they may be able to catch the wave and stand up before the person closest to the breaking part of the wave. Which leads us to the final consideration.

Factor #4 – Surfer Up and Riding First: When it’s all said and done, most people could probably agree that the surfer standing on the wave first should get the wave. Here’s why: Even if you are deeper than the other surfer, it’s a total waste of time to stand up behind them and shout them off the wave. So, if someone catches a wave before you, just let it go and get the next one.

Now, this is all very confusing and you may be thinking where does this leave me?

A big part of managing yourself in the line up is being able to identify the surfers around you and decipher who has been waiting the longest. You can usually default this title to the surfer closest to the breaking part of the wave or the surfer furthest out. Then you could imagine that the general line of surfers you see down from that is the line up people waiting their turn.

The work isn’t done yet, because although you have made this identification, you need to tow the line. Otherwise other surfers will paddle around you, thinking you aren’t interested in catching waves. It’s up to you to show intent. Which leads us to the next surfing rule. Don’t be a snake…

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Surfing Rule #2 Snaking or Back Paddling

Snaking otherwise known as back paddling is a major no-no in the surfing world. It’s when a surfer paddles around another surfer to cut them off and take their wave. This is considered extremely disrespectful and can lead to conflicts in the line up.

Now, just by virtue of you reading this, I would imagine that you are not somebody who is going to disrespect other people in the line up because you care about the rules, that’s why you are reading this article. However, there are many other surfers out there that either don’t know the rules and don’t care or even worse, know the rules and don’t care.

So, how do you deal with a snake in the grass?

No one wants to be that surfer call another surfer out in the line up, and if you have the confidence to do so, by all means go for it. But, for the rest of us, it’s a daunting task. What I would suggest you do instead, is show them that you are not going to tolerate this type of behavior through your body language and actions.

As the surfer is trying to back paddle or snake you to assume the inside position, you should continue to paddle deeper towards the peak or the breaking part of the wave to indicate, through body language, that you are serious about catching the next wave, you are aware of what they are doing and you wont tolerate that type of behavior. This tactic works majority of the time unless you are dealing with a surfer that is, what I like to refer to as hormonally unbalanced. Yes, too much testosterone, acting like an unsophisticated human. David Attenborough would recommend you stay away from this type of animal as they may have short outbursts of uncontrolled behavior.

Surfing Rule #3 Drop In

Dropping in is a pretty serious offense in surfing etiquette. It occurs when a surfer paddles for a wave that someone else is already riding. I think this surfing rule is pretty straight forward and I would always suggest looking left and right before catching wave to ensure that you aren’t dropping in on someone.

However, it’s also important to understand that everyone makes mistakes and so will you. So, have some patience with other surfers if and when they drop in, because it is easily done by mistake. That’s not to say that surfers don’t drop in on purpose, because they do. It’s up to you to judge whether or not they dropped in on you purposefully and how you would like to respond to their actions. But, everyone makes mistakes and you should treat otherwise how you would like to be treated in that situation.

Surfing Rule #4 Right of Way

This rule refers to a scenario where one surfer is paddling back out into the line up and another surfer is riding on a wave. Generally, the person paddling out should give way to the surfer riding the wave. This rule can get kind of tricky because it is very tempting to try and paddle out over the shoulder of the wave to avoid getting hit by the white water. But, in certain situations, trying to paddle to the shoulder ends up cutting the surfer off and ruins their wave because you are in their way. It’s important to try and judge the scenario as best you can and when in doubt, always paddle towards the white water.

As you get better at surfing, and have more experience out in the line up, you’ll be able to make a better judgement in that situation. But, just remember that everyone makes mistakes. So, have patience with other surfers and don’t take it too seriously if someone starts barking at you for being in their way because there will always be another wave.

Final Thougts

By understanding and following these basic rules of surf etiquette, you can contribute to a positive and harmonious surfing community. Remember, respecting other surfers and the environment is essential for maintaining the integrity of the sport.

So, the next time you’re out in the water, be mindful of your actions and practice good surf etiquette. Let’s work together to create a more enjoyable and sustainable surfing experience for everyone.